shut down
verb1
To close, terminate, or end.
- They are planning to shut down the entire building at the end of the month.
- The time is now, the place the grim industrial city of Shaoyang, China, which has just been informed that its No. 2 Space Rocket Factory is going to shut down.2001 November 2, Justin Hill, Carolyn See, “The Once and Future China / The Drink and Dream Teahouse”, in The Washington Post, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 19 Jan 2024:
2 more examples
- Alex quickly shut down her argument. 'But I'm the male. They lead in dancing, why shouldn't I be the lead here too? And besides, I was picked, you applied, which basically means I'm the lead anyway. […]2010, Jonathan Ashcroft, Scavengers, page 41:
- The typical business model relies on a line operating intensively from March or April through to September or October, before shutting down during the winter months - at which point essential repairs and maintenance can take place using income accrued during the busy summer months, ahead of the cycle starting over again.2020 July 1, Daniel Puddicombe, “How can heritage lines recover from enforced closures?”, in Rail, page 30:
2
Ergative To turn off or stop.
- It's a good idea to shut down the machine before you leave.
- My computer is shutting down as we speak.
3 more examples
- Safety devices ensure that the engines are automatically shut down in the event of overspeed, low pressure in the lubricating oil system, low cooling-water pressure, or high cooling-water temperature.1955 October, “Main-Line Diesel-Electric Locomotives for Ireland”, in Railway Magazine, page 718:
- Additional warning lights are provided to indicate diesel engine shut-down, traction motor blower failure or high engine cooling water temperature. On the assistant's side of the cab, another light shows should the train heating boiler shut down.1958 June 23, “Main-Line Diesel-Electric Locomotives for the Eastern Region”, in Railway Magazine, page 395:
- On the morning of Thursday, November 3, flood water rose over the conductor rails in platforms 1 to 3 of Lewes station and the electric service to London had to be shut down.1961 January, “Talking of Trains: Flooding at Lewes”, in Trains Illustrated, page 5:
3
To stop offering a service, such as a bar.
- The bar will start shutting down at two o'clock in the morning.
- On the breakfast buffet, the waffle area shuts down first.
4
Figuratively To emotionally withdraw into oneself as a defense mechanism; to block out external stressors.
- I can't talk to him about the accident; he just shuts down anytime I try.
5
Figuratively To suppress, block out, or reject (an idea or an aspect of one's personality or identity).
- She made a proposal to reorganize the department, but management shut her down.
- And I learned a lot, and, um, some of it seemed a little bit too interesting? It felt a bit like I uncovered a part of myself that I've been purposefully just shutting down for as long as I can remember and never questioned why.2024 March 1, F1NN5TER, 1:12 from the start, in Coming Out, archived from the original on 14 May 2024:
6
Slang To pass (another vehicle), especially quickly.
Auto racing; car culture; auto racing; car culture
- I opened that throttle and shut him down.
- Tach it up, tach it up / Buddy gonna shut you down1963, Brian Wilson, Roger Christian, “Shut Down”, performed by The Beach Boys:
- Synonyms
- close down, power down, power off, shut off, turn off, wind down
- Derived terms
- shutdown