Step 1: Understanding the Idiom
The idiom "bite the dust" means to fail, to be defeated, or to die. The imagery is of someone falling to the ground (the dust) in defeat or death.
Step 2: Evaluating the Options
(A) Sacrifice: While defeat might involve sacrifice, it is not the direct meaning of the idiom.
(B) Chronic depression: This is a medical condition and unrelated to the idiom's meaning of failure or defeat.
(C) Emerge as victorious: This is the exact opposite of what "bite the dust" means.
(D) Suffer a defeat: This is a direct and accurate meaning of the idiom. If a team "bites the dust" in a match, it means they have been defeated.
Step 3: Final Answer
The idiom "bite the dust" means to be defeated or to fail. Therefore, option (D) is the correct answer.