fo -abbr
- folio
FO -abbr
- field officer
- field order
- finance officer
- flight officer
- foreign office
- forward observer
foal ['fōl] -n
- a young animal of the horse family
- one under one year
- to give birth to a foal
- to give birth to (a foal)
foam ['fōm] -n, adj
- : a light frothy mass of fine bubbles formed in or on the surface of a liquid or from a liquid: as
- a frothy mass formed in salivating or sweating
- a stabilized froth produced chemically or mechanically and used esp. in fighting oil fires
- a material in a lightweight cellular form resulting from introduction of gas bubbles during manufacture
- sea
- something resembling foam
- to produce or form foam
- to froth at the mouth esp. in anger
- to be angry
- to gush out in foam
- to become covered with or as if with foam
- streets...foam ing with life -- Thomas Wolfe
- to cause to foam
- to cause air bubbles to form in
- to convert (as a plastic) into a foam
foam cell -n
- a swollen vacuolated phagocytic cell filled with lipid inclusions that often accummulates along arterial walls and is characteristic of some conditions of disturbed lipid metabolism
foamed plastic -n
- expanded plastic
foam·flow·er ['fōm-,flau̇(-ə)r] -n
- a spring-flowering herb ( Tiarella cordifolia) of eastern No. America that has white flowers with long stamens and no stem leaves called also false miterwort
foam rubber -n
- spongy rubber of fine texture made from latex by foaming (as by whipping) before vulcanization
foamy ['fō-mē] -adj, adv, n
- covered with foam : frothy
- full of, consisting of, or resembling foam
fob ['fäb] -vt
- deceive, cheat
- watch pocket
- a short strap, ribbon, or chain attached esp. to a pocket watch
- an ornament attached to a fob chain
FOB -abbr
- free on board
fob off -vt
- to put off with a trick, excuse, or inferior substitute
- to pass or offer (something spurious) as genuine
- to put aside
- now fob off what once they would have welcomed eagerly -- Walter Lippmann
FOC -abbr
- free of charge
fo·cac·cia [fō-'kä-ch(ē-)ə] -n
- a flat Italian bread typically seasoned with herbs and olive oil
fo·cal ['fō-kəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, being, or having a focus
focal infection -n
- a persistent bacterial infection of some organ or region
- one causing symptoms elsewhere in the body
fo·cal·ize ['fō-kə-,līz] -vb, n
- to bring to a focus
- localize
- to come to a focus : concentrate
- localize
focal length -n
- the distance of a focus from the surface of a lens or curved mirror
focal plane -n
- a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of a lens or mirror and passes through the focus
focal point -n
- focus
- focus
focal ratio -n
- f-number
fo'c'sle ['fōk-səl; 'fȯr-,ka-səl] -n
(variant of forecastle)
- the forward part of the upper deck of a ship
- the crew's quarters usu. in a ship's bow
fo·cus ['fō-kəs] -n, adj
- a point at which rays (as of light, heat, or sound) converge or from which they diverge or appear to diverge
- the point where the geometrical lines or their prolongations conforming to the rays diverging from or converging toward another point intersect and give rise to an image after reflection by a mirror or refraction by a lens or optical system
- a point of convergence of a beam of particles (as electrons)
- focal length
- adjustment for distinct vision
- the area that may be seen distinctly or resolved into a clear image
- a state or condition permitting clear perception or understanding
- tried to bring the issues into focus
- direction
- one of the fixed points that with the corresponding directrix defines a conic section
- a localized area of disease or the chief site of a generalized disease or infection
- a center of activity, attraction, or attention
- the focus of the meeting was drug abuse
- a point of concentration
- the place of origin of an earthquake or moonquake
- directed attention : emphasis
focus [-kə-sə-bəl] -vb, adj, n
- to bring into focus
- to adjust the focus of (as the eye or a lens)
- to cause to be concentrated
- focus ed their attention on the most urgent problems
- to bring (as light rays) to a focus : concentrate
- to come to a focus : converge
- to adjust one's eye or a camera to a particular range
- to concentrate attention or effort
focus group -n
- a small group of people whose response to something (as a new product or a politician's image) is studied to determine the response that can be expected from a larger population
fod·der ['fä-dər] -n, vt
- something fed to domestic animals
- coarse food for cattle, horses, or sheep
- inferior or readily available material used to supply a heavy demand
fod·gel ['fä-jəl] -adj
- buxom
foe ['fō] -n
- one who has personal enmity for another
- an enemy in war
- adversary, opponent
- one who opposes on principle
- a foe of needless expenditures
- something prejudicial or injurious
FOE -abbr
- Fraternal Order of Eagles
foehn ['fə(r)n, 'fœn, 'fān] -n
- a warm dry wind blowing down the side of a mountain
foe·man ['fō-mən] -n
- foe
foe·tal ['fē-tᵊl] -adj
(variant of fetal)
- of, relating to, or being a fetus
foe·tid ['fe-təd, esp Brit 'fē-tid] -adj, adv, n
(variant of fetid)
- having a heavy offensive smell
foeto- -comb form
(variant of feto-)
- fetus
fog ['fȯg, fäg] -n, adj
- vapor condensed to fine particles of water suspended in the lower atmosphere that differs from cloud only in being near the ground
- a fine spray or a foam for firefighting
- a murky condition of the atmosphere or a substance causing it
- a state of confusion or bewilderment
- spent the morning in a fog
- something that confuses or obscures
- hid behind a fog of rhetoric
- cloudiness or partial opacity in a developed photographic image caused by chemical action or stray radiation
- to cover, envelop, or suffuse with or as if with fog
- fog the barns with pesticide
- to make obscure or confusing
- accusations which fogged the real issues
- to make confused
- to produce fog on (as a photographic film) during development
- to become covered or thick with fog
- to become blurred by a covering of fog or mist
- to become indistinct through exposure to light or radiation
fog·bound ['fȯg-,bau̇nd, 'fäg-] -adj
- unable to move because of fog
- covered by fog
fog·bow [-,bō] -n
- a nebulous arc or circle of white or yellowish light sometimes seen in fog
fog·gage ['fȯ-gij, 'fä-] -n
- a second growth of grass
fog·ger ['fȯ-gər, 'fä-] -n
- an apparatus for spreading a fog of pesticide
fog·gy ['fȯ-gē, 'fä-] -adj, adv, n
- filled or abounding with fog
- covered or made opaque by moisture or grime
- blurred or obscured as if by fog
- hadn't the foggiest notion
Foggy Bottom -n
- the U.S. Department of State
fog·horn ['fȯg-,hȯrn, 'fäg-] -n
- a horn (as on a ship) sounded in a fog to give warning
- a loud hoarse voice
fo·gy ['fō-gē] -n, adj
- a person with old-fashioned ideas usu. used with old
FOIA -abbr
- Freedom of Information Act
foi·ble ['fȯi-bəl] -n
- the part of a sword or foil blade between the middle and point
- a minor flaw or shortcoming in character or behavior : weakness
- admired their teacher despite his foible s
foie gras ['fwä-'grä] -n
- the fatted liver of an animal and esp. of a goose usu. served as a pate
foil ['fȯi(-ə)l] -vt
- trample
- to prevent from attaining an end : defeat
- always able to foil her enemies
- to bring to naught : thwart
- defeat
- the track or trail of an animal
- very thin sheet metal
- a thin piece of material (as metal) put under an inferior or paste stone to add color or brilliance
- someone or something that serves as a contrast to another
- acted as a foil for a comedian
- an indentation between cusps in Gothic tracery
- one of several arcs that enclose a complex figure
- hydrofoil
- to back or cover with foil
- to enhance by contrast
- a light fencing sword having a usu. circular guard and a flexible blade of rectangular section tapering to a blunted point
- the art or sport of fencing with the foil often used in pl.
foiled ['fȯi(-ə)ld] -adj
- ornamented with foils
foils·man ['fȯi(-ə)lz-mən] -n
- a person who fences with a foil
foin ['fȯin] -vi
- to thrust with a pointed weapon : lunge
- a pass in fencing : lunge
foi·son ['fȯi-zᵊn] -n
- rich harvest
- physical energy or strength
- resources
foist ['fȯist] -vt
- to introduce or insert surreptitiously or without warrant
- to force another to accept esp. by stealth or deceit
- to pass off as genuine or worthy
- foist costly and valueless products on the public -- Jonathan Spivak
fo·la·cin ['fō-lə-sən] -n
- folic acid
fo·late ['fō-,lāt] -n
- folic acid
fold ['fōld] -n
- an enclosure for sheep
- a flock of sheep
- a group of people or institutions that share a common faith, belief, activity, or enthusiasm
- to pen up or confine (as sheep) in a fold
- to lay one part over another part of
- to reduce the length or bulk of by doubling over
- to clasp together : entwine
- to clasp or enwrap closely : embrace
- to bend (as a layer of rock) into folds
- to incorporate (a food ingredient) into a mixture by repeated gentle overturnings without stirring or beating
- to incorporate closely
- to concede defeat by withdrawing (one's cards) from play (as in poker)
- to bring to an end
- to become doubled or pleated
- to fail completely : collapse
- to go out of business
- to fold one's cards (as in poker)
- a part doubled or laid over another part : pleat
- something that is folded together or that enfolds
- a bend or flexure produced in rock by forces operative after the depositing or consolidation of the rock
- an undulation in the landscape
- a margin apparently formed by the doubling upon itself of a flat anatomical structure (as a membrane)
- a crease made by folding something (as a newspaper)
fold·away ['fōld-ə-,wā] -adj
- designed to be folded for storage or portability
fold·boat ['fōl(d)-,bōt] -n
- a small collapsible canoe made of rubberized sailcloth stretched over a framework
fold·er ['fōl-dər] -n
- one that folds
- a folded printed circular
- a folded cover or large envelope for holding or filing loose papers
- an organizational element of a computer operating system used to group files or other folders together
fol·de·rol ['fäl-də-,räl] -n
- a useless ornament or accessory : trifle
- nonsense
fold·ing ['fōl-diŋ] -adj
- capable of being folded into a more compact shape
folding money -n
- paper money
fold·out ['fōld-,au̇t] -n
- a folded leaf in a publication (as a book) that is larger in some dimension than the page
Fo·ley ['fō-lē] -n
- sound effects created for a film
fo·li·a·ceous [,fō-lē-'ā-shəs] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling an ordinary green leaf as distinguished from a modified leaf (as a petal, bract, or scale)
fo·liage ['fō-lē-ij also -lyij; ÷'fō-lij, ÷'fȯi-lij] -n, adj
- a representation of leaves, flowers, and branches for architectural ornamentation
- the aggregate of leaves of one or more plants
- a cluster of leaves, flowers, and branches
foliage plant -n
- a plant grown primarily for its decorative foliage
fo·li·ar ['fō-lē-ər] -adj
- of, relating to, or applied to leaves
fo·li·ate ['fō-lē-ət, -,āt] -adj
- shaped like a leaf
- foliated
fo·li·at·ed [-,ā-təd] -adj
- composed of or separable into layers
- ornamented with foils or a leaf design
fo·li·a·tion [,fō-lē-'ā-shən] -n
- the process of forming into a leaf
- the state of being in leaf
- vernation
- the numbering of the leaves of a manuscript or early printed book
- ornamentation with foliage
- a decoration resembling a leaf
- the enrichment of an opening by foils
- foliated texture
fo·lic acid [,fō-lik-] -n
- a crystalline vitamin C 19H 19N 7O 6of the B complex that is used esp. in the treatment of nutritional anemias called also pteroylglutamic acid
fo·lie a deux [fȯ-lē-ä-'dœ, ,fä-lē-,ä-'də(r)] -n
- the presence of the same or similar delusional ideas in two persons closely associated with one another
fo·lio ['fō-lē-,ō] -n
- a leaf esp. of a manuscript or book
- a leaf number
- a page number
- an identifying reference in accounting used in posting
- a sheet of paper folded once
- a case or folder for loose papers
- the size of a piece of paper cut two from a sheet
- paper or a page of this size
- a book printed on folio pages
- a book of the largest size
- a certain number of words taken as a unit or division in a document for purposes of measurement or reference
folio -vt
- to put a serial number on each leaf or page of
fo·li·ose ['fō-lē-,ōs] -adj
- having a flat, thin, and usu. lobed thallus attached to the substratum
folk ['fōk] -n
- a group of kindred tribes forming a nation : people
- the great proportion of the members of a people that determines the group character and that tends to preserve its characteristic form of civilization and its customs, arts and crafts, legends, traditions, and superstitions from generation to generation
- a certain kind, class, or group of people
- people generally
- the persons of one's own family
- parents
- folk music
- originating or traditional with the common people of a country or region and typically reflecting their lifestyle
- of or relating to the common people or to the study of the common people
folk art -n
- the traditional typically anonymous art of usu. untrained people
folk etymology -n
- the transformation of words so as to give them an apparent relationship to other better-known or better-understood words (as in the change of Spanish cucarachato English cockroach)
folk·ie ['fō-kē] -n
- a folk singer or instrumentalist
folkie -adj
- of or relating to folk music
folk·ish ['fō-kish] -adj, n
- folklike
folk·life ['fōk-,līf] -n
- the traditions, activities, skills, and products (as handicrafts) of a particular people or group
folk·like ['fōk-,līk] -adj
- having a folk character
folk·lore ['fōk-,lȯr] -n, adj
- traditional customs, tales, sayings, dances, or art forms preserved among a people
- a branch of knowledge that deals with folklore
- an often unsupported notion, story, or saying that is widely circulated
folk mass -n
- a mass in which traditional liturgical music is replaced by folk music
folk medicine -n
- traditional medicine as practiced nonprofessionally esp. by people isolated from modern medical services and usu. involving the use of plant-derived remedies on an empirical basis
folk·moot ['fōk-,müt] -n
- a general assembly of the people (as of a shire) in early England
folk·sing·er [-,siŋ-ər] -n
- one who sings folk songs or sings in a style associated with folk songs
folk song -n
- a traditional or composed song typically characterized by stanzaic form, refrain, and simplicity of melody
folksy ['fōk-sē] -adj, adv, n
- sociable, friendly
- informal, casual, or familiar in manner or style
folk·tale ['fōk-,tāl] -n
- a characteristically anonymous, timeless, and placeless tale circulated orally among a people
folk·way ['fōk-,wā] -n
- a mode of thinking, feeling, or acting common to a given group of people
- a traditional social custom
fol·li·cle ['fä-li-kəl] -n, adj
- a small anatomical cavity or deep narrow-mouthed depression
- a small lymph node
- a vesicle in the mammalian ovary that contains a developing egg surrounded by a covering of cells
- graafian follicle
- a dry dehiscent one-celled many-seeded fruit (as of the milkweed) that has a single carpel and opens along one suture
follicle mite -n
- any of several minute mites (genus Demodex) parasitic in hair follicles
folliclestimulating hormone -n
- a hormone produced by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland that stimulates the growth of the ovum-containing follicles in the ovary and activates sperm-forming cells abbr. FSH
fol·lic·u·li·tis [fə-,li-kyə-'lī-təs] -n
- inflammation of one or more follicles esp. of the hair
fol·low ['fä-(,)lō] -vb
- to go, proceed, or come after
- to engage in as a calling or way of life : pursue
- wheat-growing is generally follow ed here
- to walk or proceed along
- to be or act in accordance with
- to accept as authority : obey
- to pursue in an effort to overtake
- to seek to attain
- to come into existence or take place as a result or consequence of
- disaster follow ed the blunder
- to come or take place after in time, sequence, or order
- to cause to be followed
- follow ed dinner with a liqueur
- to copy after : imitate
- to watch steadily
- follow ed the flight of the ball
- to keep the mind on
- to attend closely to : keep abreast of
- follow ed his career with interest
- to understand the sense or logic of (as a line of thought)
- to go or come after a person or thing in place, time, or sequence
- to result or occur as a consequence, effect, or inference
follow -n
- the act or process of following
- forward spin given to a ball by striking it above center
fol·low·er ['fä-lə-wər] -n
- one in the service of another : retainer
- one that follows the opinions or teachings of another
- one that imitates another
- one that chases
- a sheet added to the first sheet of an indenture or other deed
- a machine part that receives motion from another part
- a spring-loaded plate at the bottom of a firearm's magazine that angles cartridges for proper insertion into the chamber
- fan, devotee
fol·low·er·ship [-,ship] -n
- following
- the capacity or willingness to follow a leader
fol·low·ing ['fä-lə-wiŋ] -adj
- being next in order or time
- listed or shown next
- trains will leave at the following times
following -n
- a group of followers, adherents, or partisans
- subsequent to
- following the lecture tea was served
fol·lowon ['fä-lō-,ȯn, -,än] -adj, n
- being or relating to something that follows as a natural or logical consequence, development, or progression
follow out -vt
- to follow to the end or to a conclusion
- carry out, execute
- followed out their orders
follow shot -n
- a shot in billiards or pool made by striking the cue ball above its center to cause it to continue forward after striking the object ball
- a camera shot in which the camera follows the movement of the subject
fol·lowthrough ['fä-lō-,thrü, ,fä-lō-', -lə-] -n
- the part of the stroke following the striking of a ball
- the act or an instance of following through
follow through -vi
- to continue a stroke or motion to the end of its arc
- to press on in an activity or process esp. to a conclusion
fol·lowup ['fä-lō-,əp] -n
- the act or an instance of following up
- something that follows up
- maintenance of contact with or reexamination of a person (as a patient) esp. following treatment
- a news story presenting new information on a story published earlier
followup -adj
- of, relating to, or being something that follows up
- followup action by the police -- Frank Faulkner
- done, conducted, or administered in the course of following up persons
- followup care for discharged hospital patients
follow up -vt
- to follow with something similar, related, or supplementary
- following up his convictions with action -- G. P. Merrill
- to maintain contact with (a person) so as to monitor the effects of earlier activities or treatments
- to pursue in an effort to take further action
- the police are following up leads
- to take appropriate action
fol·ly ['fä-lē] -n
- lack of good sense or normal prudence and foresight
- criminally or tragically foolish actions or conduct
- evil, wickedness
- lewd behavior
- a foolish act or idea
- an excessively costly or unprofitable undertaking
- an often extravagant picturesque building erected to suit a fanciful taste
Fol·som ['fōl-səm] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a prehistoric culture of No. America on the east side of the Rocky Mountains that is characterized by flint projectile points having a concave base with side projections and a longitudinal groove on each face
fo·ment ['fō-,ment, fō-'] -vt, n
- to promote the growth or development of : rouse, incite
fo·men·ta·tion [,fō-mən-'tā-shən, -,men-] -n
- the application of hot moist substances to the body to ease pain
- the material so applied
- the act of fomenting : instigation
fo·mite ['fō-,mīt] -n
- an object (as a dish or an article of clothing) that may be contaminated with infectious organisms and serve in their transmission
fond ['fänd] -adj
- foolish, silly
- prizing highly : desirous used with of
- having an affection or liking used with of
- foolishly tender : indulgent
- affectionate, loving
- absence makes the heart grow fond er
- cherished with great affection : doted on
- to lavish affection : dote
- background, basis
- fund
fon·dant ['fän-dənt] -n
- a soft creamy preparation of sugar, water, and flavorings that is used as a basis for candies or icings
- a candy consisting chiefly of fondant
fon·dle ['fän-dᵊl] -vb, n
- pamper
- to handle tenderly, lovingly, or lingeringly : caress
- to show affection or desire by caressing
fond·ly ['fän-(d)lē] -adv
- in a foolish manner : foolishly
- in a fond manner : affectionately
- in a willingly credulous manner
- it would stun, I fondly hoped, the reader -- Annie Dillard
fond·ness ['fän(d)-nəs] -n
- foolishness, folly
- tender affection
- appetite, relish
- had a fondness for argument
fon·due [fän-'dü, -'dyü, 'fän-,] -n
- a dish similar to a souffle usu. made with cheese and bread crumbs
- a preparation of melted cheese (as Swiss cheese and Gruyere) usu. flavored with white wine and kirsch
- a dish that consists of small pieces of food (as meat or fruit) cooked in or dipped into a hot liquid
- a chafing dish in which fondue is made
font ['fänt] -n, adj
- a receptacle for baptismal water
- a receptacle for holy water
- a receptacle for various liquids
- source, fountain
- an assortment or set of type or characters all of one style and sometimes one size
fon·ta·nel [,fän-tə-'nel, 'fän-tə-,] -n
- a membrane-covered opening in bone or between bones
- any of the spaces closed by membranous structures between the uncompleted angles of the parietal bones and the neighboring bones of a fetal or young skull
fon·ti·na [fän-'tē-nə] -n
- a cheese that is semisoft to hard in texture and mild to medium sharp in flavor
food ['füd] -n, adj
- material consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, and fat used in the body of an organism to sustain growth, repair, and vital processes and to furnish energy
- such food together with supplementary substances (as minerals, vitamins, and condiments)
- inorganic substances absorbed by plants in gaseous form or in water solution
- nutriment in solid form
- something that nourishes, sustains, or supplies
food chain -n
- an arrangement of the organisms of an ecological community according to the order of predation in which each uses the next usu. lower member as a food source
- a hierarchy based on power or importance
- at the top of the corporate food chain
food court -n
- an area within a building (as a shopping mall) set apart for food concessions
food·ie ['fü-dē] -n
- a person having an avid interest in the latest food fads
foo dog ['fü-] -n
- a mythical lion-dog used as a decorative motif in Far Eastern art
food poisoning -n
- an acute gastrointestinal disorder caused by bacteria or their toxic products or by chemical residues in food
food processor -n
- an electric kitchen appliance with a set of interchangeable blades revolving inside a container
food pyramid -n
- an ecological hierarchy of food relationships in which a chief predator is at the top, each level preys on the next lower level, and usu. green plants are at the bottom
food stamp -n
- a government-issued coupon that is sold or given to low-income persons and is redeemable for food
food·stuff ['füd-,stəf] -n
- a substance with food value
- the raw material of food before or after processing
food vacuole -n
- a membrane-bound vacuole (as in an amoeba) in which ingested food is digested
food·ways ['füd-,wāz] -n pl
- the eating habits and culinary practices of a people, region, or historical period
food web -n
- the totality of interacting food chains in an ecological community
foo·fa·raw ['fü-fə-,rȯ] -n
- frills and flashy finery
- a disturbance or to-do over a trifle : fuss
fool ['fül] -n
- a person lacking in judgment or prudence
- a retainer formerly kept in great households to provide casual entertainment and commonly dressed in motley with cap, bells, and bauble
- one who is victimized or made to appear foolish : dupe
- a harmlessly deranged person or one lacking in common powers of understanding
- one with a marked propensity or fondness for something
- a cold dessert of pureed fruit mixed with whipped cream or custard
- foolish, silly
- barking its fool head off
- to behave foolishly
- told the children to stop their fool ing
often used with around - to meddle, tamper, or experiment esp. thoughtlessly or ignorantly often used with around
- to play or improvise a comic role
- to speak in jest : joke
- to contend or fight without serious intent or with less than full strength : toy
- a dangerous man to fool with
- to make a fool of : deceive
- infatuate
- to spend on trifles or without advantage : fritter used with away
fool around -vi
- to spend time idly, aimlessly, or frivolously
- to engage in casual sexual activity
fool·ery ['fül-rē, 'fü-lə-] -n
- a foolish act, utterance, or belief
- foolish behavior
fool·har·dy ['fül-,här-dē] -adj, adv, n
- foolishly adventurous and bold : rash
fool·ish ['fü-lish] -adj, adv
- lacking in sense, judgment, or discretion
- absurd, ridiculous
- marked by a loss of composure : nonplussed
- insignificant, trifling
fool·ish·ness -n
- foolish behavior
- a foolish act or idea
fool·proof ['fül-,prüf] -adj
- so simple, plain, or reliable as to leave no opportunity for error, misuse, or failure
fools·cap ['fülz-,kap] -n
- a cap or hood usu. with bells worn by jesters
- a conical cap for slow or lazy students
- a size of paper formerly standard in Great Britain
- a piece of writing paper
fool's gold -n
- pyrite
- any of various pyritic minerals resembling gold
fool's paradise -n
- a state of delusory happiness
fool's parsley -n
- a poisonous European weed ( Aethusa cynapium) of the carrot family that resembles parsley and is naturalized in the northern U.S. and southern Canada
foos·ball ['füz-,bȯl] -n
- a table game resembling soccer in which the ball is moved by manipulating rods to which small figures of players are attached called also table soccer
foot ['fu̇t] -n
- 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)
foot·age ['fu̇-tij] -n
- : length or quantity expressed in feet: as
- board feet
- the total number of running feet of motion-picture film used (as for a scene or subject)
- the material contained on such footage
footandmouth disease -n
- an acute contagious febrile disease esp. of cloven-footed animals that is caused by serotypes of a picornavirus (species Foot-and-mouth disease virusof the genus Aphthovirus) and is marked by ulcerating vesicles in the mouth, about the hooves, and on the udder and teats called also foot-and-mouth hoof-and-mouth disease
foot·ball ['fu̇t-,bȯl] -n
- : any of several games played between two teams on a usu. rectangular field having goalposts or goals at each end and whose object is to get the ball over a goal line, into a goal, or between goalposts by running, passing, or kicking: as
- soccer
- rugby
- an American game played between two teams of 11 players each in which the ball is in possession of one side at a time and is advanced by running or passing
- australian rules football
- canadian football
- an inflated oval ball used in the game of football
- a soccer ball
- something treated roughly esp. as the subject of a prolonged dispute
- the issue became a political football in Congress
foot·bath ['fu̇t-,bath, -,bäth] -n
- a bath for cleansing, warming, soothing, or disinfecting the feet
foot·board ['fu̇t-,bȯrd] -n
- a narrow platform on which to stand or brace the feet
- a board forming the foot of a bed
foot·boy [-,bȯi] -n
- a serving boy : page, attendant
foot·bridge ['fu̇t-,brij] -n
- a bridge for pedestrians
footcan·dle [-'kan-dᵊl] -n
- a unit of illuminance on a surface that is everywhere one foot from a uniform point source of light of one candle and equal to one lumen per square foot
foot·cloth [-,klȯth] -n
- an ornamental cloth draped over the back of a horse to reach the ground on each side
- carpet
foot·drag·ger [-,dra-gər] -n
- one who engages in foot-dragging
footdrag·ging [-,dra-giŋ] -n
- failure to act with the necessary promptness or vigor
foot·ed ['fu̇-təd] -adj
- having a foot or feet esp. of a specified kind or number often used in combination
foot·er ['fu̇-tər] -n
- pedestrian
- information (as a page number) printed at the bottom of each page of a document
foot·fall ['fu̇t-,fȯl] -n
- the sound of a footstep
foot fault ['fu̇t-,fȯlt] -n, vi
- an infraction of the service rules (as in tennis, racquetball, or volleyball) that results from illegal placement of the server's feet
foot·gear ['fu̇t-,gir] -n
- footwear
foot·hill [-,hil] -n
- a hill at the foot of higher hills
- a hilly region at the base of a mountain range
foot·hold [-,hōld] -n
- a hold for the feet : footing
- a position usable as a base for further advance
foot·ing ['fu̇-tiŋ] -n
- a stable position or placing of the feet
- a surface or its condition with respect to one walking or running on it
- the condition of a racetrack
- the act of moving on foot : step, tread
- a place or position providing a base of operations : foothold
- established position : status
- position or rank in relation to others
- they all started off on an equal footing
- basis
- terms of social intercourse
- an enlargement at the lower end of a foundation wall, pier, or column to distribute the load
- the sum of a column of figures
foot·lam·bert ['fu̇t-,lam-bərt] -n
- a unit of luminance equal to the luminance of a perfectly diffusing surface that emits or reflects one lumen per square foot
foo·tle ['fü-tᵊl] -vi, n
- to talk or act foolishly
- to waste time : trifle, fool
foot·less ['fu̇t-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- having no feet
- lacking foundation : unsubstantial
- stupid, inept
foot·lights [-,līts] -n pl
- a row of lights set across the front of a stage floor
- the stage as a profession
- the lure of the footlights
foo·tling ['fü-tᵊl-iŋ, 'füt-liŋ] -adj
- lacking judgment or ability : inept
- footling amateurs who understand nothing -- E. R. Bentley
- lacking use or value : trivial
foot·lock·er ['fu̇t-,lä-kər] -n
- a small trunk designed to be placed at the foot of a bed (as in a barracks)
foot·loose [-,lüs] -adj
- having no ties : free to move about
foot·man [-mən] -n
- a traveler on foot : pedestrian
- infantryman
- a servant in livery formerly attending a rider or required to run in front of his master's carriage
- a servant who serves at table, tends the door, and runs errands
foot·mark [-,märk] -n
- footprint
foot·note [-,nōt] -n
- a note of reference, explanation, or comment usu. placed below the text on a printed page
- one that is a relatively subordinate or minor part (as of an event, work, or field)
- a movement now regarded as a footnote to architectural history
- commentary
footnote -vt
- to furnish with a footnote : annotate
foot·pace ['fu̇t-,pās] -n
- a walking pace
- platform, dais
foot·pad [-,pad] -n
- a criminal who robs pedestrians
footpad -n
- a flattish foot on the leg of a spacecraft for distributing weight to minimize sinking into a surface
foot·path ['fu̇t-,path, -,päth] -n
- a narrow path for pedestrians
footpound [-'pau̇nd] -n
- a unit of work equal to the work done by a force of one pound acting through a distance of one foot in the direction of the force
footpoundsecond -adj
- being or relating to a system of units based upon the foot as the unit of length, the pound as the unit of weight, and the second as the unit of time abbr. fps
foot·print ['fu̇t-,print] -n
- an impression of the foot on a surface
- the area on a surface covered by something
- a tire with a wide footprint
- the footprint of a laser beam
- range of operation (as of a service)
- a marked effect, impression, or impact
- left a footprint in the field of research
- something that identifies
foot·race [-,rās] -n
- a race run by humans on foot
foot·rest [-,rest] -n
- a support for the feet
foot·rope [-,rōp] -n
- the part of a boltrope sewed to the lower edge of a sail
- a rope rigged below a yard for crew members to stand on
foot rot -n
- a progressive inflammation of the feet of sheep, goats, or cattle that is associated with bacterial infection
- a plant disease marked by rot of the stem near the ground
foot·sie ['fu̇t-sē] -n
- a furtive flirtatious caressing with the feet (as under a table)
- a usu. surreptitious cooperation or negotiation with someone supposed hostile to one's own interests usu. used with play
foot·slog ['fu̇t-,släg] -vi, n
- to march or tramp through mud
foot soldier -n
- infantryman
- a person likened to an infantryman esp. in doing active and usu. unglamorous work in support of an organization or movement
- foot soldiers in the war against drugs
foot·sore ['fu̇t-,sȯr] -adj, n
- having sore or tender feet (as from much walking)
foot·step [-,step] -n
- the mark of the foot : track
- tread
- distance covered by a step : pace
- a step on which to ascend or descend
- a way of life, conduct, or action
- followed in his father's footstep s
foot·stone [-,stōn] -n
- a stone placed at the foot of a grave
foot·stool [-,stül] -n
- a low stool used to support the feet
foot·wall [-,wȯl] -n
- the lower underlying wall of a vein, ore deposit, or coal seam in a mine
- the lower wall of an inclined fault
foot·way [-,wā] -n
- a narrow way or path for pedestrians
foot·wear [-,wer] -n
- wearing apparel (as shoes or boots) for the feet
foot·work [-,wərk] -n
- the activity of moving from place to place
- the investigation entailed a lot of footwork
- the management of the feet (as in boxing)
- the work done with them
- active and adroit maneuvering to achieve an end
foo·zle ['fü-zəl] -n
- an act of foozling
- a bungling golf stroke
foozle ['füz-liŋ, 'fü-zə-] -vt
- to manage or play awkwardly : bungle
fop ['fäp] -n
- a foolish or silly person
- a man who is devoted to or vain about his appearance or dress : coxcomb, dandy
- fool, dupe
fop·pery ['fä-p(ə-)rē] -n
- foolish character or action : folly
- the behavior or dress of a fop
fop·pish ['fä-pish] -adj, adv, n
- foolish, silly
- characteristic of a fop
- behaving or dressing in the manner of a fop
for [fər, (')fȯr, Southern also (')fär] -prep
- used as a function word to indicate purpose
- a grant for studying medicine
- used as a function word to indicate an intended goal
- used as a function word to indicate the object or recipient of a perception, desire, or activity
- as being or constituting
- used as a function word to indicate an actual or implied enumeration or selection
- for one thing, the price is too high
- because of
- used as a function word to indicate suitability or fitness
- it is not for you to choose
- in place of
- on behalf of : representing
- in favor of
- in spite of usu. used with all
- for all his large size, he moves gracefully
- with respect to : concerning
- used as a function word to indicate equivalence in exchange , equality in number or quantity , or correspondence or correlation
- for every one that works, you'll find five that don't
- used as a function word to indicate number of attempts
- used as a function word to indicate duration of time or extent of space
- in honor of : after
- named for her grandmother
- for the reason that : on this ground : because
- foreign
- forestry
FOR -abbr
- free on rail
for- -prefix
- so as to involve prohibition, exclusion, omission, failure, neglect, or refusal
- destructively or detrimentally
- completely : excessively : to exhaustion : to pieces
fora ['fȯr-əm] -n
(variant of forum)
- the marketplace or public place of an ancient Roman city forming the center of judicial and public business
- a public meeting place for open discussion
- a medium (as a newspaper or online service) of open discussion or expression of ideas
- a judicial body or assembly : court
- a public meeting or lecture involving audience discussion
- a program (as on radio or television) involving discussion of a problem usu. by several authorities
for·age ['fȯr-ij, 'fär-] -n
- food for animals esp. when taken by browsing or grazing
- the act of foraging : search for provisions
forage -vb, n
- to strip of provisions : collect forage from
- to secure by foraging
- foraged a chicken for the feast
- to wander in search of forage or food
- to secure forage (as for horses) by stripping the country
- ravage, raid
- to make a search : rummage
fo·ram ['fȯr-əm] -n
- foraminifer
fo·ra·men [fə-'rā-mən] -n, adj
- a small opening, perforation, or orifice : fenestra
fo·ra·men mag·num [fə-,rā-mən-'mag-nəm] -n
- the opening in the skull through which the spinal cord passes to become the medulla oblongata
foramen ova·le [-ō-'va-lē, -'vä-, -'vā-] -n
- an opening in the septum between the two atria of the heart that is normally present only in the fetus
for·a·min·i·fer [,fȯr-ə-'mi-nə-fər, ,fär-] -n, adj
- any of an order (Foraminifera) of large chiefly marine rhizopod protozoans usu. having calcareous shells that often are perforated with minute holes for protrusion of slender pseudopodia and form the bulk of chalk and nummulitic limestone
fo·ra·mi·nif·era [fə-,ra-mə-'ni-f(ə-)rə; ,fȯr-ə-mə-'ni-, ,fär-] -n pl
- organisms that are foraminifers
fo·ra·mi·nif·er·an [-f(ə-)rən] -n
- foraminifer
for and -conj
- and also
for·as·much as ['fȯr-əz-,mə-chəz] -conj
- in view of the fact that
for·ay ['fȯr-,ā, 'fär- also fȯ-'rā or fə-'] -vb, n
- to ravage in search of spoils : pillage
- to make a raid or brief invasion
- foray ed into enemy territory
foray -n
- a sudden or irregular invasion or attack for war or spoils : raid
- a brief excursion or attempt esp. outside one's accustomed sphere
- the novelist's foray into nonfiction
forb ['fȯrb] -n
- an herb other than grass
for·bear [fȯr-'ber, fər-] -vb, n
- to do without
- to hold oneself back from esp. with an effort
- forbore mentioning the incident
- to leave alone : shun
- forbear his presence -- Shak.
- hold back, abstain
- have forborne from taking part in any controversy -- Abraham Lincoln
- to control oneself when provoked : be patient
forbear [-,ber] -n
(variant of forebear)
- ancestor, forefather
- precursor usu. used in pl.
for·bear·ance [fȯr-'ber-ən(t)s, fər-] -n
- a refraining from the enforcement of something (as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due
- the act of forbearing : patience
- the quality of being forbearing : leniency
for·bid [fər-'bid, fȯr-] -vt, n
- to proscribe from or as if from the position of one in authority : command against
- the law forbid s stores to sell liquor to minors
- her mother forbid s her to go
- to hinder or prevent as if by an effectual command
- space forbid s further treatment here
forbid -adj
- accursed
- he shall live a man forbid -- Shak.
for·bid·dance [fər-'bi-dᵊn(t)s, fȯr-] -n
- the act of forbidding
for·bid·den [-'bi-dᵊn] -adj
- not permitted or allowed
- not conforming to the usual selection principles used of quantum phenomena
forbidden fruit -n
- an immoral or illegal pleasure
forbidding [-'bi-diŋ-lē] -adj, adv
- such as to make approach or passage difficult or impossible
- disagreeable, repellent
- grim, menacing
forbode [(,)fȯr-'bōd] -vt, n
(variant of forebode)
- to have an inward conviction of (as coming ill or misfortune)
- foretell, portend
- augur, predict
for·by [fȯr-'bī] -prep
- past
- near
- besides
forby -adv
- besides: in addition
force ['fȯrs] -n, adj
- strength or energy exerted or brought to bear : cause of motion or change : active power
- the motivating force in her life
- used with a number to indicate the strength of the wind according to the Beaufort scale
- moral or mental strength
- capacity to persuade or convince
- the force of the argument
- military strength
- a body (as of troops or ships) assigned to a military purpose
- the whole military strength (as of a nation)
- a body of persons or things available for a particular end
- an individual or group having the power of effective action
- join force s to prevent violence
- police force usu. used with the
- violence, compulsion, or constraint exerted upon or against a person or thing
- an agency or influence that if applied to a free body results chiefly in an acceleration of the body and sometimes in elastic deformation and other effects
- any of the natural influences (as electromagnetism, gravity, the strong force, and the weak force) that exist esp. between particles and determine the structure of the universe
- the quality of conveying impressions intensely in writing or speech
- stated the objectives with force
- to do violence to
- rape
- to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means
- to make or cause esp. through natural or logical necessity
- the last minute goal forced overtime
- to press, drive, pass, or effect against resistance or inertia
- to impose or thrust urgently, importunately, or inexorably
- force unwanted attentions on a coworker
- : to achieve or win by strength in struggle or violence: as
- to win one's way into
- forced the mountain passes
- to break open or through
- to raise or accelerate to the utmost
- to produce only with unnatural or unwilling effort
- to wrench, strain, or use (language) with marked unnaturalness and lack of ease
- to hasten the rate of progress or growth of
- to bring (as plants) to maturity out of the normal season
- forcing lilies for Easter
- to induce (as a particular bid or play by another player) in a card game by some conventional act, play, bid, or response
- to cause (a runner in baseball) to be put out on a force-out
- to cause (a run) to be scored in baseball by giving a base on balls when the bases are full
forced ['fȯr-səd-lē] -adj, adv
- compelled by force or necessity : involuntary
- done or produced with effort, exertion, or pressure
forcefeed -vt
- to feed (as an animal) by forcible administration of food
- to force to take in
- forcefeed students the classics
also used with a single object - forcefeed the classics to students
- forcefeed students with the classics
force field -n
- field
- a special charm, aura, or spirit that can influence anyone in its presence
- something resembling a force field esp. in intensity that restricts or impedes movement toward an area or object
force·ful ['fȯrs-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- possessing or filled with force : effective
force ma·jeure [,fȯrs-mä-'zhər, -mə-] -n
- superior or irresistible force
- an event or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled
force·meat ['fȯrs-,mēt] -n
- finely chopped and highly seasoned meat or fish that is either served alone or used as a stuffing called also farce
force of habit
- behavior made involuntary or automatic by repeated practice
force of nature
- force
forceout ['fȯrs-,au̇t] -n
- a play in baseball in which a runner is put out by being forced to advance to the next base but failing to do so safely
force play -n
- force-out
for·ceps ['fȯr-səps, -,seps] -n, adj
- an instrument for grasping, holding firmly, or exerting traction upon objects esp. for delicate operations (as by jewelers or surgeons)
force pump -n
- a pump with a solid piston for drawing and forcing through valves a liquid (as water) to a considerable height above the pump or under a considerable pressure
forc·ible ['fȯr-sə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- effected by force used against opposition or resistance
- characterized by force, efficiency, or energy : powerful
ford ['fȯrd] -n
- a shallow part of a body of water that may be crossed by wading
- to cross (a body of water) by wading
for·do [fȯr-'dü] -vt
- to do away with : destroy
- to overcome with fatigue used only as past participle
- quite fordone with the heat
fore ['fȯr] -adv
- at an earlier time or period
- in, toward, or near the front : forward
- before
- in the presence of
- situated in front of something else : forward
- prior in order of occurrence : former
- something that occupies a front position
- used by a golfer to warn anyone within range of the probable line of flight of the ball
fore- -comb form
- earlier : beforehand
- occurring earlier : occurring beforehand
- situated at the front : in front
- front part of (something specified)
- foremast
foreandaft [,fȯr-ə-'naft] -adj
- lying, running, or acting in the general line of the length of a construction (as a ship or a house) : longitudinal
- having no square sails
fore and aft -adv
- lengthwise of a ship : from stem to stern
- in, at, or toward both the bow and stern
- in or at the front and back or the beginning and end
foreandaft·er [-'naf-tər] -n
- a ship with a fore-and-aft rig
- schooner
foreandaft rig -n
- a sailing-ship rig in which most or all of the sails are not attached to yards but are bent to gaffs or set on the masts or on stays in a fore-and-aft line
fore·arm [(,)fȯr-'ärm] -vt
- to arm in advance : prepare
- the part of the human arm between the elbow and the wrist
- the corresponding part in other vertebrates
fore·bay ['fȯr-,bā] -n
- a reservoir or canal from which water is taken to run equipment (as a waterwheel or turbine)
fore·bear [-,ber] -n
- ancestor, forefather
- precursor usu. used in pl.
fore·bear·er ['fȯr-,ber-ər] -n
- ancestor, forefather
fore·bode [(,)fȯr-'bōd] -vt, n
- to have an inward conviction of (as coming ill or misfortune)
- foretell, portend
- augur, predict
fore·bod·ing [-'bō-diŋ] -n
- the act of one who forebodes
- an omen, prediction, or presentiment esp. of coming evil : portent
foreboding [-diŋ-lē] -adj, adv, n
- indicative of or marked by foreboding
fore·brain ['fȯr-,brān] -n
- the anterior of the three primary divisions of the developing vertebrate brain or the corresponding part of the adult brain that includes esp. the cerebral hemispheres, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus and that esp. in higher vertebrates is the main control center for sensory and associative information processing, visceral functions, and voluntary motor functions called also prosencephalon
fore·cad·die [-,ka-dē] -n
- a golf caddie who is stationed in the fairway and who indicates the position of balls on the course
fore·cast [-,kast; fȯr-'kast] -vb, adj, n
- to calculate or predict (some future event or condition) usu. as a result of study and analysis of available pertinent data
- to predict (weather conditions) on the basis of correlated meteorological observations
- to indicate as likely to occur
- to serve as a forecast of : presage
- such events may forecast peace
- to calculate the future
- foresight of consequences and provision against them : forethought
- a prophecy, estimate, or prediction of a future happening or condition
fore·cas·tle ['fōk-səl; 'fȯr-,ka-səl] -n
- the forward part of the upper deck of a ship
- the crew's quarters usu. in a ship's bow
fore·check ['fȯr-,chek] -vi, n
- to check an opponent in ice hockey in the opponent's defensive zone
fore·close [(,)fȯr-'klōz] -vb
- to shut out : preclude
- to hold exclusively
- to deal with or close in advance
- to subject to foreclosure proceedings
- to foreclose a mortgage
fore·clo·sure [-'klō-zhər] -n
- an act or instance of foreclosing
- a legal proceeding that bars or extinguishes a mortgagor's right of redeeming a mortgaged estate
fore·court ['fȯr-,kȯrt] -n
- an open court in front of a building
- the area near the net in a court game
fore·deck ['fȯr-,dek] -n
- the forepart of a ship's main deck
foredo [fȯr-'dü] -vt
(variant of fordo)
- to do away with : destroy
- to overcome with fatigue used only as past participle
- quite fordone with the heat
fore·doom [(,)fȯr-'düm] -vt
- doom
fore·face ['fȯr-,fās] -n
- the part of the head of a quadruped that is in front of the eyes
fore·fa·ther [-,fä-thər] -n
- ancestor
- a person of an earlier period and common heritage
fore·feel [(,)fȯr-'fēl] -vt
- to have a presentiment of
forefend [fȯr-'fend] -vt
(variant of forfend)
- forbid
- to ward off : prevent
- protect, preserve
fore·fin·ger ['fȯr-,fiŋ-gər] -n
- index finger
fore·foot [-,fu̇t] -n
- one of the anterior feet esp. of a quadruped
- the front part of the human foot
- the front part of a shoe
- the forward part of a ship where the stem and keel meet
fore·front [-,frənt] -n
- the foremost part or place
foregather [fȯr-'ga-thər] -vi
(variant of forgather)
- to come together : assemble
- to meet someone usu. by chance
fore·go [fȯr-'gō] -vt, n
- to go before : precede
forego [fȯr-'gō] -vt, n
(variant of forgo)
- to give up the enjoyment or advantage of : do without
- forsake
fore·go·ing [-'gō-iŋ, -'gȯ(-)iŋ] -adj
- listed, mentioned, or occurring before
- the foregoing statement can be proven
fore·gone ['fȯr-,gȯn also -,gän] -adj
- previous, past
foregone conclusion -n
- a conclusion that has preceded argument or examination
- an inevitable result : certainty
- the victory was a foregone conclusion
fore·ground ['fȯr-,grau̇nd] -n
- the part of a scene or representation that is nearest to and in front of the spectator
- a position of prominence : forefront
- a level of computer processing at which the processor responds immediately to input to a designated high-priority task
foreground -vt
- to bring to the foreground
- to give prominence or emphasis to
fore·gut ['fȯr-,gət] -n
- the anterior part of the alimentary canal of a vertebrate embryo that develops into the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, and extreme anterior part of the intestine
fore·hand [-,hand] -n
- superior position : advantage
- the part of a horse that is before the rider
- a forehand stroke (as in tennis or racquets)
- the side on which such strokes are made
forehand -adj
- done or given in advance : prior
- made with the palm of the hand turned in the direction in which the hand is moving
- with a forehand stroke
fore·hand·ed [(,)fȯr-'han-dəd] -adj, adv, n
- mindful of the future : prudent
- well-to-do
- forehand
fore·head ['fär-əd, 'fȯr-; 'fȯr-,hed also -,ed] -n
- the part of the face above the eyes
- the front or forepart of something
- flames in the forehead of the morning sky -- John Milton
fore·hoof ['fȯr-,hu̇f, -,hüf] -n
- the hoof of a forefoot
for·eign ['fȯr-ən, 'fär-] -adj, n
- situated outside a place or country
- situated outside one's own country
- born in, belonging to, or characteristic of some place or country other than the one under consideration
- of, relating to, or proceeding from some other person or material thing than the one under consideration
- alien in character : not connected or pertinent
- related to or dealing with other nations
- occurring in an abnormal situation in the living body and often introduced from outside
- a foreign body lodged in the esophagus
- not recognized by the immune system as part of the self
- not being within the jurisdiction of a political unit (as a state)
foreign affairs -n pl
- matters having to do with international relations and with the interests of the home country in foreign countries
foreign aid -n
- assistance (as economic aid) provided by one nation to another
foreign bill -n
- a bill of exchange that is drawn in one jurisdiction (as a country or state) and payable within another
for·eignborn [,fȯr-ən-'bȯrn, ,fär-] -adj
- foreign by birth
foreign correspondent -n
- a correspondent employed to send news or comment from a foreign country
for·eign·er ['fȯr-ə-nər, 'fär-] -n
- a person belonging to or owing allegiance to a foreign country
- one not native to a place or community : stranger
foreign exchange -n
- a process of settling accounts or debts between persons residing in different countries
- foreign currency or current short-term credit instruments payable in such currency
for·eign·ism ['fȯr-ə-,ni-zəm, 'fär-] -n
- something peculiar to a foreign language or people
- a foreign idiom or custom
foreign minister -n
- a governmental minister for foreign affairs
foreign office -n
- a government office (as a ministry) that deals with foreign affairs
foreign policy -n
- the policy of a sovereign state in its interaction with other sovereign states
foreign service -n
- the field force of a foreign office comprising diplomatic and consular personnel
fore·judge [fər-'jəj, fȯr-] -vt
- to expel, oust, or put out by judgment of a court
- prejudge
fore·know [(,)fȯr-'nō] -vt, n
- to have previous knowledge of : know beforehand esp. by paranormal means or by revelation
fore·la·dy ['fȯr-,lā-dē] -n
- forewoman
fore·land ['fȯr-lənd] -n
- promontory, headland
fore·leg ['fȯr-,leg, -,lāg] -n
- a front leg
fore·limb [-,lim] -n
- a limb (as an arm, wing, fin, or leg) that is situated anteriorly
fore·lock [-,läk] -n
- a lock of hair growing from the front of the head
fore·man ['fȯr-mən] -n
- : a first or chief person: as
- a member of a jury who acts as chairman and spokesman
- a chief and often specially trained worker who works with and usu. leads a gang or crew
- a person in charge of a group of workers, a particular operation, or a section of a plant
fore·mast ['fȯr-,mast, -məst] -n
- the mast nearest the bow of a ship
fore·most [-,mōst] -adj
- first in a series or progression
- of first rank or position : preeminent
foremost -adv
- in the first place
- most importantly
fore·moth·er ['fȯr-,mə-thər] -n
- a female ancestor
fore·name [-,nām] -n
- a name that precedes one's surname
fore·named [-,nāmd] -adj
- named previously : aforesaid
fore·noon ['fȯr-,nün, fȯr-'] -n
- the early part of the day ending with noon : morning
fo·ren·sic [fə-'ren(t)-sik, -'ren-zik] -adj, adv
- belonging to, used in, or suitable to courts of judicature or to public discussion and debate
- argumentative, rhetorical
- relating to or dealing with the application of scientific knowledge to legal problems
forensic -n
- an argumentative exercise
- the art or study of argumentative discourse
- the application of scientific knowledge to legal problems
- scientific analysis of physical evidence (as from a crime scene)
fore·or·dain [,fȯr-ȯr-'dān] -vt, n
- to dispose or appoint in advance : predestine
fore·part ['fȯr-,pärt] -n
- the anterior part of something
- the earlier part of a period of time
fore·passed [-,past] -adj
- bygone
fore·paw [-,pȯ] -n
- the paw of a foreleg
fore·peak [-,pēk] -n
- the extreme forward lower compartment or tank usu. used for trimming or storage in a ship
fore·play [-,plā] -n
- erotic stimulation preceding sexual intercourse
- action or behavior that precedes an event
fore·quar·ter [-,kwȯ(r)-tər, -,kȯr-] -n
- the front half of a lateral half of the body or carcass of a quadruped
fore·reach [fȯr-'rēch] -vi
- to gain ground in tacking
- to gain on or go ahead of (a ship) when close-hauled
fore·run [-'rən] -vt
- to run before
- to come before as a token of something to follow
- forestall, anticipate
fore·run·ner ['fȯr-,rə-nər] -n
- : one that precedes and indicates the approach of another: as
- a premonitory sign or symptom
- a skier who runs the course before the start of a race
- predecessor, ancestor
fore·said [-,sed] -adj
- aforesaid
fore·sail ['fȯr-,sāl, -səl] -n
- the lowest sail set on the foremast of a square-rigged ship or schooner
- the sole or principal headsail (as of a sloop, cutter, or schooner)
fore·see [fȯr-'sē] -vt, n
- to see (as a development) beforehand
fore·see·able [-'sē-ə-bəl] -adj, n
- being such as may be reasonably anticipated
- lying within the range for which forecasts are possible
- in the foreseeable future
fore·shad·ow [-'sha-(,)dō] -vt, n
- to represent, indicate, or typify beforehand : prefigure
fore·shank ['fȯr-,shaŋk] -n
- the upper part of the foreleg of cattle
- meat cut from this part
fore·sheet [-,shēt] -n
- one of the sheets of a foresail
- the forward part of an open boat
fore·shock [-,shäk] -n
- any of the usu. minor tremors commonly preceding the principal shock of an earthquake
fore·shore [-,shȯr] -n
- a strip of land margining a body of water
- the part of a seashore between high-water and low-water marks
fore·short·en [fȯr-'shȯr-tᵊn] -vt
- to shorten by proportionately contracting in the direction of depth so that an illusion of projection or extension in space is obtained
- to make more compact : abridge, shorten
fore·side ['fȯr-,sīd] -n
- the front side or part : front
fore·sight ['fȯr-,sīt] -n, adj, adv
- an act or the power of foreseeing : prescience
- provident care : prudence
- had the foresight to invest his money wisely
- an act of looking forward
- a view forward
fore·skin [-,skin] -n
- a fold of skin that covers the glans of the penis called also prepuce
fore·speak [fȯr-'spēk] -vt
- foretell, predict
- to arrange for in advance
for·est ['fȯr-əst, 'fär-] -n, adj
- a dense growth of trees and underbrush covering a large tract
- a tract of wooded land in England formerly owned by the sovereign and used for game
- something resembling a forest esp. in profusion or lushness
forest [,fȯr-ə-'stā-shən, ,fär-] -vt, n
- to cover with trees or forest
- land densely forest ed with firs
fore·stage ['fȯr-,stāj] -n
- apron
fore·stall [fȯr-'stȯl] -vt, n
- to prevent the normal trading in by buying or diverting goods or by persuading persons to raise prices
- intercept
- obstruct, beset
- to exclude, hinder, or prevent by prior occupation or measures
- to get ahead of : anticipate
fore·stay ['fȯr-,stā] -n
- a stay from the foremast to the foredeck or bow of a ship
fore·stay·sail [-,sāl, -səl] -n
- the triangular aftermost headsail of a schooner, ketch, or yawl set on the forestay
for·est·er ['fȯr-ə-stər, 'fär-] -n
- a person trained in forestry
- an inhabitant of a forest
- any of various noctuid woodland moths (subfamily Agaristinae)
- a member of a major benevolent and fraternal order
forest floor -n
- the richly organic layer of soil and debris characteristic of forested land
forest green -n
- a dark yellowish or moderate olive green
for·est·land ['fȯr-əst-,land, 'fär-] -n
- land covered with forest or reserved for the growth of forests
forest ranger -n
- an officer charged with the patrolling and guarding of a forest
- one in charge of the management and protection of a portion of a public forest
for·est·ry ['fȯr-ə-strē, 'fär-] -n
- forestland
- the science of developing, caring for, or cultivating forests
- the management of growing timber
forest tent caterpillar -n
- a moth ( Malacosoma disstriaof the family Lasiocampidae) whose orange-marked larva is a tent caterpillar and a serious defoliator of deciduous trees
foreswear [fȯr-'swer] -vb
(variant of forswear)
- to make a liar of (oneself) under or as if under oath
- to reject or renounce under oath
- to renounce earnestly
- to deny under oath
- to swear falsely
fore·taste ['fȯr-,tāst] -n
- a small anticipatory sample
- an advance indication or warning
- to taste beforehand : anticipate
fore·tell [fȯr-'tel] -vt, n
- to tell beforehand : predict
fore·thought ['fȯr-,thȯt] -n
- a thinking or planning out in advance : premeditation
- consideration for the future
forethought -adj
- aforethought
fore·thought·ful [-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- full of or having forethought
fore·time ['fȯr-,tīm] -n
- former or past time : the time before the present
fore·to·ken ['fȯr-,tō-kən] -n
- a premonitory sign
- to indicate or warn of in advance
fore·top ['fȯr-,täp, -təp] -n
- the platform at the head of a ship's foremast
fore·top·man ['fȯr-,täp-mən, -təp-] -n
- a sailor on duty on the foremast and above
foretop·mast ['fȯr-,täp-məst, -təp-,mast] -n
- a mast next above the foremast
for·ev·er [fə-'rev-ər, fȯ-; Southern often fə-'e-və] -adv
- for a limitless time
- at all times : continually
- is forever making bad puns
forever -n
- a seemingly interminable time : excessively long
- it took her forever to find the answer
for·ev·er·more [-,re-və(r)-'mȯr] -adv
- forever
for·ev·er·ness [-'re-vər-nəs] -n
- eternity
fore·warn [fȯr-'wȯrn] -vt
- to warn in advance
fore·warn·ing [fȯr-'wȯr-niŋ] -n
- a warning given in advance
- the state of being warned in advance
fore·wing ['fȯr-,wiŋ] -n
- either of the anterior wings of a 4-winged insect
fore·wom·an ['fȯr-,wu̇-mən] -n
- a woman who is a foreman
fore·word ['fȯr-(,)wərd] -n
- prefatory comments (as for a book) esp. when written by someone other than the author
fore·worn [fər-'wȯrn] -adj
(variant of forworn)
- worn-out
for·feit ['fȯr-fət] -n
- something forfeited or subject to being forfeited (as for a crime, offense, or neglect of duty) : penalty
- forfeiture esp. of civil rights
- something deposited (as for making a mistake in a game) and then redeemed on payment of a fine
- a game in which forfeits are exacted
forfeit [-fə-tə-bəl] -vt, adj, n
- to lose or lose the right to esp. by some error, offense, or crime
- to subject to confiscation as a forfeit
- abandon, give up
- forfeited or subject to forfeiture
for·fei·ture ['fȯr-fə-,chu̇r, -chər, -,t(y)u̇r] -n
- the act of forfeiting : the loss of property or money because of a breach of a legal obligation
- something (as money or property) that is forfeited : penalty
for·fend [fȯr-'fend] -vt
- forbid
- to ward off : prevent
- protect, preserve
for·gath·er [fȯr-'ga-thər] -vi
- to come together : assemble
- to meet someone usu. by chance
forge ['fȯrj] -n
- a furnace or a shop with its furnace where metal is heated and wrought : smithy
- a workshop where wrought iron is produced or where iron is made malleable
- to form (as metal) by heating and hammering
- to form (metal) by a mechanical or hydraulic press with or without heat
- to make or imitate falsely esp. with intent to defraud : counterfeit
- to form or bring into being esp. by an expenditure of effort
- working to forge party unity
- to work at a forge
- to commit forgery
- to move forward slowly and steadily
- the ship forged ahead through heavy seas
- to move with a sudden increase of speed and power
- forged ahead in marketing the product
forg·er ['fȯr-jər] -n
- one that forges metals
- a person who falsifies
- a creator of false tales
- a person guilty of forgery
forg·ery ['fȯrj-rē, 'fȯr-jə-] -n
- invention
- something forged
- an act of forging
- the crime of falsely and fraudulently making or altering a document (as a check)
for·get [fər-'get, fȯr-] -vb, n
- to lose the remembrance of : be unable to think of or recall
- to cease from doing
- to treat with inattention or disregard
- to disregard intentionally : overlook usu. used in the imperative
- I shouldn't have said that, so just forget it
- to give up hope for or expectation of usu. used in the imperative
- as for prompt service, forget it
- to cease remembering or noticing
- to fail to become mindful at the proper time
- forgot about paying the bill
for·get·ful [-'get-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- likely to forget
- characterized by negligent failure to remember : neglectful
- inducing oblivion
for·ge·tive ['fȯr-jə-tiv] -adj
- inventive, imaginative
for·getmenot [fər-'get-mē-,nät, fȯr-] -n
- any of a genus ( Myosotis) of small herbs of the borage family having usu. bright blue or white flowers usu. arranged in a curving spike
for·get·ta·ble [fər-'ge-tə-bəl, fȯr-] -adj
- fit or likely to be forgotten
forging -n
- the art or process of forging
- a piece of forged work
- forgery
for·give [fər-'giv, fȯr-] -vb, adj, adv, n
- to give up resentment of or claim to requital for
- to grant relief from payment of
- to cease to feel resentment against (an offender) : pardon
- to grant forgiveness
for·give·ness [-'giv-nəs] -n
- the act of forgiving
forgiving [-'gi-viŋ-lē] -adj, adv, n
- willing or able to forgive
- allowing room for error or weakness
- designed to be a forgiving tennis racquet
for·go [fȯr-'gō] -vt, n
- to give up the enjoyment or advantage of : do without
- forsake
forgotten man -n
- a person or category of persons that receives less attention than is merited
for instance [fə-'rin(t)-stənts, 'frin(t)-] -n
- example
- I'll give you a for instance
fork ['fȯrk] -n
- an implement with two or more prongs used esp. for taking up (as in eating), pitching, or digging
- a forked part, tool, or piece of equipment
- a division into branches or the place where something divides into branches
- confluence
- one of the branches into which something forks
- an attack by one chess piece (as a knight) on two pieces simultaneously
- to divide into two or more branches
- to use or work with a fork
- to turn into a fork
- to give the form of a fork to
- to attack (two chessmen) simultaneously
- to raise, pitch, dig, or work with a fork
- pay, contribute used with over, out, or up
fork·ball ['fȯrk-,bȯl] -n
- a baseball pitch in which the ball is gripped between the forked index and middle fingers
forked ['fȯrkt, 'fȯr-kəd] -adj
- resembling a fork esp. in having one end divided into two or more branches or points
- shaped like a fork or having a forked part
forked tongue -n
- intent to mislead or deceive usu. used in the phrase to speak with forked tongue
fork·lift ['fȯrk-,lift] -n
- a self-propelled machine for hoisting and transporting heavy objects by means of steel fingers inserted under the load
forkten·der ['fȯrk-'ten-dər] -adj
- tender enough to be easily pierced or cut with a fork
forky ['fȯr-kē] -adj
- forked
for·lorn [fər-'lȯrn, fȯr-] -adj, adv, n
- bereft, forsaken
- left quite forlorn of hope
- sad and lonely because of isolation or desertion : desolate
- being in poor condition : miserable, wretched
- forlorn tumbledown buildings
- nearly hopeless
forlorn hope -n
- a body of men selected to perform a perilous service
- a desperate or extremely difficult enterprise
form ['fȯrm] -n
- the shape and structure of something as distinguished from its material
- a body (as of a person) esp. in its external appearance or as distinguished from the face : figure
- beauty
- : the essential nature of a thing as distinguished from its matter: as
- idea
- the component of a thing that determines its kind
- established method of expression or proceeding : procedure according to rule or rote
- a standard or expectation based on past experience : precedent
- true to form, the champions won again
- a prescribed and set order of words : formula
- the form of the marriage service
- a printed or typed document with blank spaces for insertion of required or requested information
- conduct regulated by extraneous controls (as of custom or etiquette) : ceremony
- show without substance
- manner or conduct as tested by a prescribed or accepted standard
- rudeness is simply bad form
- manner or style of performing or accomplishing according to recognized standards of technique
- a strong swimmer but weak on form
- the resting place or nest of a hare
- a long seat : bench
- a supporting frame model of the human figure or part (as the torso) of the human figure usu. used for displaying apparel
- a proportioned and often adjustable model for fitting clothes
- a mold in which concrete is placed to set
- the printing type or other matter arranged and secured in a chase ready for printing
- one of the different modes of existence, action, or manifestation of a particular thing or substance : kind
- one form of respiratory disorder
- a distinguishable group of organisms
- linguistic form
- one of the different aspects a word may take as a result of inflection or change of spelling or pronunciation
- a mathematical expression of a particular type
- orderly method of arrangement (as in the presentation of ideas) : manner of coordinating elements (as of an artistic production or course of reasoning)
- a particular kind or instance of such arrangement
- the sonnet is a poetical form
- pattern, schema
- arguments of the same logical form
- the structural element, plan, or design of a work of art
- a visible and measurable unit defined by a contour : a bounded surface or volume
- a grade in a British school or in some American private schools
- the past performance of a race horse
- racing form
- known ability to perform
- a singer at the top of her form
- condition suitable for performing (as in athletic competition)
- to give a particular shape to : shape or mold into a certain state or after a particular model
- form the dough into a ball
- a state form ed along republican lines
- to arrange themselves in
- the dancers form ed a line
- to model by instruction and discipline
- a mind form ed by classical education
- to give form or shape to : fashion, construct
- to serve to make up or constitute : be an essential or basic element of
- develop, acquire
- to arrange in order : draw up
- to assume an inflection so as to produce (as a tense)
- to combine to make (a compound word)
- to become formed or shaped
- to take form : come into existence : arise
- to take on a definite form, shape, or arrangement
form- -comb form
- formic acid
for·mal ['fȯr-məl] -adj, adv, n
- belonging to or constituting the form or essence of a thing
- relating to or involving the outward form, structure, relationships, or arrangement of elements rather than content
- a formal style of painting
- a formal approach to comparative linguistics
- following or according with established form, custom, or rule
- done in due or lawful form
- received formal recognition
- characterized by punctilious respect for form : methodical
- very formal in all his dealings
- rigidly ceremonious : prim
- having the appearance without the substance
- formal Christians who go to church only at Easter
formal -n
- something (as a dance or a dress) formal in character
- molar
form·al·de·hyde [fȯr-'mal-də-,hīd, fər-] -n
- a colorless pungent irritating gas CH 2O used chiefly in aqueous solution as a disinfectant and preservative and in chemical synthesis
for·ma·lin ['fȯr-mə-lən, -,lēn] -n
- a clear aqueous solution of formaldehyde containing a small amount of methanol used esp. as a preservative
for·mal·ise ['fȯr-mə-,līz] -vt, adj, n
(variant of formalize)
- to give a certain or definite form to : shape
- to make formal
- to give formal status or approval to
for·mal·ism ['fȯr-mə-,li-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj
- the practice or the doctrine of strict adherence to prescribed or external forms (as in religion or art)
- an instance of this
- marked attention to arrangement, style, or artistic means (as in art or literature) usu. with corresponding de-emphasis of content
for·mal·i·ty [fȯr-'ma-lə-tē] -n
- compliance with formal or conventional rules : ceremony
- the quality or state of being formal
- an established form or procedure that is required or conventional
- the interview was just a formality
for·mal·ize ['fȯr-mə-,līz] -vt, adj, n
- to give a certain or definite form to : shape
- to make formal
- to give formal status or approval to
form·am·ide [fȯr-'ma-,mīd; 'fȯr-mə-,mīd, -məd] -n
- a colorless hygroscopic liquid CHONH 2used chiefly as a solvent
for·mant ['fȯr-mənt, -,mant] -n
- a characteristic component of the quality of a speech sound
- any of several resonance bands held to determine the phonetic quality of a vowel
for·mat ['fȯr-,mat] -n
- the shape, size, and general makeup (as of something printed)
- general plan of organization, arrangement, or choice of material (as for a television show)
- a method of organizing data (as for storage)
format -vt, n
- to arrange (as material to be printed or stored data) in a particular format
- to prepare (as a computer disk) for storing data in a particular format
for·mate ['fȯr-,māt] -n
- a salt or ester of formic acid
for·ma·tion [fȯr-'mā-shən] -n
- an act of giving form or shape to something or of taking form : development
- something that is formed
- the manner in which a thing is formed : structure
- the peculiar formation of the heart
- a major kind of plant growth (as forest, grassland, or tundra) characteristic of a broad ecological region
- any igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rock represented as a unit
- any sedimentary bed or consecutive series of beds sufficiently homogeneous or distinctive to be a unit
- an arrangement of a body or group of persons or things in some prescribed manner or for a particular purpose
for·ma·tive ['fȯr-mə-tiv] -adj, adv
- giving or capable of giving form : constructive
- used in word formation or inflection
- capable of alteration by growth and development
- producing new cells and tissues
- of, relating to, or characterized by formative effects or formation
formative -n
- the element (as a suffix) in a word that serves to give the word appropriate form and is not part of the base
form class -n
- a class of linguistic forms that can be used in the same position in a construction and that have one or more morphological or syntactical features in common
formcritical -adj
- based on or applying form criticism
form criticism -n
- a method of criticism for determining the sources and historicity of biblical writings through analysis of the writings in terms of ancient literary forms and oral traditions (as love poems, parables, and proverbs)
forme ['fȯm, 'fȯrm] -n
- form
formed ['fȯrmd] -adj
- organized in a way characteristic of living matter
- mitochondria are formed bodies of the cell
for·mee ['fȯr-,mā, fȯr-'] -adj
- having the arms narrow at the center and expanding toward the ends
for·mer ['fȯr-mər] -adj
- coming before in time
- of, relating to, or occurring in the past
- preceding in place or arrangement : foregoing
- the former part of the chapter
- first in order of two or more things cited or understood
- of the two given, the former spelling is more common
- of the two spellings, the former is more common
- having been previously : onetime
form·er ['fȯr-mər] -n
- one that forms
- a member of a school form usu. used in combination
for·mer·ly ['fȯr-mə(r)-lē] -adv
- at an earlier time : previously
- just before
form·fit·ting ['fȯrm-,fi-tiŋ] -adj
- conforming to the outline of the body : fitting snugly
form·ful ['fȯrm-fəl] -adj
- exhibiting or notable for form
form genus -n
- an artificial taxonomic category established for organisms (as imperfect fungi) of obscure true relationships
For·mi·ca [fȯr-'mī-kə, fər-] -trademark
- used for any of various laminated plastic products used esp. for surface finish
for·mic acid ['fȯr-mik-] -n
- a colorless pungent fuming vesicant liquid acid CH 2O 2found esp. in ants and in many plants and used chiefly in dyeing and finishing textiles
for·mi·cary ['fȯr-mə-,ker-ē] -n
- an ant nest
for·mi·da·ble ['fȯr-mə-də-bəl; fȯr-'mi-, fər-'mi-] -adj, n, adv
- causing fear, dread, or apprehension
- having qualities that discourage approach or attack
- tending to inspire awe or wonder : impressive
form·less ['fȯrm-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- having no regular form or shape
- lacking order or arrangement
- having no physical existence
form letter -n
- a letter on a subject of frequent recurrence that can be sent to different people without essential change except in the address
- a letter for mass circulation that is printed in many copies and has a very general salutation (as Dear Friend)
For·mo·san termite [fȯr-'mō-sᵊn-, fər-, -zᵊn-] -n
- a large termite ( Coptotermes formosanusof the family Rhinotermitidae) native to Taiwan and nearby areas and introduced into Hawaii, California, and some southern U.S. states where it is a destructive pest of wooden structures called also Formosan subterranean termite
for·mu·la ['fȯr-myə-lə] -n, adj, adv
- a set form of words for use in a ceremony or ritual
- a conventionalized statement intended to express some fundamental truth or principle esp. as a basis for negotiation or action
- recipe
- prescription
- a milk mixture or substitute for feeding an infant
- a general fact, rule, or principle expressed in usu. mathematical symbols
- a symbolic expression of the chemical composition or constitution of a substance
- a group of symbols (as letters and numbers) associated to express facts or data (as the number and kinds of teeth in the jaw) concisely
- a combination of signs in a logical calculus
- a customary or set form or method allowing little room for originality
formula -adj
- of, relating to, or being an open-wheel open-cockpit rear-engine racing car conforming to prescribed specifications as to size, weight, and engine displacement
for·mu·la·rize ['fȯr-myə-lə-,rīz] -vt, n
- to state in or reduce to a formula : formulate
for·mu·lary ['fȯr-myə-,ler-ē] -n, adj
- a collection of prescribed forms (as oaths or prayers)
- formula
- a book listing medicinal substances and formulas
for·mu·late ['fȯr-myə-,lāt] -vt, n
- to reduce to or express in a formula
- to put into a systematized statement or expression
- devise
- to develop a formula for the preparation of (as a soap or plastic)
- to prepare according to a formula
for·mu·la·tion [,fȯr-myə-'lā-shən] -n
- an act or the product of formulating
formula weight -n
- molecular weight used esp. of ionic compounds
for·mu·lize ['fȯr-myə-,līz] -vt
- formulate
form word -n
- function word
form·work ['fȯrm-,wərk] -n
- a set of forms in place to hold wet concrete until it sets
for·myl ['fȯr-,mil] -n
- the radical HCO of formic acid that is also characteristic of aldehydes
for·ni·cate ['fȯr-nə-,kāt] -vb, n
- to commit fornication
- to commit fornication with
for·ni·ca·tion [,fȯr-nə-'kā-shən] -n
- consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other
for·nix ['fȯr-niks] -n
- an anatomical arch or fold
forprof·it ['fȯr-'prä-fət] -adj
- established, maintained, or conducted for the purpose of making a profit
for·rad·er ['fär-ə-dər] -adv
- further ahead
for·sake [fər-'sāk, fȯr-] -vt
- to renounce or turn away from entirely
- friends have forsaken her
- forsook the theater for politics
for·sooth [fər-'süth] -adv
- in truth : indeed often used to imply contempt or doubt
for·spent [fər-'spent, fȯr-] -adj
- worn-out, exhausted
for·swear [fȯr-'swer] -vb
- to make a liar of (oneself) under or as if under oath
- to reject or renounce under oath
- to renounce earnestly
- to deny under oath
- to swear falsely
for·sworn [-'swȯrn] -adj
- guilty of perjury
- marked by perjury
for·syth·ia [fər-'si-thē-ə, chiefly Brit -'sī-] -n
- any of a genus ( Forsythia) of ornamental shrubs of the olive family with opposite leaves and yellow bell-shaped flowers appearing before the leaves in early spring
fort ['fȯrt] -n
- a strong or fortified place
- a fortified place occupied only by troops and surrounded with such works as a ditch, rampart, and parapet : fortification
- a permanent army post often used in place names
for·ta·lice ['fȯr-tə-ləs] -n
- fortress
- a small fort
forte ['fȯrt; 2 is often 'fȯr-,tā or fȯr-'tā or 'fȯr-tē] -n
- the part of a sword or foil blade that is between the middle and the hilt and that is the strongest part of the blade
- one's strong point
for·te ['fȯr-,tā, 'fȯr-tē] -adv or adj
- loud used as a direction in music
- a tone or passage played forte
for·te·pia·no [,fȯr-,tā-pē-'a-(,)nō also -'ä-(,)nō] -n
- an early form of the piano originating in the 18th and early 19th centuries and having a smaller range and softer timbre than a modern piano
for·tepi·a·no [,fȯr-,tā-pē-'ä-(,)nō, ,fȯr-tē-] -adv or adj
- loud then immediately soft used as a direction in music
forth ['fȯrth] -adv
- onward in time, place, or order : forward
- out into notice or view
- away, abroad
- forth from : out of
forth·com·ing [fȯrth-'kə-miŋ, 'fȯrth-] -adj
- being about to appear or to be produced or made available
- responsive, outgoing
- a forthcoming and courteous man
- characterized by openness, candidness, and forthrightness
- not forthcoming about his memories of medical school -- Mark Kramer
forth of -prep
- out from : out of
forth·right ['fȯrth-,rīt] -adv
- directly forward
- without hesitation : frankly
- at once
forthright -adj, adv, n
- proceeding straight on
- free from ambiguity or evasiveness : going straight to the point
- was forthright in appraising the problem
- notably simple in style or quality
- a straight path
forth·with [(,)fȯrth-'with also -'with] -adv
- immediately
for·ti·fi·ca·tion [,fȯr-tə-fə-'kā-shən] -n
- an act or process of fortifying
- something that fortifies, defends, or strengthens
- works erected to defend a place or position
fortified wine -n
- a wine (as sherry) to which alcohol usu. in the form of grape brandy has been added during or after fermentation
for·ti·fy ['fȯr-tə-,fī] -vb, n
- : to make strong: as
- to strengthen and secure (as a town) by forts or batteries
- to give physical strength, courage, or endurance to
- fortified by a hearty meal
- to add mental or moral strength to : encourage
- to add material to for strengthening or enriching
- to erect fortifications
for·tis ['fȯr-təs] -adj
- produced with relatively great articulatory tenseness and strong expiration
- t in toe is fortis, d in doe is lenis
for·tis·si·mo [fȯr-'ti-sə-,mō] -adv or adj
- very loud used esp. as a direction in music
fortissimo [-,mē] -n
- a very loud passage, sound, or tone
for·ti·tude ['fȯr-tə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n
- strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage
- strength
fort·night ['fȯrt-,nīt] -n
- a period of 14 days : two weeks
fort·night·ly [-lē] -adj
- occurring or appearing once in a fortnight
fortnightly -adv
- once in a fortnight : every fortnight
- a publication issued fortnightly
FOR·TRAN ['fȯr-,tran] -n
- a computer programming language that resembles algebra in its notation and is widely used for scientific applications
for·tress ['fȯr-trəs] -n, adj
- a fortified place : stronghold
- a large and permanent fortification sometimes including a town
for·tu·itous [fȯr-'tü-ə-təs, -'tyü-, fər-] -adj, adv, n
- occurring by chance
- fortunate, lucky
- from a cost standpoint, the company's timing is fortuitous -- Business Week
- coming or happening by a lucky chance
- belted down the stairs, and there was a fortuitous train -- Doris Lessing
for·tu·ity [-ə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being fortuitous
- a chance event or occurrence
for·tu·nate ['fȯrch-nət, 'fȯr-chə-] -adj, n
- bringing some good thing not foreseen as certain : auspicious
- receiving some unexpected good
for·tu·nate·ly [-lē] -adv
- in a fortunate manner
- it is fortunate that
- fortunately, no one was hurt
for·tune ['fȯr-chən] -n
- a hypothetical force or personified power that unpredictably determines events and issues favorably or unfavorably
- accident, incident
- prosperity attained partly through luck : success
- luck
- the turns and courses of luck accompanying one's progress (as through life)
- her fortune s varied but she never gave up
- destiny, fate
- a prediction of fortune
- riches, wealth
- a store of material possessions
- a very large sum of money
- spent a fortune redecorating
fortune -vb
- to give good or bad fortune to
- to endow with a fortune
- happen, chance
fortune cookie -n
- a thin cookie folded to contain a slip of paper on which is printed a fortune, proverb, or humorous statement
fortune hunter -n
- a person who seeks wealth esp. by marriage
for·tunetell·er [-,te-lər] -n, n or adj
- one that professes to foretell future events
for·ty ['fȯr-tē] -n, adj or n, adj, pron, pl in constr
- the numbers 40 to 49
- the years 40 to 49 in a lifetime or century
- the third point scored by a side in a game of tennis
for·tyfive [,fȯr-tē-'fīv] -n, adj, pron, pl in constr
- a .45 caliber handgun usu. written .45
- a phonograph record designed to be played at 45 revolutions per minute usu. written 45
Forty Hours -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a Roman Catholic devotion in which the churches of a diocese in 2-day turns have the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar for continuous daytime veneration
for·tynin·er [,fȯr-tē-'nī-nər] -n
- one taking part in the rush to California for gold in 1849
forty winks -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a short sleep : nap
fo·rum ['fȯr-əm] -n
- the marketplace or public place of an ancient Roman city forming the center of judicial and public business
- a public meeting place for open discussion
- a medium (as a newspaper or online service) of open discussion or expression of ideas
- a judicial body or assembly : court
- a public meeting or lecture involving audience discussion
- a program (as on radio or television) involving discussion of a problem usu. by several authorities
for·ward ['fȯr-wərd, also 'fō- or 'fȯ-, Southern also 'fär-] -adj, adv, n
- near, being at, or belonging to the forepart
- situated in advance
- strongly inclined : ready
- lacking modesty or reserve : brash
- notably advanced or developed : precocious
- moving, tending, or leading toward a position in front
- moving toward an opponent's goal
- advocating an advanced policy in the direction of what is considered progress
- extreme, radical
- of, relating to, or getting ready for the future
- forward buying of produce
forward -adv
- to or toward what is ahead or in front
- to help onward : promote
- forward ed his friend's career
- to send forward : transmit
- will forward the goods on receipt of your check
- to send or ship onward from an intermediate post or station in transit
- a player who plays at the front of his team's formation near the goal at which his team is attempting to score
forward air controller -n
- a military officer who directs from a forward position on the ground or in the air the action of combat aircraft engaged in close air support of land forces
for·ward·er [-wər-dər] -n
- one that forwards
- an agent who performs services (as receiving, transshipping, or delivering) designed to move goods to their destination
for·wardlook·ing ['fȯr-wərd-,lu̇-kiŋ] -adj
- concerned with or planning for the future
forward pass -n
- a pass (as in football) made in the direction of the opponents' goal
for·wards ['fȯr-wərdz] -adv
- forward
forwent [fȯr-'gō] -vt, n
(variant of forgo)
- to give up the enjoyment or advantage of : do without
- forsake
for·worn [fər-'wȯrn] -adj
- worn-out
forz -abbr
- forzando
for·zan·do [fȯrt-'sän-(,)dō] -adj or adv
- sforzando
fos·car·net [fäs-'kär-nət] -n
- a hydrated sodium salt Na 3CO 56H 2O that is administered intravenously to individuals infected with HIV to treat retinitis caused by a cytomegalovirus
fos·sa ['fä-sə] -n
- an anatomical pit, groove, or depression
fossa -n
- a slender long-tailed carnivorous mammal ( Cryptoprocta ferox) of Madagascar that has retractile claws and is often grouped with the mongooses or placed in a related family (Eupleridae)
fosse ['fäs] -n
- ditch, moat
fos·sick ['fä-sik] -vb, n
- to search for gold or gemstones typically by picking over abandoned workings
- to search about : rummage
- to search for by or as if by rummaging : ferret out
fos·sil ['fä-səl] -adj
- preserved from a past geologic age
- fossil water in an underground reservoir
- being or resembling a fossil
- of or relating to fossil fuel
fossil -n
- a remnant, impression, or trace of an organism of past geologic ages that has been preserved in the earth's crust
- a person whose views are outmoded : fogy
- something (as a theory) that has become rigidly fixed
- an old word or word element preserved only by idiom (as froin to and fro)
fossil fuel [-,fyü(-ə)ld] -n, adj
- a fuel (as coal, oil, or natural gas) formed in the earth from plant or animal remains
fos·sil·if·er·ous [,fä-sə-'li-f(ə-)rəs] -adj
- containing fossils
fos·sil·ise ['fä-sə-,līz] -vb, n
(variant of fossilize)
- to convert into a fossil
- to make outmoded, rigid, or fixed
- to become changed into a fossil
fos·sil·ize ['fä-sə-,līz] -vb, n
- to convert into a fossil
- to make outmoded, rigid, or fixed
- to become changed into a fossil
fos·so·ri·al [fä-'sȯr-ē-əl] -adj
- adapted to digging
fos·ter ['fȯs-tər, 'fäs-] -adj
- affording, receiving, or sharing nurture or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties
foster [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vt, n
- to give parental care to : nurture
- to promote the growth or development of : encourage
- foster ed the college in its early years
fos·ter·age [-tə-rij] -n
- the act of fostering
- a custom once prevalent in Ireland, Wales, and Scotland of entrusting one's child to foster parents to be brought up
foster home -n
- a household in which an orphaned, neglected, or delinquent child is placed for care
fos·ter·ling [-tər-liŋ] -n
- a foster child
fou ['fü] -adj
- drunk
Fou·caul·di·an [fü-'kō-dē-ən] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the philosophy of Michel Foucault
Fou·cault pendulum [,fü-'kō-] -n
- a freely swinging pendulum that consists of a heavy weight hung by a long wire and that swings in a constant direction which appears to change showing that the earth rotates
fouet·te [(,)fwe-'tā] -n
- a quick whipping movement of the raised leg in ballet usu. accompanying a pirouette
fought ['fīt] -vb
(variant of fight)
- to contend in battle or physical combat
- to strive to overcome a person by blows or weapons
- to engage in boxing
- to put forth a determined effort
- to contend against in or as if in battle or physical combat
- to box against in the ring
- to attempt to prevent the success or effectiveness of
- the company fought the takeover attempt
- to oppose the passage or development of
- wage, carry on
- to take part in (as a boxing match)
- to struggle to endure or surmount
- to gain by struggle
- to resolve by struggle
- fought out their differences in court
- to manage (a ship) in a battle or storm
- to cause to struggle or contend
- to manage in an unnecessarily rough or awkward manner
- a hostile encounter : battle, combat
- a boxing match
- a verbal disagreement : argument
- a struggle for a goal or an objective
- strength or disposition for fighting : pugnacity
foul ['fau̇(-ə)l] -adj, adv, n
- offensive to the senses : loathsome
- filled or covered with offensive matter
- full of dirt or mud
- morally or spiritually odious : detestable
- notably unpleasant or distressing : wretched, horrid
- obscene, abusive
- being wet and stormy
- obstructive to navigation
- homely, ugly
- treacherous, dishonorable
- constituting an infringement of rules in a game or sport
- containing marked-up corrections
- encrusted, clogged, or choked with a foreign substance
- the chimney was foul and smoked badly
- being odorous and impure : polluted
- placed in a situation that impedes physical movement : entangled
- being outside the foul lines in baseball
- something foul
- an entanglement or collision esp. in angling or sailing
- an infringement of the rules in a game or sport
- free throw
- foul ball
- : to become or be foul: as
- decompose, rot
- to become encrusted, clogged, or choked with a foreign substance
- to become entangled or come into collision
- to commit a violation of the rules in a sport or game
- to hit a foul ball
- : to make foul: as
- to make dirty : pollute
- to tangle or come into collision with
- to encrust with a foreign substance
- a ship's bottom foul ed with barnacles
- obstruct, block
- dishonor, discredit
- to commit a foul against
- to hit (a baseball) foul
- in a foul manner : so as to be foul
fou·lard [fu̇-'lärd] -n
- a lightweight plain-woven or twilled silk usu. decorated with a printed pattern
- an imitation of this fabric
- an article of clothing made of foulard
foul ball -n
- a baseball batted into foul territory
foul·brood ['fau̇(-ə)l-,brüd] -n
- a destructive disease of honeybee larvae caused by bacteria (as Bacillus larvae)
foul·ing -n
- deposit, incrustation
- fouling on a ship's bottom
foul line -n
- either of two straight lines extending from the rear corner of home plate through the outer corners of first and third base respectively and prolonged to the boundary of a baseball field
- a line across a bowling alley that a player must not step over when delivering the ball
- either of two lines on a basketball court parallel to and 15 feet from the backboards behind which a player must stand while shooting a free throw
foul·mouthed ['fau̇(-ə)l-,maüthd, -,mau̇tht] -adj
- given to the use of obscene, profane, or abusive language
foul of -prep
- afoul of
- ran foul of a hidden reef
foul out -vi
- to be put out of a basketball game for exceeding the number of fouls permitted
foul play -n
- violence
- murder
foul shot -n
- free throw
foul tip -n
- a pitched ball in baseball that is slightly deflected by the bat
- a tipped pitch legally caught by the catcher and counting as a full strike with the ball remaining in play
foulup ['fau̇(-ə)l-,əp] -n
- a state of confusion or an error caused by ineptitude, carelessness, or mismanagement
- foulup s in transportation
- a mechanical difficulty
foul up -vt
- to make dirty : contaminate
- to spoil by making mistakes or using poor judgment : confuse
- entangle, block
- to cause a foul-up : bungle
- it was his fault. He had fouled up -- Pat Frank
found ['fīnd] -vb, adj
(variant of find)
- to come upon often accidentally : encounter
- to meet with (a particular reception)
- to come upon by searching or effort
- must find a suitable person for the job
- to discover by study or experiment
- to obtain by effort or management
- attain, reach
- the bullet found its mark
- to discover by the intellect or the feelings : experience
- find much pleasure in your company
- to perceive (oneself) to be in a certain place or condition
- to gain or regain the use or power of
- trying to find his tongue
- to bring (oneself) to a realization of one's powers or of one's proper sphere of activity
- must help the student to find himself as an individual -- N. M. Pusey
- provide, supply
- to furnish (room and board) esp. as a condition of employment
- to determine and make a statement about
- to determine a case judicially by a verdict
- an act or instance of finding
- : something found: as
- a valuable discovery
- a person whose ability proves to be unexpectedly good
foun·da·tion [fau̇n-'dā-shən] -n, adj, adv
- the act of founding
- a basis (as a tenet, principle, or axiom) upon which something stands or is supported
- the foundation s of geometry
- the rumor is without foundation in fact
- funds given for the permanent support of an institution : endowment
- an organization or institution established by endowment with provision for future maintenance
- an underlying base or support
- the whole masonry substructure of a building
- a body or ground upon which something is built up or overlaid
- a woman's supporting undergarment : corset
- a cosmetic usu. used as a base for makeup
foundation stone -n
- a stone in the foundation of a building
- such a stone laid with public ceremony
- basis, groundwork
found·er ['fau̇n-dər] -n
- one that founds or establishes
foun·der ['fau̇n-dər] -vb
- to become disabled
- to go lame
- to give way : collapse
- to become submerged : sink
- to come to grief : fail
- to disable (an animal) esp. by excessive feeding
- laminitis
found·er -n
- one that founds metal
- typefounder
founder effect -n
- the effect on the resulting gene pool that occurs when a new isolated population is founded by a small number of individuals possessing limited genetic variation relative to the larger population from which they have migrated
founding father -n
- an originator of an institution or movement : founder
- a leading figure in the founding of the U.S.
- a member of the American Constitutional Convention of 1787
found·ling ['fau̇n(d)-liŋ] -n
- an infant found after its unknown parents have abandoned it
found object -n
- objet trouve
found poem -n
- a poem consisting of words found in a nonpoetic context (as a product label) and usu. broken into lines that convey a verse rhythm
found·ry ['fau̇n-drē] -n
- an establishment where founding is carried on
- the act, process, or art of casting metals
fount ['fau̇nt] -n
- fountain, source
- a type font
foun·tain ['fau̇n-tᵊn] -n
- the source from which something proceeds or is supplied
- a spring of water issuing from the earth
- an artificially produced jet of water
- the structure from which it rises
- a reservoir containing a liquid that can be drawn off as needed
- soda fountain
fountain -vi
- to flow or spout like a fountain
- to cause to flow like a fountain
fountain grass -n
- any of several ornamental grasses (genus Pennisetum) having tufted stems and spikes of feathery flower clusters
foun·tain·head [-,hed] -n
- a spring that is the source of a stream
- principal source : origin
fountain pen -n
- a pen containing a reservoir that automatically feeds the writing point with ink
four [fȯr] -n, adj, pron, pl in constr
- the fourth in a set or series
- : something having four units or members: as
- a 4-oared racing shell or its crew
- a 4-cylinder engine or automobile
fourbag·ger [-'ba-gər] -n
- home run
fourball [-,bȯl] -n
- a golf match in which the best individual score of one partnership is matched against the best individual score of another partnership for each hole
four·chee [fu̇r-'shā] -adj
- having the end of each arm forked
fourdimensional -adj
- relating to or having four dimensions
- fourdimensional space-time continuum
- consisting of or relating to elements requiring four coordinates to determine them
four·dri·nier [,fȯr-drə-'nir; fu̇r-'dri-nē-ər, fȯr-] -n
- a machine for making paper in an endless web
foureyed ['fȯr-,īd] -adj
- wearing glasses
fourflush [-'flə-shər] -vi, n
- to bluff in poker holding a four flush
- to make a false claim : bluff
four flush -n
- four cards of the same suit in a 5-card poker hand
four·fold ['fȯr-,fōld, -'fōld] -adj, adv
- being four times as great or as many
- having four units or members
fourfoot·ed [-'fu̇-təd] -adj
- having four feet : quadruped
fourhand ['fȯr-,hand] -adj
- four-handed
fourhand·ed [-'han-dəd] -adj
- engaged in by four persons
- designed for four hands
Four Horsemen -n pl
- war, famine, pestilence, and death personified as the four major plagues of humankind
Four Hundred -n
- the exclusive social set of a community used with the
Fou·ri·er analysis ['fu̇r-ē-,ā-] -n
- the process of using the terms of a Fourier series to find a function that approximates periodic data
Fou·ri·er·ism ['fu̇r-ē-ə-,ri-zəm, -ē-,ā-,i-] -n
- a system for reorganizing society into cooperative communities of small self-sustaining groups
Fourier series -n
- an infinite series in which the terms are constants multiplied by sine or cosine functions of integer multiples of the variable and which is used in the analysis of periodic functions
Fourier's theorem -n
- a theorem in mathematics: under suitable conditions any periodic function can be represented by a Fourier series
Fourier transform -n
- any of various functions (as F(u)) that under suitable conditions can be obtained from given functions (as f(x)) by multiplying by e iux and integrating over all values of xand that in scientific instrumentation describe the dependence of the average of a series of measurements (as of a spectrum) on a quantity of interest (as brightness) esp. of a very small magnitude called also Fourier transformation
fourinhand ['fȯr-ən-,hand] -n
- a vehicle drawn by a team of four horses driven by one person
- such a team of four horses
- a necktie tied in a slipknot with long ends overlapping vertically in front
fourletter -adj
- of, relating to, or being four-letter words
fourletter word -n
- any of a group of vulgar or obscene words typically made up of four letters
- a taboo word or topic
- tax is a four-letter word to him
fouro'clock ['fȯr-ə-,kläk] -n
- any of a genus ( Mirabilis) of chiefly American annual or perennial herbs (family Nyctaginaceae, the four-o'clock family) having apetalous flowers with a showy involucre simulating a calyx
- a garden plant ( M. jalapa) with fragrant yellow, red, or white flowers opening late in the afternoon
four of a kind
- four cards of the same rank in one hand
fourpeat ['fȯr-,pēt] -n, vi
- a fourth consecutive championship
four·plex ['fȯr-,pleks] -n
- a building that contains four separate apartments
fourpost·er [,fȯr-'pō-stər] -n
- a bed with tall often carved corner posts orig. designed to support curtains or a canopy
four·ra·gere [,fu̇r-ə-'zher] -n
- a braided cord worn usu. around the left shoulder
- such a cord awarded as a decoration to a military unit
four·score ['fȯr-'skȯr] -adj
- being four times twenty : eighty
four·some ['fȯr-səm] -n
- a group of four persons or things : quartet
- two couples
- a golf match in which two players compete against two others with players on each side taking turns playing one ball
- any golf match involving four players
four·square [-'skwer] -adj, adv
- square
- marked by boldness and conviction : forthright
fourstar [-'stär] -adj
- of a superior degree of excellence
- a fourstar French restaurant
four·teen·er [-'tē-nər] -n
- a verse consisting of 14 syllables or esp. of 7 iambic feet
- a mountain that is at least 14,000 feet high
fourth ['fȯrth] -n, adj or adv, adv
- a musical interval embracing four tones of the diatonic scale
- a tone at this interval
- subdominant
- the harmonic combination of two tones a fourth apart
- the fourth forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle
- independence day used with the
fourth dimension -n, adj
- a dimension in addition to length, breadth, and depth
- a coordinate in addition to three rectangular coordinates esp. when interpreted as the time coordinate in a space-time continuum
- something outside the range of ordinary experience
fourth estate -n
- the public press
Fourth of July
- independence day
fourth wall -n
- an imaginary wall (as at the opening of a modern stage proscenium) that keeps performers from recognizing or directly addressing their audience
fourth world -n
- a group of nations esp. in Africa and Asia characterized by extremely low per capita income and an absence of valuable natural resources
fourway ['fȯr-'wā] -adj
- allowing or affecting passage in any of four directions
- applicable to traffic from each of four directions
- including four participants
fourwheel ['fȯr-,hwēl, -,wēl] -adj
- having four wheels
- acting on or by means of four wheels of an automotive vehicle
fourwheel drive -n
- an automotive drive mechanism that acts on all four wheels of the vehicle
- a vehicle equipped with such a drive
fourwheel·er [-,hwē-lər, -,wē-] -n
- a vehicle with four wheels
fo·vea ['fō-vē-ə] -n, adj
- a small fossa
- a small rodless area of the retina that affords acute vision
fovea cen·tra·lis [-sen-'tra-ləs, -'trä-, -'trā-] -n
- fovea
fowl ['fau̇(-ə)l] -n
- a bird of any kind
- a cock or hen of the domestic chicken ( Gallus gallus)
- an adult hen
- any of several domesticated or wild gallinaceous birds
- the meat of fowls used as food
- to seek, catch, or kill wildfowl
fowling piece -n
- a shotgun for shooting birds or small animals
fox ['fäks] -n
- any of various carnivorous mammals (esp. genus Vulpes) of the dog family related to but smaller than wolves with shorter legs, more pointed muzzle, large erect ears, and long bushy tail
- the fur of a fox
- a clever crafty person
- sword
- a member of an American Indian people formerly living in what is now Wisconsin
- a good-looking young woman or man
- intoxicate
- to trick by ingenuity or cunning : outwit
- baffle
foxed ['fäkst] -adj
- discolored with foxing
- foxed leaves of old books
fox fire -n
- an eerie phosphorescent light (as of decaying wood)
- a luminous fungus (as Armillaria mellea) that causes decaying wood to glow
fox·glove ['fäks-,gləv] -n
- any of a genus ( Digitalis) of erect herbs of the snapdragon family
- a common European biennial or perennial ( D. purpurea) cultivated for its showy racemes of dotted white or purple tubular flowers and as a source of digitalis
fox grape -n
- any of several native grapes (esp. Vitis labrusca) of eastern No. America with sour or musky fruit
fox·hole ['fäks-,hōl] -n
- a pit dug usu. hastily for individual cover from enemy fire
fox·hound [-,hau̇nd] -n
- any of various large swift powerful hounds of great endurance used in hunting foxes and developed to form several breeds and many distinctive strains
fox·hunt·er [-,hən-tər] -n
- one who engages in foxhunting
- hunter
fox·hunt·ing [-,hən-tiŋ] -n, vi
- a pastime in which participants on horseback ride over the countryside following a pack of hounds on the trail of a fox
fox·ing ['fäk-siŋ] -n
- brownish spots on old paper
fox·tail ['fäks-,tāl] -n
- the tail of a fox
- something resembling the tail of a fox
- any of several grasses (esp. genera Alopecurus, Hordeum,and Setaria) with spikes resembling brushes called also foxtail grass
foxtail lily -n
- eremurus
foxtail millet -n
- a coarse drought-resistant but frost-sensitive annual grass ( Setaria italica) grown for grain, hay, and forage
fox terrier -n
- : a small lively terrier of either of two breeds formerly used to dig out foxes:
- smooth fox terrier
- wire fox terrier
Fox·trot ['fäks-,trät]
- a communications code word for the letter f
foxtrot ['fäks-,trät] -n
- a short broken slow trotting gait in which the hind foot of the horse hits the ground a trifle before the diagonally opposite forefoot
- a ballroom dance in duple time that includes slow walking steps, quick running steps, and the step of the two-step
- to dance the fox-trot
foxy ['fäk-sē] -adj, adv, n
- : resembling or suggestive of a fox: as
- cunningly shrewd
- of a warm reddish-brown color
- having a sharp brisk flavor
- physically attractive
foy ['fȯi] -n
- a farewell feast or gift
foy·er ['fȯi(-ə)r, 'fȯi-,(y)ā also 'fwä-,yā] -n
- an anteroom or lobby esp. of a theater
- an entrance hallway : vestibule