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end

1 end /ˈɛnd/ noun
plural ends
1 end
/ˈɛnd/
noun
plural ends
Britannica Dictionary definition of END
[singular]
: a point that marks the limit of something : the point at which something no longer continues to happen or exist
: the last part of a story, movie, song, etc.
[count]
: the part at the edge or limit of an area
see also dead end, rear end
: the first or last part or section of something that is long
: either limit of a scale or range
[count] : the stopping of a condition, activity, or course of action
◊ When something is at an end it is finished or completed.
◊ If you bring something to an end or bring an end to something, you stop, finish, or complete it.
◊ If you put an end to something, you cause it to stop or prevent it from continuing.
◊ Something comes to an end when it stops or finishes.
◊ If there is no end in sight, the point at which something will be finished is not known.
[count] : the point at which someone is no longer living : death
sometimes used with meet
[count] : a goal or purpose
◊ If something is an end in itself, it is something that you do because you want to and not because it will help you achieve or accomplish something else.
◊ If the end justifies the means, a desired result is so good or important that any method, even a morally bad one, may be used to achieve it.
[count] American football : a player whose position is at the end of the line of scrimmage see also end run, split ends, tight end
[count] : a specific part of a project, activity, etc.
especially : the part of a project, activity, etc., that you are responsible for usually used with keep up or hold up
[count] : any one of the places connected by a telephone call
ends [plural] : parts of something that are left after the main part has been used see also loose end, odds and ends

a light at the end of the tunnel

see 1light

at the end of the day

informal
: when all things are considered : in the end

at (your) wits'/wit's end

see wit

burn the candle at both ends

see 1burn

come to a bad end

: to end up in a bad situation because of your actions
: to die in an unpleasant way

end to end

: with ends touching each other

go off the deep end

see 1deep

in the end

: finally or after a long time
: when all things are considered

make ends meet

: to pay for the things that you need to live when you have little money

make your hair stand on end

see hair

never/not hear the end of it

see hear

not the end of the world

informal
◊ If something is not the end of the world, it is not as terrible or unpleasant as it seems to be.

on end

: without interruption
: in an upright position : not lying flat

on/at the receiving end

see receive

the end of the line

informal or the end of the road
: the point or time when someone or something stops or cannot continue : the end

the end of time

: forever, always used figuratively after to, till, or until

the end of your rope

informal or chiefly British the end of your tether
: a state in which you are not able to deal with a problem, difficult situation, etc., any longer

the ends of the earth

: places in the world that are very far away from cities, large groups of people, etc. : the most remote places in the world used figuratively

the short end of the stick

see 1stick

the wrong end of the stick

see 1stick

(to) no end

: a lot : a great deal

to that/this end

formal
: as a way of dealing with or doing something

to/till/until the bitter end

see 1bitter
2 end /ˈɛnd/ verb
ends; ended; ending
2 end
/ˈɛnd/
verb
ends; ended; ending
Britannica Dictionary definition of END
[no object] : to stop or finish : to no longer continue to happen or exist
[+ object] : to stop or finish (something) : to cause (something) to no longer continue to happen or exist
: to come to the end of (something)
[+ object] : to be the final part of (something)

end in

[phrasal verb]
end in (something)
: to have (something) at the end

end up

[phrasal verb]
end up or end up (something) or end up (doing something)
: to reach or come to a place, condition, or situation that was not planned or expected

end with

[phrasal verb]
end with (something) : to have (something) at the end
end (something) with (something) : to cause (something) to have (something) at the end

end your life

or end it all
: to kill yourself : to commit suicide
3 end /ˈɛnd/ adjective
3 end
/ˈɛnd/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of END
always used before a noun
: 1final
see also end user