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do 1 (d) Share: Tweet v. did (dĭd), done (dŭn), do·ing, does (dŭz) v.tr. 1. a. To perform or execute; carry out: do one's assigned task; do a series of business deals. b. To fulfill the requirements of: did my duty at all times. c. To perform the tasks or behaviors typically associated with (something), especially as part of one's character or normal duties: That talk show host just doesn't do subtle. d. To participate in (a meal or an activity) with another person: Let's do brunch on Sunday. 2. a. To produce, especially by creative effort: do a play on Broadway. b. To play the part or role of in a creative production: did Elizabeth I in the film. c. To mimic: "doing the Southern voice, improvising it inventively as he goes along" (William H. Pritchard). 3. a. To bring about; effect: Crying won't do any good now. b. To render; give: do equal justice to the opposing sides; do honor to one's family. 4. To put forth; exert: Do the best you can. 5. a. To attend to in such a way as to take care of or put in order: did the bedrooms before the guests arrived. b. To prepare for further use especially by washing: did the dishes. 6. a. To set or style (the hair). b. To apply cosmetics to: did her face. 7. To have as an occupation or profession: Have you decided what you will do after college? 8. To work out by studying: do a homework assignment. 9. Used as a substitute for an antecedent verb or verb phrase: He can play the piano, and I can do that, too. 10. Informal a. To travel (a specified distance): did a mile in four minutes. b. To go (a specified rate): did 80 mph on the highway. c. To make a tour of; visit: "[He] did 15 countries of Western Europe in only a few days" (R.W. Apple, Jr.) 11. a. To be sufficient in meeting the needs of; serve: This room will do us very nicely. b. Informal To serve (a prison term): did time in jail; did five years for tax fraud. 12. Slang To cheat; swindle: do a relative out of an inheritance. 13. Slang To take (drugs) illegally: "If you do drugs you are going to be in continual trouble" (Jimmy Breslin). 14. Slang To kill; murder. 15. Vulgar Slang To have sex with or bring to orgasm. v.intr. 1. To behave or conduct oneself; act: Do as I say and you won't get into trouble. 2. a. To get along; fare: students who do well at school. b. To carry on; manage: I could do without your interference. c. To make good use of something because of need: I could do with a hot bath. 3. a. To serve a specified purpose: This coat will do for another season. b. To be proper or fitting: Such behavior just won't do. 4. To take place; happen: What's doing in London this time of year? 5. Used as a substitute for an antecedent verb: worked as hard as everyone else did. 6. Used after another verb for emphasis: Run quickly, do! v.aux. 1. Used with the infinitive without to in questions, negative statements, and inverted phrases: Do you understand? I did not sleep well. Little did we know what was in store for us. 2. Used as a means of emphasis: I do want to be sure. n. pl. dos or do's 1. A statement of what should be done: a list of the dos and don'ts of management. 2. Informal An entertainment; a party: attended a big do at the embassy. 3. A commotion. 4. A hairdo. 5. Chiefly British Slang A swindle; a cheat. 6. Slang Fecal matter; excrement. Phrasal Verbs: do by To behave with respect to; deal with: The children have done well by their aged parents. do for To care or provide for; take care of. do in Slang 1. To tire completely; exhaust: The marathon did me in. 2. To kill. 3. To ruin utterly: Huge losses on the stock market did many investors in. do up 1. To adorn or dress lavishly: The children were all done up in matching outfits. 2. To wrap and tie (a package). 3. To fasten: do up the buttons on a dress. do without To manage despite the absence of: We had to do without a telephone on the island. Idioms: can/could do without To prefer not to experience or deal with: I could do without their complaints. do a disappearing act Informal To vanish. do away with 1. To make an end of; eliminate. 2. To destroy; kill. do it Vulgar Slang To engage in sexual intercourse. do (one) proud To act or perform in a way that gives cause for pride. do (one's) bit To make an individual contribution toward an overall effort. do (one's) business Slang To defecate. Used especially of a pet. do (one's) own thing Slang To do what one does best or finds most enjoyable: "I get paid to try cases and to do my thing on trial" (Bruce Cutler). [Middle English don, from Old English dōn; see dhē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

do 2 (dō) Share: Tweet n. Music The first tone of the diatonic scale in solfeggio. [Italian, more singable replacement of ut; see GAMUT.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

do 3 (d) Share: Tweet n. pl. dos Slang A hairdo.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

do. Share: Tweet abbr. ditto

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

DO Share: Tweet abbr. 1. Doctor of Optometry 2. Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

# Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

# American Heritage Dictionary Products

- The American Heritage Dictionary, 5th Edition

- The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

- The American Heritage Roget's Thesaurus

- Curious George's Dictionary

- The American Heritage Children's Dictionary