downstairs
adjectiveadverbnouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//daʊnˈstɛəz//
- United States//daʊnˈstɛɹz//
- Australia//daʊnˈsteːz//
- New Zealand//daʊnˈsteəz//
- //daʊnˈstiəz//
Located on a lower floor.
adjective
- 1
Located on a lower floor.
The kids sleep in the downstairs bedroom; we sleep in the upstairs one.
Etymology
Etymology tree English down- Proto-Indo-European *steygʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *stéygʰeti Proto-Germanic *stīganą Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-Germanic *staigijaną Proto-Indo-European *-rós Proto-Germanic *-raz Proto-Germanic *staigraz Proto-Germanic *staigriz Proto-West Germanic *staigri Old English stǣġer Middle English steire English stair Middle English -es English -s English downstairs From down- + stair + -s.
adverb
- 1
Down the stairs.
I have to walk downstairs to leave the building.
The lodger lives downstairs.
- 2
figurativeIn or to hell.
- 3
slangRegarding the genitalia.
something wrong downstairs
noun
- 1
The lower floor of a house, at ground level, or sometimes below.
We looked over the house; downstairs was spacious, but upstairs really cramped.
- 2
The lower floor of a house, at ground level, or sometimes below. In particular, especially historically, the servants’ quarters.
The family tried to ignore gossip from downstairs.
Now the two of them rattled around in the old house, even with his office and small clinic sharing the downstairs with the kitchen, parlor, and dining room.
- 3
slangThe genitalia.
The wind lifted up her skirt and I caught a glimpse of her downstairs.
Forms
- comparative
- further downstairs, farther downstairs
- superlative
- furthest downstairs, farthest downstairs