downfall: Meaning and Definition of

down•fall

Pronunciation: (doun'fôl"), [key]
— n.
  1. descent to a lower position or standing; overthrow; ruin.
  2. something causing ruin, failure, etc.: Liquor was his downfall.
  3. a fall, as of rain, snow, or the like, often sudden or heavy.
  4. a trap using a falling weight for killing, injuring, or imprisoning the prey.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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