It has a very clear meaning. Anything dead has been deprived of life.
Death is the cessation oflife.
Paul talks about the effects of death when he explains a widow'sobligation to her deceased husband. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteressif she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if herhusband dies she is free from that law, and if she marries another manshe is not an adulteress. She may havememories of her husband. But the husband has died, and her obligation to himhas ceased.