do

auxiliary verb (FOR QUESTIONS/NEGATIVES)

/də/ /du/ /duː/ (did, done)

Definition

A1 used with another verb to form questions and negative sentences, including negative orders, and sometimes in affirmative sentences for reasons of style: Where do you work? Why did you do that? Why don't we have lunch together on Friday? Doesn't Matthew look old these days? "Didn't you realize she was deaf?" "No I didn't."/"Of course I did." Not only did I speak to her, I even got her autograph!formal Never did I hear such a terrible noise. Don't (you) speak to me like that!UK Don't let's argue about it (= let's not argue about it).formal So quietly did she speak (= she spoke so quietly) that I could scarcely hear her. Little does he know (= he knows nothing about it), but we're flying to Geneva next weekend to celebrate his birthday. "I want two chocolate bars and an ice cream." "Do you now/indeed? (= that is surprising or unreasonable)." A2 used instead of the main verb in questions that are added to the end of a sentence to check information: You met him at our dinner party, didn't you? You don't understand the question, do you? › used instead of the main verb in questions that are added to the end of a sentence as a way of expressing surprise: So Susannah and Guy finally got married, did they?Expressions of surprise

(Definition of do auxiliary verb (FOR QUESTIONS/NEGATIVES) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)