off

adverb

1》 away from the place in question.

2》 so as to be removed or separated.

3》 starting a journey or race.

4》 so as to bring to an end or be discontinued.

5》 (of an electrical appliance or power supply) not functioning or so as to cease to function.

6》 having specified material goods or wealth: how are you off for money?

preposition

1》 moving away and often down from.

2》 situated or leading in a direction away from.

3》 so as to be removed or separated from.

4》 having a temporary dislike of.

adjective

1》 unsatisfactory or inadequate.

2》 (of food) no longer fresh.

3》 located on the side of a vehicle that is normally furthest from the kerb. Compare with near (in sense 4).

4》 Brit. informal annoying or unfair.

5》 Brit. informal unwell.

noun

1》 (also off side) Cricket the half of the field towards which the batsman's feet are pointed when standing to receive the ball. The opposite of leg.

2》 Brit. informal the start of a race or journey.

verb informal

1》 leave.

2》 N. Amer. kill.

Phrases

off and on intermittently.

Origin

OE, orig. a var. of of (which combined the senses of 'of' and 'off').

Usage

The use of off of rather than off in phrases such as she picked it up off of the floor is considered to be incorrect in standard modern English. Interestingly, however, off of is recorded from the 16th century, and was used commonly by Shakespeare.