Fe -symbol
- iron
fe·al·ty ['fē(-ə)l-tē] -n
- the fidelity of a vassal or feudal tenant to his lord
- the obligation of such fidelity
- intense fidelity
fear ['fir] -vt, n
- frighten
- to feel fear in (oneself)
- to have a reverential awe of
- to be afraid of : expect with alarm
- to be afraid or apprehensive
- an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger
- an instance of this emotion
- a state marked by this emotion
- anxious concern : solicitude
- profound reverence and awe esp. toward God
- reason for alarm : danger
fear·ful ['fir-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- causing or likely to cause fear, fright, or alarm esp. because of dangerous quality
- full of fear
- indicating or arising from fear
- inclined to fear : timorous
- very great or bad used as an intensive
fear·less ['fir-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- free from fear : brave
fear·mon·ger ['fir-,məŋ-gər, -,mäŋ-] -n
- scaremonger
fear·some ['fir-səm] -adj, adv, n
- causing fear
- intense, extreme
- timid, timorous
fea·si·ble ['fē-zə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- capable of being done or carried out
- capable of being used or dealt with successfully : suitable
- reasonable, likely
feast ['fēst] -n
- an elaborate and usu. abundant meal often accompanied by a ceremony or entertainment : banquet
- something that gives unusual or abundant enjoyment
- abundance, profusion
- an unprecedented feast of corruption, gargantuan in scale -- Neil Sheehan
- a periodic religious observance commemorating an event or honoring a deity, person, or thing
- to take part in a feast
- to enjoy some unusual pleasure or delight
- to give a feast for
- delight, gratify
- feast ing our eyes on the scenery
Feast of Tabernacles
- sukkoth
feat ['fēt] -n
- act, deed
- a deed notable esp. for courage
- an act or product of skill, endurance, or ingenuity
- becoming, neat
- smart, dexterous
feath·er ['fe-thər] -n, adj
- any of the light horny epidermal outgrowths that form the external covering of the body of birds and that consist of a shaft bearing on each side a series of barbs which bear barbules which in turn bear barbicels commonly ending in hooked hamuli and interlocking with the barbules of an adjacent barb to link the barbs into a continuous vane
- plume
- the vane of an arrow
- plumage
- kind, nature
- birds of a feather flock together
- attire, dress
- condition, mood
- composure
- some feather s had been ruffled -- D. J. Blum
- feathering
- a projecting strip, rib, fin, or flange
- a feathery flaw in the eye or in a precious stone
- the act of feathering an oar
feather ['feth-riŋ, 'fe-thə-] -vb
- to furnish (as an arrow) with a feather
- to cover, clothe, or adorn with or as if with feathers
- to turn (an oar blade) almost horizontal when lifting from the water at the end of a stroke to reduce air resistance
- to change the angle of (airplane propeller blades) so that the chords become approximately parallel to the line of flight
- to change the angle of airplane propeller blades of (an engine) in such a manner
- to change the angle of (a rotor blade of a rotorcraft) periodically in forward flight
- to reduce the edge of to a featheredge
- to cut (as air) with or as if with a wing
- to join by a tongue and groove
- to hit, throw, pass, or shoot softly and usu. with precision
- feather ed a perfect lob over the net
- to grow or form feathers
- to have or take on the appearance of a feather or something feathered
- to soak in and spread : blur used of ink or a printed impression
- to feather an oar or an airplane propeller blade
feath·er·bed ['fe-thər-,bed] -adj
- calling for, sanctioning, or resulting from featherbedding
featherbed -vi
- to require that more workers be hired than are needed
- to limit production under a featherbed rule
- to do featherbed work or put in time under a featherbed rule
- to bring under a featherbed rule
- to assist (as an industry) by government aid
feather bed -n
- a feather mattress
- a bed having a feather mattress
feath·er·bed·ding [-,be-diŋ] -n
- the requiring of an employer usu. under a union rule or safety statute to hire more employees than are needed or to limit production
feath·er·brain [-,brān] -n, adj
- a foolish scatterbrained person
feath·er·edge ['fe-thər-,ej, ,fe-thər-'] -n, vt
- a very thin sharp edge
- one that is easily broken or bent over
feath·er·head ['fe-thər-,hed] -n, adj
- a foolish person : featherbrain
feath·er·ing ['feth-riŋ, 'fe-thər-iŋ] -n
- a covering of feathers : plumage
- a fringe of hair (as on the legs of a dog)
feath·er·light ['fe-thər-'līt] -adj
- extremely light
feather star -n
- any of an order (Comatulida) of free-swimming stalkless crinoids
feath·er·stitch ['fe-thər-,stich] -n, vb
- an embroidery stitch consisting of a line of diagonal blanket stitches worked alternately to the left and right
feath·er·weight [-,wāt] -n, adj
- one that is very light in weight
- a boxer in a weight division having a maximum limit of 126 pounds for professionals and 125 pounds for amateurs
- lightweight
feath·ery ['feth-rē, 'fe-thər-ē] -adj
- resembling, suggesting, or covered with feathers
- extremely light
feat·ly ['fēt-lē] -adv
- in a graceful manner : nimbly
- in a suitable manner : properly
- with skill and ingenuity
featly -adj
- graceful, neat
fea·ture ['fē-chər] -n, adj
- the structure, form, or appearance esp. of a person
- physical beauty
- the makeup or appearance of the face or its parts
- a part of the face : lineament
- a prominent part or characteristic
- any of the properties (as voice or gender) that are characteristic of a grammatical element (as a phoneme or morpheme)
- one that is distinctive
- : a special attraction: as
- a featured motion picture
- a featured article, story, or department in a newspaper or magazine
- something offered to the public or advertised as particularly attractive
- one of the car's most popular feature s
feature ['fēch-riŋ, 'fē-chər-iŋ] -vb
- to resemble in features
- to picture or portray in the mind : imagine
- to give special prominence to
- the exhibit feature s local artists
- to have as a characteristic or feature
- a menu featuring many options
- to play an important part
fea·tured ['fē-chərd] -adj
- having facial features of a particular kind used in combination
- displayed, advertised, or presented as a special attraction
fea·tur·ette ['fē-chər-,et, ,fē-chər-'] -n
- a short film
- a short documentary film about the making of a full-length movie
Feb -abbr
- February
febri- -comb form
- fever
fe·brif·ic [fi-'brif-ik] -adj
- feverish
feb·ri·fuge ['fe-brə-,fyüj] -n, adj
- antipyretic
fe·brile ['fe-,brī(-ə)l also 'fē-] -adj
- marked or caused by fever : feverish
Feb·ru·ary ['fe-b(y)ə-,wer-ē, 'fe-brə-] -n
- the second month of the Gregorian calendar
fec -abbr
- he made it
fe·cal ['fē-kəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or constituting feces
fe·ces ['fē-(,)sēz] -n pl
- bodily waste discharged through the anus : excrement
feck·less ['fek-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- weak, ineffective
- worthless, irresponsible
feck·ly ['fek-lē] -adv
- almost, nearly
fec·u·lent ['fe-kyə-lənt] -adj, n
- foul with impurities : fecal
fe·cund ['fe-kənd, 'fē-] -adj, n
- fruitful in offspring or vegetation : prolific
- intellectually productive or inventive to a marked degree
fe·cun·date ['fe-kən-,dāt, 'fē-] -vt, n
- to make fecund
- impregnate
fed -abbr
- federal; federation
Fed ['fed] -n
- a federal agent, officer, or official usu. used in pl.
- federal reserve board
- federal reserve system
fe·da·yee [fi-,da-'(y)ē, -,dä-] -n
- a member of an Arab commando group operating esp. against Israel usu. used in pl.
fed·er·al ['fe-d(ə-)rəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a compact or treaty
- formed by a compact between political units that surrender their individual sovereignty to a central authority but retain limited residuary powers of government
- of or constituting a form of government in which power is distributed between a central authority and a number of constituent territorial units
- of or relating to the central government of a federation as distinguished from the governments of the constituent units
- advocating or friendly to the principle of a federal government with strong centralized powers
- of or relating to the American Federalists
- of, relating to, or loyal to the federal government or the Union armies of the U.S. in the American Civil War
- being or belonging to a style of architecture and decoration current in the U.S. following the American Revolution
Federal -n
- a supporter of the U.S. government in the Civil War
- a soldier in the federal armies
- fed usu. used in pl.
federal case -n
- big deal
- don't make a federal case out of it
federal court -n
- a court established by a federal government
- one established under the constitution and laws of the U.S.
federal district -n
- a district set apart as the seat of the central government of a federation
federal district court -n
- a district trial court of law and equity that hears cases under federal jurisdiction
fed·er·al·ese [,fe-d(ə-)rə-'lēz, -'lēs; 'fe-d(ə-)rə-,] -n
- bureaucratese
federal funds -n pl
- reserve funds lent overnight by one Federal Reserve bank to another
fed·er·al·ism ['fe-d(ə-)rə-,li-zəm] -n
- the distribution of power in an organization (as a government) between a central authority and the constituent units
- support or advocacy of this principle
- Federalist principles
fed·er·al·ist [-list] -n, adj
- : an advocate of federalism: as
- an advocate of a federal union between the American colonies after the Revolution and of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution
- world federalist
- a member of a major political party in the early years of the U.S. favoring a strong centralized national government
fed·er·al·i·za·tion [,fe-d(ə-)rə-lə-'zā-shən] -n
- the act of federalizing
- the state of being federalized
fed·er·al·ize ['fe-d(ə-)rə-,līz] -vt
- to unite in or under a federal system
- to bring under the jurisdiction of a federal government
Federal Reserve bank -n
- one of 12 reserve banks set up under the Federal Reserve Act to hold reserves and discount commercial paper for affiliated banks in their respective districts
Federal Reserve Board -n
- a 7-member board of governors overseeing the Federal Reserve System
Federal Reserve System -n
- the central banking system of the U.S. consisting of 12 districts with a Federal Reserve bank in the principal commercial city of each district
fed·er·ate ['fe-d(ə-)rət] -adj
- united in an alliance or federation : federated
- to join in a federation
federated church -n
- a local church uniting two or more congregations that maintain different denominational ties
fed·er·a·tion [,fe-də-'rā-shən] -n
- : an encompassing political or societal entity formed by uniting smaller or more localized entities: as
- a federal government
- a union of organizations
- the act of creating or becoming a federation
- the forming of a federal union
fed·er·a·tive ['fe-də-,rā-tiv, 'fe-d(ə-)rə-] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or formed by federation
fedn -abbr
- federation
fe·do·ra [fi-'dȯr-ə] -n
- a low soft felt hat with the crown creased lengthwise
fed up -adj
- tired, sated, or disgusted beyond endurance
fee ['fē] -n
- an estate in land held in feudal law from a lord on condition of homage and service
- a piece of land so held
- an inherited or heritable estate in land
- a fixed charge
- a sum paid or charged for a service
- hire
- tip
fee·ble ['fē-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- markedly lacking in strength
- indicating weakness
- deficient in qualities or resources that indicate vigor, authority, force, or efficiency
- inadequate, inferior
fee·ble·mind·ed [,fē-bəl-'mīn-dəd] -adj, adv, n
- irresolute, vacillating
- mentally deficient
- foolish, stupid
fee·blish ['fē-b(ə-)lish] -adj
- somewhat feeble
feed ['fēd] -vb
- to give food to
- to give as food
- to furnish something essential to the development, sustenance, maintenance, or operation of
- to supply (material to be operated on) to a machine
- to produce or provide food for
- satisfy, gratify
- support, encourage
- to supply for use or consumption
- channel, route
- to supply (a signal) to an electronic circuit
- to send (as by wire or satellite) to a transmitting station for broadcast
- to supply (a fellow actor) with cues and situations that make a role more effective
- to pass a ball or puck to (a teammate) esp. for a shot at the goal
- to consume food : eat
- prey used with on, upon, or off
- to become nourished or satisfied or sustained as if by food
- to become channeled or directed
- to move into a machine or opening in order to be used or processed
- an act of eating
- meal
- a large meal
- food for livestock
- a mixture or preparation for feeding livestock
- the amount given at each feeding
- material supplied (as to a furnace or machine)
- a mechanism by which the action of feeding is effected
- the motion or process of carrying forward the material to be operated upon (as in a machine)
- the act or process of feeding a signal (as an audio or video transmission)
- the signal being fed
- the action of passing a ball or puck to a team member who is in position to score
feed·back ['fēd-,bak] -n
- the return to the input of a part of the output of a machine, system, or process (as for producing changes in an electronic circuit that improve performance or in an automatic control device that provide self-corrective action)
- the partial reversion of the effects of a process to its source or to a preceding stage
- the transmission of evaluative or corrective information about an action, event, or process to the original or controlling source
- the information so transmitted
- a rumbling, whining, or whistling sound resulting from an amplified or broadcast signal (as music or speech) that has been returned as input and retransmitted
feedback inhibition -n
- inhibition of an enzyme controlling an early stage of a series of biochemical reactions by the end product when it reaches a critical concentration
feed dog -n
- a notched piece of metal on a sewing machine that feeds material into position under the needle
feed·er ['fē-dər] -n
- : one that feeds: as
- one that fattens livestock for slaughter
- a device or apparatus for supplying food
- one that eats or takes nourishment
- an animal being fattened or one suitable for fattening
- one that supplies, replenishes, or connects
- tributary
- a heavy wire conductor supplying electricity at some point of an electric distribution system (as from a substation)
- branch
- a branch transportation line
- a road that provides access to a major artery
feeding frenzy -n
- a frenzy of eating
- the excited pursuit of something by a group
feeding tube -n
- a flexible tube passed into the stomach for introducing fluids and liquid food into the stomach
feed·lot ['fēd-,lät] -n
- a plot of land on which livestock are fattened for market
feed·stock [-,stäk] -n
- raw material supplied to a machine or processing plant
feed·stuff [-,stəf] -n
- feed
- any of the constituent nutrients of an animal ration
feeforservice -n
- separate payment to a health-care provider for each medical service rendered to a patient
feel ['fēl] -vb
- to handle or touch in order to examine, test, or explore some quality
- to perceive by a physical sensation coming from discrete end organs (as of the skin or muscles)
- to undergo passive experience of
- to have one's sensibilities markedly affected by
- to ascertain by cautious trial usu. used with out
- to be aware of by instinct or inference
- believe, think
- to receive or be able to receive a tactile sensation
- to search for something by using the sense of touch
- to be conscious of an inward impression, state of mind, or physical condition
- to have a marked sentiment or opinion
- seem
- it feel s like spring today
- to have sympathy or pity
- sensation, feeling
- the sense of touch
- the quality of a thing as imparted through or as if through touch
- typical or peculiar quality or atmosphere
- an awareness of such a quality or atmosphere
- intuitive knowledge or ability
feel·er ['fē-lər] -n
- : one that feels: as
- a tactile process (as a tentacle) of an animal
- something (as a proposal) ventured to ascertain the views of others
feeler gauge -n
- a thin metal strip or wire of known thickness used as a gauge
feelgood ['fēl-,gu̇d] -adj
- relating to or promoting an often specious sense of satisfaction or well-being
- a feelgood reform program that makes no changes
- cheerfully sentimental
feel·ing ['fē-liŋ] -n
- the one of the basic physical senses of which the skin contains the chief end organs and of which the sensations of touch and temperature are characteristic : touch
- a sensation experienced through this sense
- generalized bodily consciousness or sensation
- appreciative or responsive awareness or recognition
- an emotional state or reaction
- a kindly feeling toward the boy
- susceptibility to impression : sensitivity
- the remark hurt her feeling s
- the undifferentiated background of one's awareness considered apart from any identifiable sensation, perception, or thought
- the overall quality of one's awareness
- conscious recognition : sense
- often unreasoned opinion or belief : sentiment
- presentiment
- capacity to respond emotionally esp. with the higher emotions
- the character ascribed to something : atmosphere
- the quality of a work of art that conveys the emotion of the artist
- sympathetic aesthetic response
- feel
feeling [-liŋ-lē] -adj, adv, n
- sentient, sensitive
- easily moved emotionally
- deeply felt
- expressing emotion or sensitivity
feel up -vt
- to touch or fondle (someone) for sexual pleasure
fee simple -n
- a fee without limitation to any class of heirs or restrictions on transfer of ownership
fee splitting -n
- payment by a specialist (as a doctor or a lawyer) of a part of his or her fee to the person who made the referral
feet ['fu̇t] -n
(variant of foot)
- the terminal part of the vertebrate leg upon which an individual stands
- an invertebrate organ of locomotion or attachment
- a ventral muscular surface or process of a mollusk
- any of various units of length based on the length of the human foot
- a unit equal to yard and comprising 12 inches pl. foot used between a number and a noun pl. feet or foot used between a number and an adjective
- the basic unit of verse meter consisting of any of various fixed combinations or groups of stressed and unstressed or long and short syllables
- motion or power of walking or running : step
- speed, swiftness
- : something resembling a foot in position or use: as
- the lower end of the leg of a chair or table
- the basal portion of the sporophyte in mosses
- a specialized outgrowth by which the embryonic sporophyte esp. of many bryophytes absorbs nourishment from the gametophyte
- a piece on a sewing machine that presses the cloth against the feed
- infantry
- the lower edge (as of a sail)
- the lowest part : bottom
- the end that is lower or opposite the head
- the part (as of a stocking) that covers the foot
- material deposited esp. in aging or refining : dregs
- footlights
- dance
- to go on foot
- to make speed : move
- to perform the movements of (a dance)
- to walk, run, or dance on, over, or through
- kick
- reject
- establish
- to add up
- to pay or stand credit for
- to make or renew the foot of (as a stocking)
fee tail -n
- a fee limited to a particular class of heirs
feet·first [,fēt-'fərst] -adv
- with the feet foremost
feet of clay
- a character flaw that is usu. not readily apparent
feeze ['fēz, 'fāz] -n
- rush
- a state of alarm or excitement
Feh·ling's solution ['fā-liŋ(z)-] -n
- a blue solution of Rochelle salt and copper sulfate used as an oxidizing agent in a test for sugars and aldehydes
feign ['fān] -vb, n
- pretend, dissemble
- to give a false appearance of : induce as a false impression
- to assert as if true : pretend
- invent, imagine
- to give fictional representation to
- disguise, conceal
feigned -adj
- fictitious
- not genuine or real
fei·joa [fā-'yō-ə, -'hō-ə] -n
- the green round or oval juicy fruit of a shrub or small tree ( Feijoa sellowiana) of the myrtle family that is native to So. America and is grown commercially esp. in New Zealand
- the tree or shrub
feint ['fānt] -n
- something feigned
- a mock blow or attack on or toward one part in order to distract attention from the point one really intends to attack
- to make a feint
- to lure or deceive with a feint
- to make a pretense of
fei·rie ['fē-rē] -adj
- nimble, strong
feist ['fīst] -n
- a small dog
feisty ['fī-stē] -adj, n
- full of nervous energy : fidgety
- touchy, quarrelsome
- exuberantly frisky
- having or showing a lively aggressiveness : spunky
- the movie's feisty heroine
felafel [fə-'lä-fəl] -n
(variant of falafel)
- a spicy mixture of ground vegetables (as chick-peas or fava beans) formed into balls or patties and then fried
feld·sher ['fel(d)-shər] -n
- a medical or surgical practitioner without full professional qualifications or status in some east European countries and esp. Russia
feld·spar ['fel(d)-,spär] -n
- any of a group of crystalline minerals that consist of aluminum silicates with either potassium, sodium, calcium, or barium and that are an essential constituent of nearly all crystalline rocks
feld·spath·ic [fel(d)-'spa-thik] -adj
- relating to or containing feldspar
fe·li·cif·ic [,fē-lə-'si-fik] -adj
- causing or intended to cause happiness
felicific calculus -n
- a method of determining the rightness of an action by balancing the probable pleasures and pains that it would produce
fe·lic·i·tate [fi-'li-sə-,tāt] -adj
- made happy
felicitate [-,li-sə-'tā-shən] -vt, n
- to make happy
- to consider happy or fortunate
- to offer congratulations to
fe·lic·i·tous [fi-'li-sə-təs] -adj, adv, n
- very well suited or expressed : apt
- pleasant, delightful
fe·lic·i·ty [fi-'li-sə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being happy
- great happiness
- an instance of happiness
- something that causes happiness
- a pleasing manner or quality esp. in art or language
- an apt expression
fe·lid ['fē-ləd] -n, adj
- cat
fe·line ['fē-,līn] -adj, n, adv
- of, relating to, or affecting cats or the cat family
- : resembling a cat: as
- sleekly graceful
- sly, treacherous
- stealthy
feline distemper -n
- panleukopenia
feline panleukopenia -n
- panleukopenia
fell ['fel] -n
- skin, hide, pelt
- a thin tough membrane covering a carcass directly under the hide
- to cut, knock, or bring down
- kill
- to sew (a seam) by folding one raw edge under the other and sewing flat on the wrong side
fell ['fȯl] -vb
(variant of fall)
- to descend freely by the force of gravity
- to hang freely
- her hair fall s over her shoulders
- to drop oneself to a lower position
- to come or go as if by falling
- darkness fall s early in the winter
- to become born usu. used of lambs
- to become lower in degree or level
- to drop in pitch or volume
- their voices fell to a whisper
- issue
- wisdom that fell from his lips
- to become lowered
- to leave an erect position suddenly and involuntarily
- slipped and fell on the ice
- to enter as if unawares : stumble, stray
- to drop down wounded or dead
- to die in battle
- to suffer military capture
- after a long siege the city fell
- to lose office
- the party fell from power
- to suffer ruin, defeat, or failure
- to commit an immoral act
- to lose one's chastity
- to move or extend in a downward direction
- the land fall s away to the east
- subside, abate
- to decline in quality, activity, or quantity
- to lose weight used with off or away
- to assume a look of shame, disappointment, or dejection
- to decline in financial value or price
- to occur at a certain time
- her birthday fall s on a Monday this year
- to come by chance
- a job that fell into his hands
- to come or pass by lot, assignment, or inheritance : devolve
- it fell to him to break the news
- to have a certain or proper position, place, or station
- the accent fall s on the second syllable
- to come within the limits, scope, or jurisdiction of something
- this word fall s into the class of verbs
- to pass suddenly and passively into a state of body or mind or a new state or condition
- to set about heartily or actively
- strike, impinge
- music fall ing on the ear
- fell
- the act of falling by the force of gravity
- a falling out, off, or away : dropping
- the season when leaves fall from trees : autumn
- a thing or quantity that falls or has fallen
- a fall of rock at the base of the cliff
- one or more meteorites or their fragments that have fallen together
- birth
- the quantity born usu. used of lambs
- a costume decoration of lace or thin fabric arranged to hang loosely and gracefully
- a very wide turned-down collar worn in the 17th century
- the part of a turnover collar from the crease to the outer edge
- a wide front flap on trousers (as those worn by sailors)
- the freely hanging lower edge of the skirt of a coat
- one of the three outer and often drooping segments of the flower of an iris
- long hair overhanging the face of dogs of some breeds
- a usu. long straight portion of hair that is attached to a person's own hair
- a hoisting-tackle rope or chain
- the part of it to which the power is applied
- loss of greatness : collapse
- the fall of the Roman Empire
- the surrender or capture of a besieged place
- lapse or departure from innocence or goodness
- loss of a woman's chastity
- the blame for a failure or misdeed
- took the fall for the robbery
- the downward slope (as of a hill) : declivity
- a precipitous descent of water : waterfall usu. used in pl. but sing. or pl. in constr.
- a musical cadence
- a falling-pitch intonation in speech
- a decrease in size, quantity, degree, or value
- the distance which something falls
- inclination, pitch
- the act of felling something
- the quantity of trees cut down
- an act of forcing a wrestler's shoulders to the mat for a specified time (as one second)
- a bout of wrestling
- destiny, lot
- of, relating to, or suitable for autumn
fel·la ['fe-lə] -n
- fellow, man
fel·lah ['fe-lə, fə-'lä] -n
- a peasant or agricultural laborer in an Arab country (as Egypt)
fel·late ['fe-,lāt, fə-'lāt] -vb, n
- to perform fellatio on
- to fellate someone
fel·la·tio [fə-'lā-shē-,ō, fe-] -n
- oral stimulation of the penis
fell·mon·ger ['fel-,məŋ-gər, -,mäŋ-] -n, adj
- one who removes hair or wool from hides in preparation for leather making
fel·low ['fe-(,)lō] -n
- comrade, associate
- an equal in rank, power, or character : peer
- one of a pair : mate
- a member of a group having common characteristics
- a member of an incorporated literary or scientific society
- a person of one of the lower social classes
- a worthless man or boy
- man, boy
- boyfriend, beau
- an incorporated member of a college or collegiate foundation esp. in a British university
- a person appointed to a position granting a stipend and allowing for advanced study or research
fellow feeling -n
- a feeling of community of interest or of mutual understanding
fel·low·ly [-lō-lē, -lə-lē] -adj, adv
- sociable
fellow man -n
- a kindred human being
fellow servant -n
- an employee working with another employee under such circumstances that each one if negligent may expose the other to harm which the employer cannot reasonably be expected to guard against or be held legally liable for
fel·low·ship ['fe-lə-,ship, -lō-] -n
- companionship, company
- community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience
- the state of being a fellow or associate
- a company of equals or friends : association
- the quality or state of being comradely
- membership, partnership
- the position of a fellow (as of a university)
- the stipend of a fellow
- a foundation for the providing of such a stipend
fellowship [-,shipt] -vb
- to join in fellowship esp. with a church member
- to admit to fellowship (as in a church)
fellow traveler -n, adj
- a person who sympathizes with and often furthers the ideals and program of an organized group (as the Communist party) without membership in the group or regular participation in its activities
- a sympathetic supporter of another's cause
fel·ly ['fe-lē] -n
- the exterior rim or a segment of the rim of a wheel supported by the spokes
felodese [,fe-lō-də-'sā, -'sē] -n
- a person who commits suicide or who dies from the effects of having committed an unlawful malicious act
- an act of deliberate self-destruction : suicide
fel·on ['fe-lən] -n
- one who has committed a felony
- villain
- whitlow
felon -adj
- cruel
- evil
- wild
fe·lo·ni·ous [fə-'lō-nē-əs] -adj, adv, n
- very evil : villainous
- of, relating to, or having the nature of a felony
fel·on·ry ['fe-lən-rē] -n
- felons
- the convict population of a penal colony
fel·o·ny ['fe-lə-nē] -n
- an act on the part of a feudal vassal involving the forfeiture of his fee
- a grave crime formerly differing from a misdemeanor under English common law by involving forfeiture in addition to any other punishment
- a grave crime declared to be a felony by the common law or by statute regardless of the punishment actually imposed
- a crime declared a felony by statute because of the punishment imposed
- a crime for which the punishment in federal law may be death or imprisonment for more than one year
fel·site ['fel-,sīt] -n, adj
- a dense igneous rock consisting almost entirely of feldspar and quartz
fel·spar ['fel(d)-,spär] -n
(variant of feldspar)
- any of a group of crystalline minerals that consist of aluminum silicates with either potassium, sodium, calcium, or barium and that are an essential constituent of nearly all crystalline rocks
felt ['felt] -n, adj
- a cloth made of wool and fur often mixed with natural or synthetic fibers through the action of heat, moisture, chemicals, and pressure
- a firm woven cloth of wool or cotton heavily napped and shrunk
- an article made of felt
- : a material resembling felt: as
- a heavy paper of organic or asbestos fibers impregnated with asphalt and used in building construction
- semirigid pressed fiber insulation used in building
- to make out of or cover with felt
- to cause to adhere and mat together
- to make into felt or a similar substance
felt ['fēl] -vb
(variant of feel)
- to handle or touch in order to examine, test, or explore some quality
- to perceive by a physical sensation coming from discrete end organs (as of the skin or muscles)
- to undergo passive experience of
- to have one's sensibilities markedly affected by
- to ascertain by cautious trial usu. used with out
- to be aware of by instinct or inference
- believe, think
- to receive or be able to receive a tactile sensation
- to search for something by using the sense of touch
- to be conscious of an inward impression, state of mind, or physical condition
- to have a marked sentiment or opinion
- seem
- it feel s like spring today
- to have sympathy or pity
- sensation, feeling
- the sense of touch
- the quality of a thing as imparted through or as if through touch
- typical or peculiar quality or atmosphere
- an awareness of such a quality or atmosphere
- intuitive knowledge or ability
felt·ing ['fel-tiŋ] -n
- the process of making felt
- felt
felttip ['fel(t)-,tip] -n, adj
- a pen having a writing point made of felt
fe·luc·ca [fə-'lü-kə, -'lə-kə] -n
- a narrow fast lateen-rigged sailing vessel chiefly of the Mediterranean area
fem -abbr
- female; feminine
FEMA -abbr
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
fe·male ['fē-,māl] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being the sex that bears young or produces eggs
- pistillate
- composed of members of the female sex
- characteristic of girls or women
- composed for female voices
- having some quality (as gentleness) associated with the female sex
- designed with a hollow or groove into which a corresponding male part fits
- the female coupling of a hose
female -n
- a female person : a woman or a girl
- an individual that bears young or produces large usu. immobile gametes (as eggs) that are fertilized by small usu. motile gametes of a male
- a pistillate plant
female genital mutilation -n
- a procedure performed esp. as a cultural rite that typically includes the total or partial excision of the female external genitalia and esp. the clitoris and labia minora and that is now outlawed in many nations including the U.S. abbr. FGM called also female circumcision
fem·i·na·zi ['fe-mə-,nät-sē] -n
- an extreme or militant feminist
fem·i·nine ['fe-mə-nən] -adj, adv, n
- female
- characteristic of or appropriate or unique to women
- of, relating to, or constituting the gender that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to females
- being an unstressed and usu. hypermetric final syllable
- having an unstressed final syllable
- having the final chord occurring on a weak beat
- music in feminine cadences
feminine -n
- a noun, pronoun, adjective, or inflectional form or class of the feminine gender
- the feminine gender
- the embodiment or conception of a timeless or idealized feminine nature
fem·i·nin·i·ty [,fe-mə-'ni-nə-tē] -n
- the quality or nature of the female sex
- effeminacy
- women, womankind
fem·i·nise ['fe-mə-,nīz] -vt, n
(variant of feminize)
- to give a feminine quality to
- to cause (a male or castrate) to take on feminine characters (as by implantation of ovaries or administration of estrogens)
fem·i·nism ['fe-mə-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj
- the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes
- organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests
fe·min·i·ty [fe-'mi-nə-tē, fə-] -n
- femininity
fem·i·nize ['fe-mə-,nīz] -vt, n
- to give a feminine quality to
- to cause (a male or castrate) to take on feminine characters (as by implantation of ovaries or administration of estrogens)
femme ['fem] -n
- woman
- a lesbian who is notably or stereotypically feminine in appearance and manner
femme fa·tale [,fem-fə-'tal, ,fam-, -'täl] -n
- a seductive woman who lures men into dangerous or compromising situations
- a woman who attracts men by an aura of charm and mystery
fem·o·ral ['fe-mə-rəl, 'fem-rəl] -adj
- of or relating to the femur or thigh
femoral artery -n
- the chief artery of the thigh lying in its anterior inner part
femto- -comb form
- one quadrillionth (10 15) part of
fem·to·sec·ond ['fem(p)-tə-,se-kənd, -kənt, -tō-] -n
- one quadrillionth of a second
fe·mur ['fē-mər] -n
- the proximal bone of the hind or lower limb that extends from the hip to the knee called also thighbone
- the segment of an insect's leg that is third from the body
fen ['fen] -n
- low land that is covered wholly or partly with water unless artificially drained and that usu. has peaty alkaline soil and characteristic flora (as of sedges and reeds)
- see yuan at
fence ['fen(t)s] -n, adj
- a means of protection : defense
- a barrier intended to prevent escape or intrusion or to mark a boundary
- such a barrier made of posts and wire or boards
- an immaterial barrier or boundary line
- on the other side of the fence in the argument
- fencing
- a receiver of stolen goods
- a place where stolen goods are bought
- to enclose with a fence
- to keep in or out with a fence
- to ward off
- to provide a defense for
- to sell (stolen property) to a fence
- to practice fencing
- to use tactics of attack and defense resembling those of fencing
- to parry arguments by shifting ground
- to provide protection
fencemend·ing ['fen(t)s-,men-diŋ] -n
- the rehabilitating of a deteriorated political relationship
fence·row ['fen(t)s-,rō] -n
- the land occupied by a fence including the uncultivated area on each side
fencesit·ting ['fen(t)s-,si-tiŋ] -n
- a state of indecision or neutrality with respect to conflicting positions
fencing -n
- the art or practice of attack and defense with the foil, epee, or saber
- fence
- the fences of a property or region
- material used for building fences
fend ['fend] -vb
- defend
- to keep or ward off : repel often used with off
- to provide for : support
- to make an effort : struggle
- to try to get along without help : shift
- had to fend for themselves
- to provide a livelihood
- an effort or attempt esp. for oneself
fend·er ['fen-dər] -n, adj
- : a device that protects: as
- a cushion (as foam rubber or a wood float) between a boat and a dock or between two boats that lessens shock and prevents chafing
- a pile or a row or cluster of piles placed to protect a dock or bridge pier from damage by ships or floating objects
- railing
- a device in front of locomotives and streetcars to lessen injury to animals or pedestrians in case of collision
- a guard over the wheel of a motor vehicle
- a low metal frame or a screen before an open fireplace
- an oblong or triangular shield of leather attached to the stirrup leather of a saddle to protect a rider's legs
fender bender -n
- a minor automobile accident
fe·nes·tra [fə-'nes-trə] -n, adj
- : a small anatomical opening (as in a bone): as
- oval window called also fenestra ova*lis -o-va-ls fenestra ves*tib*u*li -ves-ti-by-()le
- round window called also fenestra cochleae fenestra ro*tun*da -ro-tn-d
- an opening cut in bone
fe·nes·trate [fə-'nes-,trāt, 'fe-nə-,strāt] -adj
- fenestrated
fen·es·trat·ed ['fe-nə-,strā-təd] -adj
- having one or more openings or pores
- fenestrated blood capillaries
fen·es·tra·tion [,fe-nə-'strā-shən] -n
- the arrangement, proportioning, and design of windows and doors in a building
- an opening in a surface (as a wall or membrane)
- the operation of cutting an opening in the bony labyrinth between the inner ear and tympanum to replace natural fenestrae that are not functional
fen·flur·amine [,fen-'flu̇r-ə-,mēn] -n
- an anorectic amphetamine derivative C 12H 16F 3N with little stimulant effect on the central nervous system formerly used in the form of its hydrochloride to treat obesity but no longer used due to its association with heart valve disease
feng shui ['fəŋ-'shwē, -'shwā] -n
- a Chinese geomantic practice in which a structure or site is chosen or configured so as to harmonize with the spiritual forces that inhabit it
- orientation, placement, or arrangement according to the precepts of feng shui
Fe·ni·an ['fē-nē-ən] -n, adj
- a member of a legendary band of warriors defending Ireland in the second and third centuries a.d.
- a member of a secret 19th century Irish and Irish-American organization dedicated to the overthrow of British rule in Ireland
fen·land ['fen-,land] -n
- an area of low often marshy ground
fen·nec ['fe-nik] -n
- a small pale-fawn fox ( Vulpes zerdasyn. Fennecus zerda) with large ears that inhabits the deserts of northern Africa and Arabia
fen·nel ['fe-nᵊl] -n
- : a perennial European herb ( Foeniculum vulgare) of the carrot family having two cultivated forms:
- the commonly cultivated form ( F. vulgare dulce) having aromatic leaves and seeds
- Florence fennel
fen·ny ['fe-nē] -adj
- having the characteristics of a fen : boggy
- peculiar to or found in a fen
fenphen ['fen-,fen] -n
- a former diet drug combination of phentermine with either fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine called also phen-fen
fen·ta·nyl ['fen-tə-,nil] -n
- a synthetic opioid narcotic analgesic C 22H 28N 2O with pharmacological action similar to morphine that is administered esp. in the form of its citrate
fenu·greek ['fen-yə-,grēk] -n
- a leguminous annual Eurasian herb ( Trigonella foenum-graecum) with aromatic seeds
- its seeds
feoff·ee [fe-'fē, fē-'fē] -n
- one to whom a feoffment is made
feoff·ment ['fef-mənt, 'fēf-] -n
- the granting of a fee
feof·for ['fe-fər, 'fē-; fe-'fȯr, fē-] -n
- one who makes a feoffment
FEPA -abbr
- Fair Employment Practices Act
FEPC -abbr
- Fair Employment Practices Commission
fe·rae na·tu·rae ['fer-,ī-nə-'tu̇r-,ī] -adj
- wild by nature and not usu. tamed
fe·ral ['fir-əl, 'fer-; 'fe-rəl] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or suggestive of a wild beast
- not domesticated or cultivated : wild
- having escaped from domestication and become wild
ferdelance ['fer-də-'lan(t)s, -'än(t)s] -n
- a large extremely venomous pit viper ( Bothrops atrox) of Central and So. America
fere ['fir] -n
- companion
- spouse
fe·ria ['fir-ē-ə, 'fer-] -n, adj
- a weekday of a church calendar on which no feast falls
- a Hispanic market festival often in observance of a religious holiday
fe·rine ['fir-,īn] -adj
- feral
fer·i·ty ['fer-ət-ē] -n
- the quality or state of being feral
- barbarity
fer·lie ['fer-lē] -n
- wonder
fer·ma·ta [fer-'mä-tə] -n
- a prolongation at the discretion of the performer of a musical note, chord, or rest beyond its given time value
- the sign denoting such a prolongation called also hold
Fer·mat's last theorem [fer-'mäz-] -n
- a theorem in number theory: the equation x + y zhas no solutions when x, y, z,and nare all positive integers and nis greater than 2
fer·ment [(,)fər-'ment] -vi, adj
- to undergo fermentation
- to be in a state of agitation or intense activity
- to cause to undergo fermentation
- to work up (as into a state of agitation) : foment
- a living organism (as a yeast) that causes fermentation by virtue of its enzymes
- enzyme
- a state of unrest : agitation
- a process of active often disorderly development
- the great period of creative ferment in literature -- William Barrett
fer·men·ta·tion [,fər-mən-'tā-shən, -,men-] -n
- a chemical change with effervescence
- an enzymatically controlled anaerobic breakdown of an energy-rich compound (as a carbohydrate to carbon dioxide and alcohol or to an organic acid)
- an enzymatically controlled transformation of an organic compound
- ferment
fer·men·ta·tive [(,)fər-'men-tə-tiv] -adj
- causing or producing a substance that causes fermentation
- of, relating to, or produced by fermentation
fer·men·ter [(,)fər-'men-tər] -n
- an organism that causes fermentation
- an apparatus for carrying out fermentation
fer·mi ['fer-(,)mē, 'fər-] -n
- a unit of length equal to 10 13centimeter
fer·mi·on ['fer-mē-,än, 'fər-] -n, adj
- a particle (as an electron, proton, or neutron) whose spin quantum number is an odd multiple of
fer·mi·um ['fer-mē-əm, 'fər-] -n
- a radioactive metallic element produced artificially (as by bombardment of plutonium with neutrons)
fern ['fərn] -n, adj
- any of a division (Filicophyta) or class (Filicopsida) of flowerless spore-producing vascular plants having alternating sporophyte and gametophyte generations
- any of an order (Filicales) of homosporous plants possessing roots, stems, and leaflike fronds
fern bar -n
- a bar or restaurant fashionably decorated with green plants and esp. ferns
fern·ery ['fər-nə-rē] -n
- a place or stand where ferns grow
- a collection of growing ferns
fern seed -n
- the dustlike asexual spores of ferns formerly thought to be seeds and believed to make the possessor invisible
fe·ro·cious [fə-'rō-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- exhibiting or given to extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality
- extremely intense
fe·roc·i·ty [fə-'rä-sə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being ferocious
fer·re·dox·in [,fer-ə-'däk-sən] -n
- any of a group of iron- and sulfur-containing proteins that function as electron carriers in photosynthetic and nitrogen-fixing organisms and in some anaerobic bacteria
fer·ret ['fer-ət] -n, adj
- a domesticated usu. albino, brownish, or silver-gray animal ( Mustela putorius furo) that is descended from the European polecat
- black-footed ferret
- an active and persistent searcher
ferret -vi, n
- to hunt with ferrets
- to search about
- to hunt (as rabbits) with ferrets
- to force out of hiding : flush
- to find and bring to light by searching usu. used with out
- harry, worry
- a narrow cotton, silk, or wool tape called also ferreting
ferri- -comb form
- iron
- ferric iron
fer·ri·age ['fer-ē-ij] -n
- the fare paid for a ferry passage
- the act or business of transporting by ferry
fer·ric ['fer-ik, 'fe-rik] -adj
- of, relating to, or containing iron
- being or containing iron usu. with a valence of three
ferric ammonium citrate -n
- a complex salt containing varying amounts of iron and used esp. for making blueprints
ferric chloride -n
- a deliquescent dark salt FeCl 3that readily hydrates to the yellow-orange form and that is used esp. for etching, in sewage treatment, and as an astringent
ferric oxide -n
- the red or black oxide of iron Fe 2O 3found in nature as hematite and as rust and also obtained synthetically and used esp. in magnetic materials, as a pigment, and for polishing
fer·ri·cy·a·nide [,fer-,ī-'sī-ə-,nīd, ,fer-i-] -n
- the trivalent anion Fe(CN) 6 3
- a compound containing the ferricyanide anion
- the red salt K 3Fe(CN) 6used in making blue pigments
fer·rif·er·ous [fə-'ri-f(ə-)rəs, fe-] -adj
- containing or yielding iron
fer·ri·mag·net·ic ['fer-,ī-mag-'ne-tik, ,fer-i-] -adj, n, adv
- of or relating to a substance (as ferrite) characterized by magnetization in which two types of ions of unequal magnetic moment are polarized in opposite directions
Fer·ris wheel ['fer-əs-, 'fe-rəs-] -n
- an amusement device consisting of a large upright power-driven wheel carrying seats that remain horizontal around its rim
fer·rite ['fer-,īt] -n, adj
- any of several magnetic substances that consist essentially of ferric oxide combined with the oxides of one or more other metals (as manganese, nickel, or zinc), have high magnetic permeability and high electrical resistivity, and are used esp. in electronic devices
- a solid solution in which alpha iron is the solvent
fer·ri·tin ['fer-ə-tən] -n
- a crystalline iron-containing protein that functions in the storage of iron and is found esp. in the liver and spleen
ferro- -comb form
- iron
- ferrous iron
fer·roce·ment [,fer-ō-si-'ment] -n
- a building material made of thin cement slabs reinforced with steel mesh
fer·ro·cene ['fer-ō-,sēn] -n
- a crystalline stable organometallic coordination compound (C 5H 5) 2Fe
- an analogous compound with a heavy metal (as chromium)
fer·ro·con·crete [,fer-ō-'kän-,krēt, -kän-'] -n
- reinforced concrete
fer·ro·cy·a·nide [-'sī-ə-,nīd] -n
- the tetravalent anion Fe(CN) 6 4
- a compound containing the ferrocyanide anion
- the salt K 4Fe(CN) 6used in making blue pigments (as Prussian blue)
fer·ro·elec·tric [,fer-ō-i-'lek-trik] -adj, n
- of or relating to crystalline substances having spontaneous electric polarization reversible by an electric field
fer·ro·mag·ne·sian [-mag-'nē-zhən, -shən] -adj
- containing iron and magnesium
fer·ro·mag·net·ic [-'ne-tik] -adj, n
- of or relating to substances with an abnormally high magnetic permeability, a definite saturation point, and appreciable residual magnetism and hysteresis
fer·ro·man·ga·nese [-'maŋ-gə-,nēz, -,nēs] -n
- an alloy of iron and manganese containing usu. about 80 percent manganese and used in the manufacture of steel
fer·ro·sil·i·con [-'si-li-kən, -lə-,kän] -n
- an alloy of iron and silicon containing 15 to 95 percent silicon and used for deoxidizing molten steel and making silicon steel and high-silicon cast iron
fer·ro·type ['fer-ə-,tīp] -n
- a positive photograph made by a collodion process on a thin iron plate having a darkened surface called also tintype
- the process by which a ferrotype is made
fer·rous ['fer-əs, 'fe-rəs] -adj
- of, relating to, or containing iron
- being or containing divalent iron
ferrous sulfate -n
- a salt obtained usu. in its bluish-green hydrated form FeSO 47H 2O that is used esp. in making inks, pigments, and other iron salts and in medicine for treating anemia caused by iron deficiency
fer·ru·gi·nous [fə-'rü-jə-nəs, fe-] -adj
- of, relating to, or containing iron
- resembling iron rust in color
ferruginous hawk -n
- a large hawk ( Buteo regalis) of western No. America that is typically rust-colored above and white below with long tapered wings
fer·rule ['fer-əl, 'fe-rəl] -n, adj
- a ring or cap usu. of metal put around a slender shaft (as a cane or a tool handle) to strengthen it or prevent splitting
- a usu. metal sleeve used esp. for joining or binding one part to another (as pipe sections or the bristles and handle of a brush)
fer·ry ['fer-ē, 'fe-rē] -vb
- to carry by boat over a body of water
- to cross by a ferry
- to convey (as by aircraft or motor vehicle) from one place to another : transport
- to fly (an airplane) from the factory or other shipping point to a designated delivery point or from one base to another
- to cross water in a boat
ferry -n
- a place where persons or things are carried across a body of water (as a river) in a boat
- ferryboat
- a franchise or right to operate a ferry service across a body of water
- an organized service and route for flying airplanes esp. across a sea or continent for delivery to the user
fer·ry·boat [-,bōt] -n
- a boat used to ferry passengers, vehicles, or goods
fer·ry·man [-mən] -n
- a person who operates a ferry
fer·tile ['fər-tᵊl] -adj, adv, n
- producing or bearing fruit in great quantities : productive
- characterized by great resourcefulness of thought or imagination : inventive
- plentiful
- capable of sustaining abundant plant growth
- affording abundant possibilities for growth or development
- damp bathrooms are fertile ground for fungi -- Consumer Reports
- a fertile area for research
- capable of growing or developing
- capable of producing fruit
- containing pollen
- developing spores or spore-bearing organs
- capable of breeding or reproducing
- capable of being converted into fissionable material
fer·til·i·ty [(,)fər-'ti-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being fertile
- the birthrate of a population
fer·til·i·za·tion [,fər-tə-lə-'zā-shən] -n
- : an act or process of making fertile: as
- the application of fertilizer
- an act or process of fecundation, insemination, or pollination not used technically
- the process of union of two gametes whereby the somatic chromosome number is restored and the development of a new individual is initiated
fertilization membrane -n
- a resistant membranous layer in eggs of many animals that forms following fertilization by the thickening and separation of the vitelline membrane from the cell surface and that prevents multiple fertilization
fer·til·ize ['fər-tə-,līz] -vt, adj
- : to make fertile: as
- to apply a fertilizer to
- to cause the fertilization of
fer·til·iz·er [-,lī-zər] -n
- one that fertilizes
- a substance (as manure or a chemical mixture) used to make soil more fertile
fer·ule ['fer-əl, 'fe-rəl] -n
- an instrument (as a flat piece of wood like a ruler) used to punish children
- school discipline
fe·ru·lic acid [fə-'rü-lik-] -n
- a white crystalline acid that is structurally related to vanillin and is obtained esp. from plant sources (as aspen bark)
fer·ven·cy ['fər-vən(t)-sē] -n
- fervor
fer·vent ['fər-vənt] -adj, adv
- very hot : glowing
- exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling : zealous
fer·vid ['fər-vəd] -adj, adv, n
- very hot : burning
- marked by often extreme fervor
fer·vor ['fər-vər] -n
- intensity of feeling or expression
- booing and cheering with almost equal fervor -- Alan Rich
- intense heat
fer·vour ['fər-vər] -n
(variant of fervor)
- intensity of feeling or expression
- booing and cheering with almost equal fervor -- Alan Rich
- intense heat
fes·cen·nine ['fe-sə-,nīn, -,nēn] -adj
- scurrilous, obscene
fes·cue ['fes-(,)kyü] -n
- a small pointer (as a stick) used to point out letters to children learning to read
- any of a genus ( Festuca) of tufted perennial grasses with panicled spikelets
fescue foot -n
- a disease of the feet of cattle resembling ergotism that is associated with feeding on fescue grass and esp. tall fescue
fess ['fes] -n
- a broad horizontal bar across the middle of a heraldic field
- the center point of an armorial escutcheon
- to own up : confess usu. used with up
fest [,fest] -n
- a gathering, event, or show having a specified focus often used in combination
fes·tal ['fes-tᵊl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a feast or festival : festive
fes·ter ['fes-tər] -n
- a suppurating sore : pustule
fester [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vb
- to generate pus
- putrefy, rot
- to cause increasing poisoning, irritation, or bitterness : rankle
- dissent fester ed unchecked
- to undergo or exist in a state of progressive deterioration
- to make inflamed or corrupt
fes·ti·nate ['fes-tə-,nāt] -vb
- hasten
- hasty
- a most festinate preparation -- Shak.
fes·ti·val ['fes-tə-vəl] -adj
- of, relating to, appropriate to, or set apart as a festival
festival -n
- a time of celebration marked by special observances
- feast
- an often periodic celebration or program of events or entertainment having a specified focus
- gaiety, conviviality
fes·ti·val·go·er [-,gō-ər] -n
- one who attends a festival
fes·tive ['fes-tiv] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival
- joyful, gay
fes·tiv·i·ty [fes-'ti-və-tē, fəs-] -n
- festival
- the quality or state of being festive : gaiety
- festive activity
fes·toon [fes-'tün] -n
- a decorative chain or strip hanging between two points
- a carved, molded, or painted ornament representing a decorative chain
festoon -vt
- to hang or form festoons on
- to shape into festoons
- decorate, adorn
- cover
fes·toon·ery [fes-'tü-nə-rē] -n
- an arrangement of festoons
Fest·schrift ['fes(t)-,shrift] -n
- a volume of writings by different authors presented as a tribute or memorial esp. to a scholar
FET -abbr
- Federal excise tax
- field-effect transistor
fe·ta ['fe-tə, 'fe-,tä] -n
- a white moderately hard and crumbly Greek cheese made from sheep's or goat's milk and cured in brine
fe·tal ['fē-tᵊl] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a fetus
fetal alcohol syndrome -n
- a highly variable group of birth defects including mental retardation, deficient growth, and malformations of the skull and face that tend to occur in the offspring of women who consume large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy
fetal hemoglobin -n
- a hemoglobin variant that predominates in the blood of a newborn and persists in increased proportions in some forms of anemia (as thalassemia)
fetal position -n
- a position (as of a sleeping person) in which the body lies curled up on one side with the arms and legs drawn up and the head bowed forward and which is assumed in some forms of psychic regression
fetch ['fech] -vb, n
- to go or come after and bring or take back
- derive, deduce
- to cause to come
- to bring in (as a price) : realize
- interest, attract
- to give (a blow) by striking : deal
- bring about, accomplish
- to take in (as a breath) : draw
- to bring forth (as a sound) : heave
- to reach by sailing esp. against the wind or tide
- to arrive at : reach
- to get and bring something
- to retrieve killed game
- to take a roundabout way : circle
- to hold a course on a body of water
- veer
- trick, stratagem
- an act or instance of fetching
- the distance along open water or land over which the wind blows
- the distance traversed by waves without obstruction
- doppelganger
fetch·ing ['fe-chiŋ] -adj, adv
- attractive, pleasing
fetch up -vt
- to bring up or out : produce
- to make up (as lost time)
- to bring to a stop
- to reach a standstill, stopping place, or goal : end up
- may have fetched up running a village store -- Geoffrey Household
fete ['fāt, 'fet] -n
- festival
- a lavish often outdoor entertainment
- a large elaborate party
- to honor or commemorate with a fete
- to pay high honor to
fete cham·pe·tre [,fāt-,shäⁿ(m)-'petrᵊ, ,fet-] -n
- an outdoor entertainment
fe·ti·cide ['fē-tə-,sīd] -n
- the act of causing the death of a fetus
fet·id ['fe-təd, esp Brit 'fē-tid] -adj, adv, n
- having a heavy offensive smell
fe·tish ['fe-tish also 'fē-] -n
- an object (as a small stone carving of an animal) believed to have magical power to protect or aid its owner
- a material object regarded with superstitious or extravagant trust or reverence
- an object of irrational reverence or obsessive devotion : prepossession
- an object or bodily part whose real or fantasied presence is psychologically necessary for sexual gratification and that is an object of fixation to the extent that it may interfere with complete sexual expression
- a rite or cult of fetish worshipers
- fixation
fe·tish·ism [-tish-,i-zəm] -n, adj, adv
- belief in magical fetishes
- extravagant irrational devotion
- the pathological displacement of erotic interest and satisfaction to a fetish
fe·tish·ize [-ti-,shīz] -vt
- to make a fetish of : treat or regard with fetishism
fet·lock ['fet-,läk] -n
- a projection bearing a tuft of hair on the back of the leg above the hoof of a horse or similar animal
- the tuft of hair itself
- the joint of the limb at the fetlock
feto- -comb form
- fetus
fe·tol·o·gy [fē-'tä-lə-jē] -n
- a branch of medical science concerned with the study and treatment of the fetus in the uterus
fe·to·pro·tein [,fē-tō-'prō-,tēn, -'prō-tē-ən] -n
- any of several fetal antigens present in the adult in some abnormal conditions
fe·tor ['fē-tər, 'fē-,tȯr] -n
- a strong offensive smell : stench
fe·to·scope ['fē-tə-,skōp] -n
- an endoscope for visual examination of the pregnant uterus
- a stethoscope for listening to the fetal heartbeat
fet·ter ['fe-tər] -n
- a chain or shackle for the feet
- something that confines : restraint
fetter -vt
- to put fetters on : shackle
- to restrain from motion, action, or progress
fet·tle ['fe-tᵊl] -n
- state or condition of health, fitness, wholeness, spirit, or form often used in the phrase in fine fettle
fettle ['fet-liŋ, 'fe-tᵊl-iŋ] -vt
- to cover or line the hearth of (as a reverberatory furnace) with loose material (as sand or gravel)
fet·tuc·ci·ne [,fe-tə-'chē-nē] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- pasta in the form of narrow ribbons
- a dish of which fettuccine forms the base
fettuccine Al·fre·do [-(,)al-'frā-(,)dō, -(,)äl-] -n
- a dish consisting of fettuccine with butter, Parmesan cheese, cream, and seasonings called also fettuccine all'Alfredo -al-()al-, -al-()al-
fe·tus ['fē-təs] -n
- an unborn or unhatched vertebrate esp. after attaining the basic structural plan of its kind
- a developing human from usu. two months after conception to birth
feud ['fyüd] -n, vi
- a mutual enmity or quarrel that is often prolonged or inveterate
- blood feud
- fee
feu·dal ['fyü-dᵊl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a medieval fee
- of, relating to, or suggestive of feudalism
feu·dal·ism ['fyü-də-,li-zəm] -n, adj
- the system of political organization prevailing in Europe from the 9th to about the 15th centuries having as its basis the relation of lord to vassal with all land held in fee and as chief characteristics homage, the service of tenants under arms and in court, wardship, and forfeiture
- any of various political or social systems similar to medieval feudalism
feu·dal·i·ty [fyü-'da-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being feudal
- a feudal holding, domain, or concentration of power
feu·dal·ize ['fyü-də-,līz] -vt, n
- to make feudal
feu·da·to·ry ['fyü-də-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- owing feudal allegiance
- being under the overlordship of a foreign state
feudatory -n
- a dependent lordship : fee
- one holding lands by feudal tenure
feud·ist ['fyü-dist] -n
- a specialist in feudal law
feudist -n
- one who feuds
feuil·le·ton [,fə-yə-'tōⁿ, ,fər- ,fœ-] -n
- a part of a European newspaper or magazine devoted to material designed to entertain the general reader
- something (as an installment of a novel) printed in a feuilleton
- a novel printed in installments
- a work of fiction catering to popular taste
- a short literary composition often having a familiar tone and reminiscent content
Feul·gen ['fȯil-gən] -adj
- of, relating to, utilizing, or staining by the Feulgen reaction
- positive Feulgen mitochondria
Feulgen reaction -n
- the development of a brilliant purple color by DNA in a microscopic preparation stained with a modified Schiff's reagent
fe·ver ['fē-vər] -n
- a rise of body temperature above the normal
- any of various diseases of which fever is a prominent symptom
- a state of heightened or intense emotion or activity
- a contagious usu. transient enthusiasm : craze
fever ['fē-vriŋ, 'fe-vər-iŋ] -vb
- to throw into a fever : agitate
- to contract or be in a fever : become feverish
fever blister -n
- cold sore
fe·ver·few ['fē-vər-,fyü] -n
- a perennial European composite herb ( Chrysanthemum parthenium) widely cultivated as an ornamental
fe·ver·ish ['fē-vrish, 'fe-vər-ish] -adj, adv, n
- tending to cause fever
- having the symptoms of a fever
- indicating or relating to fever
- marked by intense emotion, activity, or instability
fe·ver·ous ['fē-vrəs, 'fe-vər-əs] -adj
- feverish
fever pitch -n
- a state of intense excitement and agitation
fever tree -n
- any of several shrubs or trees that are thought to indicate regions free from fever or that yield remedies for fever
- an African acacia ( Acacia xanthlophloea)
fe·ver·wort ['fē-vər-,wərt, -,wȯrt] -n
- a coarse American herb ( Triosteum perfoliatum) of the honeysuckle family called also horse gentian
few ['fyü] -pron, pl in constr
- not many persons or things
- few of his stories are true
- consisting of or amounting to only a small number
- at least some but indeterminately small in number used with a
- a small number of units or individuals
- a special limited number
few·er ['fyü-ər, 'fyu̇r] -pron, pl in constr
- a smaller number of persons or things
fewer ['fyü] -pron, pl in constr
(variant of few)
- not many persons or things
- few of his stories are true
- consisting of or amounting to only a small number
- at least some but indeterminately small in number used with a
- a small number of units or individuals
- a special limited number
few·trils ['fyü-trəlz] -n pl
- things of little value : trifles
fey ['fā] -adj, adv, n
- fated to die : doomed
- marked by a foreboding of death or calamity
- able to see into the future : visionary
- marked by an otherworldly air or attitude
- crazy, touched
- excessively refined : precious
- quaintly unconventional : campy
fez ['fez] -n, adj
- a brimless cone-shaped flat-crowned hat that usu. has a tassel, is usu. made of red felt, and is worn esp. by men in eastern Mediterranean countries