sleep - Definition | Dictionary definition of sleep

Definition of sleep

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

"he didn't get enough sleep last night"

Types:: show 4 types...; hide 4 types...; sleeping
the state of being asleep; NREM, NREM sleep, nonrapid eye movement, nonrapid eye movement sleep, orthodox sleep
a recurring sleep state during which rapid eye movements do not occur and dreaming does not occur; accounts for about 75% of normal sleep time; REM, REM sleep, paradoxical sleep, rapid eye movement, rapid eye movement sleep
a recurring sleep state during which dreaming occurs; a state of rapidly shifting eye movements during sleep; shuteye
informal term for sleep

Type of:: physical condition, physiological condition, physiological state
the condition or state of the body or bodily functions

a torpid state resembling deep sleep

Type of:: physical condition, physiological condition, physiological state
the condition or state of the body or bodily functions

a period of time spent sleeping

"he felt better after a little sleep"

euphemisms for death (based on an analogy between lying in a bed and in a tomb)

"they had to put their family pet to sleep"

be asleep

Types:: show 6 types...; hide 6 types...; bundle, practice bundling
sleep fully clothed in the same bed with one's betrothed; catch a wink, catnap, nap
take a siesta; doze, drowse, snooze
sleep lightly or for a short period of time; sleep in, sleep late
sleep later than usual or customary; hibernate, hole up
sleep during winter; aestivate, estivate
sleep during summer