Sleep, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slept p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeping.]
1. To take rest by a suspension of the voluntary exercise of the powers of the body and mind, and an apathy of the organs of sense; to slumber.
Watching at the head of these that sleep. --Milton.
2. Figuratively: (a) To be careless, inattentive, or uncouncerned; not to be vigilant; to live thoughtlessly.
We sleep over our happiness. --Atterbury.
(b) To be dead; to lie in the grave.
Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. --1 Thess. iv. 14.
(c) To be, or appear to be, in repose; to be quiet; to be unemployed, unused, or unagitated; to rest; to lie dormant; as, a question sleeps for the present; the law sleeps.
How sweet the moonlight sleep upon this bank! --Shak.
Sleep·ing, a. & n. from Sleep.
Sleeping car, a railway car or carrriage, arranged with apartments and berths for sleeping.
Sleeping partner Com., a dormant partner. See under Dormant.
Sleeping table Mining, a stationary inclined platform on which pulverized ore is washed; a kind of buddle.
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sleeping
adj : lying with head on paws as if sleeping [syn: dormant(ip)]
n 1: the state of being asleep [ant: waking]
2: quiet and inactive restfulness [syn: quiescence, quiescency,
dormancy]
3: the suspension of consciousness and decrease in metabolic
rate