f ['ef] -n
- the 6th letter of the English alphabet
- a graphic representation of this letter
- a speech counterpart of orthographic f
- the fourth tone of a C-major scale
- a graphic device for reproducing the letter f
- one designated fesp. as the sixth in order or class
- a grade rating a student's work as failing
- one graded or rated with an F
- something shaped like the letter F
- failure
- false
- family
- faraday
- feast
- female
- feminine
- femto-
- fermi
- fine
- finish
- fluid; fluidness
- focal length
- folio
- and the following one
- force
- forte
- fragile
- frequency
- from
- full
F -abbr
- Fahrenheit
- farad
- French
- Friday
- fluorine
fa ['fä] -n
- the fourth tone of the diatonic scale in solmization
FA -abbr
- field artillery
- fielding average
- football association
FAA -abbr
- Federal Aviation Administration
- free of all average
fab ['fab] -adj
- fabulous
Fa·bi·an ['fā-bē-ən] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or in the manner of the Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus known for his defeat of Hannibal in the Second Punic War by the avoidance of decisive contests
- cautious, dilatory
- of, relating to, or being a society of socialists organized in England in 1884 to spread socialist principles gradually
fa·ble ['fā-bəl] -n
- : a fictitious narrative or statement: as
- a legendary story of supernatural happenings
- a narration intended to enforce a useful truth
- one in which animals speak and act like human beings
- falsehood, lie
fable [-b(ə-)liŋ] -vb, n
- to tell fables
- to talk or write about as if true
fabled -adj
- fictitious
- told or celebrated in fables
- renowned, famous
fab·li·au ['fa-blē-,ō] -n
- a short, usu. comic, frankly coarse, and often cynical tale in verse popular esp. in the 12th and 13th centuries
fab·ric ['fa-brik] -n
- structure, building
- underlying structure : framework
- an act of constructing : erection
- the construction and maintenance of a church building
- structural plan or style of construction
- texture, quality used chiefly of textiles
- the arrangement of physical components (as of soil) in relation to each other
- cloth
- a material that resembles cloth
- the appearance or pattern produced by the shapes and arrangement of the crystal grains in a rock
fab·ri·cant ['fa-bri-kənt] -n
- manufacturer
fab·ri·cate ['fa-bri-,kāt] -vt, n
- invent, create
- to make up for the purpose of deception
- accused of fabricating evidence
- construct, manufacture
- to construct from diverse and usu. standardized parts
fab·ri·ca·tion [,fa-bri-'kā-shən] -n
- the act or process of fabricating
- a product of fabrication
- lie, falsehood
fabric softener -n
- a product used to make laundered fabrics softer and fluffier
fab·u·lar ['fa-byə-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or having the form of a fable
fab·u·list ['fa-byə-list] -n, adj
- a creator or writer of fables
- liar
fab·u·lous ['fa-byə-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- resembling or suggesting a fable : of an incredible, astonishing, or exaggerated nature
- wonderful, marvelous
- told in or based on fable
fac -abbr
- facsimile
- faculty
FAC -abbr
- forward air controller
fa·cade [fə-'säd] -n
- the front of a building
- any face of a building given special architectural treatment
- a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect
face ['fās] -n
- the front part of the head that in humans extends from the forehead to the chin and includes the mouth, nose, cheeks, and eyes
- the face as a means of identification : countenance
- would know that face anywhere
- presence, sight
- facial expression
- a facial expression of distaste or displeasure
- he made a face when he saw the test results
- makeup
- outward appearance
- the aspect of something that is perceptible or obvious upon superficial examination
- the theory is absurd on its face -- Kim Neely
- disguise, pretense
- assurance, confidence
- maintaining a firm face in spite of adversity
- effrontery
- how anyone could have the face to ask that question
- dignity, prestige
- : surface:
- a front, upper, or outer surface
- the front of something having two or four sides
- facade
- an exposed surface of rock
- any of the plane surfaces that bound a geometric solid
- : a surface specially prepared: as
- the principal dressed surface (as of a disk)
- the right side (as of cloth or leather)
- an inscribed, printed, or marked side
- a striking surface (as of a tool)
- the face of the golf club
- the surface (as of type) that receives the ink and transfers it to the paper
- a style of type
- the end or wall of a mine tunnel, drift, or excavation at which work is progressing
- face value
- person
- lots of new face s around here
- to confront impudently
- to line near the edge esp. with a different material
- to cover the front or surface of
- faced the building with marble
- to meet face-to-face or in competition
- to stand or sit with the face toward
- to have the front oriented toward
- to recognize and deal with straightforwardly
- to master by confronting with determination used with down
- to have as a prospect : be confronted by
- to be a prospect or a source of concern for
- the problems that face us
- to bring face-to-face
- to make the surface of (as a stone) flat or smooth
- to cause (troops) to face in a particular direction on command
- to have the face or front turned in a specified direction
- to turn the face in a specified direction
face angle -n
- an angle formed by two edges of a polyhedral angle
face card -n
- a king, queen, or jack in a deck of cards
facecen·tered ['fās-,sen-tərd] -adj
- relating to or being a crystal space lattice in which each cubic unit cell has an atom at the center and at the corners of each face
face·cloth ['fās-,klȯth] -n
- washcloth
face cord -n
- a unit of wood cut for fuel equal to a stack 4 8 feet with lengths of pieces from about 12 to 16 inches
face·down [,fās-'dau̇n] -adv
- with the face down
facefirst [,fās-'fərst] -adv, adj
- with the face foremost
face fly -n
- a European dipteran fly ( Musca autumnalis) that is similar to the housefly, is widely established in No. America, and causes distress to livestock by clustering about the face
face·less ['fās-ləs] -adj, n
- lacking character or individuality : nondescript
- not identified : anonymous
- lacking a face
facelift ['fās-,lift] -n, vt
- plastic surgery on the face and neck to remove defects and imperfections (as wrinkles or sagging skin) typical of aging
- an alteration, restoration, or restyling (as of a building) intended esp. to modernize
face mask -n
- a mask covering the face (as in football)
faceoff ['fās-,ȯf] -n
- a method of beginning play (as in hockey or lacrosse) in which two opponents face each other and attempt to gain control of a puck or ball dropped or placed between them
- confrontation
face off -vi
- to be in or come into opposition or competition
- politicians facing off against each other in a televised debate
faceplant ['fās-,plant] -n
- a sudden face-first fall
face·plate ['fās-,plāt] -n
- a disk fixed with its face at right angles to the live spindle of a lathe for the attachment of the work
- a protective plate for a machine or device
- a protective cover for the human face (as of a diver)
- the glass front of a cathode-ray tube on which the image is seen
fac·er ['fā-sər] -n
- one that faces
- a sudden often stunning check or obstacle
facesav·er ['fā(s)-,sā-vər] -n, adj or n
- something (as a compromise) that saves face
fac·et ['fa-sət] -n, adj
- a small plane surface (as on a cut gem)
- any of the definable aspects that make up a subject (as of contemplation) or an object (as of consideration)
- the external corneal surface of an ommatidium
- a smooth flat circumscribed anatomical surface (as of a bone)
fa·cete [fə-'sēt] -adj
- facetious, witty
fa·ce·ti·ae [fə-'sē-shē-,ē, -,ī] -n pl
- witty or humorous writings or sayings
face time -n
- the amount of time one spends appearing on television
- time spent in a face-to-face meeting with someone
- time spent at one's place of employment esp. beyond normal work hours
fa·ce·tious [fə-'sē-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- joking or jesting often inappropriately : waggish
- meant to be humorous or funny : not serious
facetoface -adv or adj
- within each other's sight or presence
- met and talked facetoface
- a facetoface consultation
- in or into direct contact or confrontation
- came facetoface with the problem
face·up ['fās-'əp] -adv
- with the face up
face up -vi
- to confront or deal directly with someone or something previously avoided usu. used with to
face value -n
- the value indicated on the face (as of a postage stamp or a stock certificate)
- the apparent value or significance
- if their remarks may be taken at face value
facia [1 & 3 are usu 'fā-sh(ē-)ə, 2 is usu 'fa-] -n, adj
(variant of fascia)
- : a flat usu. horizontal member of a building having the form of a flat band or broad fillet: as
- a flat piece used as a molding
- a horizontal piece (as a board) covering the joint between the top of a wall and the projecting eaves called also fascia board
- a nameplate over the front of a shop
- a sheet of connective tissue covering or binding together body structures (as muscles)
- tissue of this character
- the dashboard of an automobile
fa·cial ['fā-shəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the face
- concerned with or used in improving the appearance of the face
facial -n
- a facial treatment
facial index -n
- the ratio of the breadth of the face to its length multiplied by 100
facial nerve -n
- either of the seventh pair of cranial nerves that supply motor fibers esp. to the muscles of the face and jaw and sensory and parasympathetic fibers to the tongue, palate, and fauces
fa·cies ['fā-sh(ē-,)ēz] -n
- general appearance
- a plant species with a particularly distinct facies
- an appearance and expression of the face characteristic of a particular condition esp. when abnormal
- a part of a rock or group of rocks that differs from the whole formation (as in composition, age, or fossil content)
fac·ile ['fa-səl] -adj, adv, n
- easily accomplished or attained
- shallow, simplistic
- I am not concerned...with offering any facile solution for so complex a problem -- T. S. Eliot
- used or comprehended with ease
- readily manifested and often lacking sincerity or depth
- mild or pleasing in manner or disposition
- ready, fluent
- poised, assured
fa·cil·i·tate [fə-'si-lə-,tāt] -vt, adj
- to make easier : help bring about
fa·cil·i·ta·tion [fə-,si-lə-'tā-shən] -n
- the act of facilitating : the state of being facilitated
- the lowering of the threshold for reflex conduction along a particular neural pathway esp. from repeated use of that pathway
- the increasing of the ease or intensity of a response by repeated stimulation
fa·cil·i·ta·tor [fə-'si-lə-,tā-tər] -n
- one that facilitates
- one that helps to bring about an outcome (as learning, productivity, or communication) by providing indirect or unobtrusive assistance, guidance, or supervision
- the workshop's facilitator kept discussion flowing smoothly
fa·cil·i·ta·to·ry [fə-'si-lə-tə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- inducing or involved in facilitation esp. of a reflex action
fa·cil·i·ty [fə-'si-lə-tē] -n
- the quality of being easily performed
- ease in performance : aptitude
- readiness of compliance
- something that makes an action, operation, or course of conduct easier usu. used in pl.
- lavatory often used in pl.
- something (as a hospital) that is built, installed, or established to serve a particular purpose
fac·ing ['fā-siŋ] -n
- a lining at the edge esp. of a garment
- the collar, cuffs, and trimmings of a uniform coat
- an ornamental or protective layer
- material for facing
fac·sim·i·le [fak-'si-mə-lē] -n
- an exact copy
- a system of transmitting and reproducing graphic matter (as printing or still pictures) by means of signals sent over telephone lines
fact ['fakt] -n
- : a thing done: as
- feat
- crime
- action
- performance, doing
- the quality of being actual : actuality
- a question of fact hinges on evidence
- something that has actual existence
- space exploration is now a fact
- an actual occurrence
- a piece of information presented as having objective reality
factcheck ['fak(t)-,chek] -vt, n
- to verify the factual accuracy of
- factcheck the article before publication
fact finder -n, n or adj
- one that tries to determine the realities of a case, situation, or relationship
- an impartial examiner designated by a government agency to appraise the facts underlying a particular matter (as a labor dispute)
fac·tic·i·ty [fak-'ti-sə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being a fact
fac·tion ['fak-shən] -n, adj, adv
- a party or group (as within a government) that is often contentious or self-seeking : clique
- party spirit esp. when marked by dissension
fac·tious ['fak-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- : of or relating to faction: as
- caused by faction
- inclined to faction or the formation of factions
- seditious
fac·ti·tious [fak-'ti-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- produced by humans rather than by natural forces
- formed by or adapted to an artificial or conventional standard
- produced by special effort : sham
- created a factitious demand by spreading rumors of shortage
fac·ti·tive ['fak-tə-tiv] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or being a transitive verb that in some constructions requires an objective complement as well as an object
fact of life
- something that exists and must be taken into consideration
- the fundamental physiological processes and behavior involved in sex and reproduction
fac·toid ['fak-,tȯid] -n
- an invented fact believed to be true because of its appearance in print
- a briefly stated and usu. trivial fact
fac·tor ['fak-tər] -n
- : one who acts or transacts business for another: as
- broker
- one that lends money to producers and dealers (as on the security of accounts receivable)
- one that actively contributes to the production of a result : ingredient
- price wasn't a factor in the decision
- a substance that functions in or promotes the function of a particular physiological process or bodily system
- a good or service used in the process of production
- gene
- any of the numbers or symbols in mathematics that when multiplied together form a product
- a number or symbol that divides another number or symbol
- a quantity by which a given quantity is multiplied or divided in order to indicate a difference in measurement
- costs increased by a factor of 10
factor [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vb, adj
- to work as a factor
- to resolve into factors
- to include or admit as a factor used with in or into
- factor inflation into our calculations
- to exclude as a factor used with out
fac·tor·age [-t(ə-)rij] -n
- the charges made by a factor for services
- the business of a factor
factor analysis -n, adj
- the analytical process of transforming statistical data (as measurements) into linear combinations of usu. independent variables
factor VIII [-'āt] -n
- a glycoprotein clotting factor of blood plasma that is essential for blood clotting and is absent or inactive in hemophilia called also antihemophilic factor
factor group -n
- quotient group
fac·to·ri·al [fak-'tȯr-ē-əl] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a factor or a factorial
factorial -n
- the product of all the positive integers from 1 to n symbol n
- the quantity 0arbitrarily defined as equal to 1
fac·tor·i·za·tion [,fak-tə-rə-'zā-shən] -n, vt
- the operation of resolving a quantity into factors
- a product obtained by factorization
fac·to·ry ['fak-t(ə-)rē] -n, adj
- a station where factors reside and trade
- a building or set of buildings with facilities for manufacturing
- the seat of some kind of production
- the vice factories of the slums
factory ship -n
- a ship equipped to process a whale or fish catch at sea
fac·to·tum [fak-'tō-təm] -n
- a person having many diverse activities or responsibilities
- a general servant
fac·tu·al ['fak-chə-wəl, -chəl, -chü-əl, 'faksh-wəl] -adj, n, adv
- of or relating to facts
- restricted to or based on fact
fac·tu·al·ism ['fak-chə-wə-,li-zəm, -chə-,li-, -chü-ə-,li-, 'faksh-wə-] -n
- adherence or dedication to facts
fac·ture ['fak-chər] -n
- the manner in which something (as an artistic work) is made : execution
fac·u·la ['fa-kyə-lə] -n
- any of the bright regions of the sun's photosphere seen most easily near the sun's edge
fac·ul·ta·tive ['fa-kəl-,tā-tiv, Brit -tə-tiv] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the grant of permission, authority, or privilege
- optional
- of or relating to a mental faculty
- taking place under some conditions but not under others
- exhibiting an indicated lifestyle under some environmental conditions but not under others
fac·ul·ty ['fa-kəl-tē] -n
- : ability, power: as
- innate or acquired ability to act or do
- an inherent capability, power, or function
- any of the powers of the mind formerly held by psychologists to form a basis for the explanation of all mental phenomena
- natural aptitude
- has a faculty for saying the right things
- a branch of teaching or learning in an educational institution
- something in which one is trained or qualified
- the members of a profession
- the teaching and administrative staff and those members of the administration having academic rank in an educational institution
- faculty members
- many faculty were present
- power, authority, or prerogative given or conferred
fad ['fad] -n, adj, adv
- a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal : craze
FAD [,ef-,ā-'dē] -n
- flavin adenine dinucleotide
fade ['fād] -vb, n
- to lose freshness, strength, or vitality : wither
- to lose freshness or brilliance of color
- to sink away : vanish
- to change gradually in loudness, strength, or visibility used of a motion-picture image or of an electronics signal and usu. with in or out
- to lose braking power gradually
- to move back from the line of scrimmage used of a quarterback
- to move in a slight to moderate slice
- to cause to fade
- fade-out
- a gradual changing of one picture to another in a motion-picture or television sequence
- a fading of an automobile brake
- a slight to moderate and usu. intentional slice in golf
- a hairstyle similar to a crew cut in which the hair on top of the head stands high
- insipid, commonplace
fade·away ['fād-ə-,wā] -n
- screwball
- a slide in which a base runner throws his or her body sideways to avoid the tag
- an act or instance of fading away
fadein ['fād-,in] -n
- a gradual increase in a motion-picture or television image's visibility at the beginning of a sequence
fade·less ['fād-ləs] -adj
- not susceptible to fading
fadeout ['fād-,au̇t] -n
- an act or instance of fading out
- a gradual decrease in a motion-picture or television image's visibility at the end of a sequence
FADM -abbr
- fleet admiral
fa·do ['fä-(,)thü, 'fa-] -n
- a plaintive Portuguese folk song
fae·cal ['fē-kəl] -adj
(variant of fecal)
- of, relating to, or constituting feces
fa·e·na [fä-'ā-(,)nä] -n
- a series of final passes leading to the kill made by the matador in a bullfight
fa·er·ie ['fā-(ə-)rē, 'fer-ē] -n, adj
- fairyland
- fairy
Faero·ese [,fer-ə-'wēz, -'wēs] -n, adj
- a member of the people inhabiting the Faeroes
- the North Germanic language of the Faeroese people
Faf·nir ['fäv-nər, 'fäf-, -,nir] -n
- a dragon in Norse mythology that guards the Nibelungs' gold hoard until slain by Sigurd
fag ['fag] -vb
- to work hard : toil
- to tire by strenuous activity : exhaust
- fagged by the strenuous climb
- toil, drudgery
- drudge
- an English public-school boy who acts as servant to an older schoolmate
- to serve as a fag esp. in an English public school
- fagging for older boys during his first year
- cigarette
- faggot
fag end -n
- a poor or worn-out end : remnant
- the extreme end
- the last part or coarser end of a web of cloth
- the untwisted end of a rope
fag·got ['fa-gət] -n, adj
- a male homosexual
fa·gin ['fā-gən] -n
- an adult who instructs others (as children) in crime
fag·ot ['fa-gət] -n
- : bundle: as
- a bundle of sticks
- a bundle of pieces of wrought iron to be shaped by rolling or hammering at high temperature
fagot -vt
- to make a fagot of : bind together into a bundle
fag·ot·ing ['fa-gə-tiŋ] -n
- an embroidery produced by pulling out horizontal threads from a fabric and tying the remaining cross threads into groups of an hourglass shape
- an openwork stitch joining hemmed edges
Fah -abbr
- Fahrenheit
Fahr·en·heit ['fer-ən-,hīt] -adj
- relating or conforming to a thermometric scale on which under standard atmospheric pressure the boiling point of water is at 212 degrees above the zero of the scale, the freezing point is at 32 degrees above zero, and the zero point approximates the temperature produced by mixing equal quantities by weight of snow and common salt abbr. F
fa·ience [fā-'än(t)s, fī-, -'äⁿs] -n
- earthenware decorated with opaque colored glazes
fail ['fāl] -vb, adv
- to lose strength : weaken
- to fade or die away
- until our family line fail s
- to stop functioning normally
- the patient's heart fail ed
- to fall short
- to be or become absent or inadequate
- to be unsuccessful
- to be unsuccessful in achieving a passing grade
- took the exam and fail ed
- to become bankrupt or insolvent
- to disappoint the expectations or trust of
- to miss performing an expected service or function for
- to be deficient in : lack
- never fail ed an invincible courage -- Douglas MacArthur
- to leave undone : neglect
- to be unsuccessful in passing
- to grade (as a student) as not passing
- failure usu. used in the phrase without fail
- a failure (as by a security dealer) to deliver or receive securities within a prescribed period after purchase or sale
fail·ing ['fā-liŋ] -n
- a usu. slight or insignificant defect in character, conduct, or ability
failing -prep
- in absence or default of
- failing specific instructions, use your own judgment
faille ['fī(-ə)l] -n
- a somewhat shiny closely woven silk, rayon, or cotton fabric characterized by slight ribs in the weft
failsafe ['fāl-,sāf] -adj
- incorporating some feature for automatically counteracting the effect of an anticipated possible source of failure
- being or relating to a safeguard that prevents continuing on a bombing mission according to a preconceived plan
- having no chance of failure : infallibly problem-free
- the little black dress...has consistently been the failsafe solution for night -- Vogue
- a device or measure that makes something fail-safe
fail·ure ['fāl-yər] -n
- omission of occurrence or performance
- a failing to perform a duty or expected action
- failure to pay the rent on time
- a state of inability to perform a normal function
- an abrupt cessation of normal functioning
- a fracturing or giving way under stress
- lack of success
- a failing in business : bankruptcy
- a falling short : deficiency
- deterioration, decay
- one that has failed
fain ['fān] -adj
- happy, pleased
- inclined, desirous
- willing
- he was very fain, for the young widow was altogether fair and lovely... -- Amy Kelly
- being obliged or constrained : compelled
- Great Britain was fain to devote its whole energy...to the business of slaying and being slain -- G. M. Trevelyan
- with pleasure : gladly
- a speech of fire that fain would blaze -- Michael Billington
- by preference
- knew it, too, though he would fain not admit it publicly -- John Lukacs
- by desire
- I would fain consult you -- W. S. Gilbert
fai·ne·ant [fā-nā-'äⁿ] -n
- an irresponsible idler
- idle and ineffectual : indolent
faint ['fānt] -adj, n, adv
- lacking courage and spirit : cowardly
- weak, dizzy, and likely to faint
- lacking strength or vigor : performed, offered, or accomplished weakly or languidly
- producing a sensation of faintness : oppressive
- the faint atmosphere of a tropical port
- hardly perceptible : dim
- vague
- haven't the faintest idea
- to lose courage or spirit
- to become weak
- to lose consciousness because of a temporary decrease in the blood supply to the brain
- the physiological action of fainting
- the resulting condition : syncope
faint·heart·ed ['fānt-'här-təd] -adj, adv, n
- lacking courage or resolution : timid
fair ['fer] -adj, n
- pleasing to the eye or mind esp. because of fresh, charming, or flawless quality
- superficially pleasing : specious
- she trusted his fair promises
- clean, pure
- clear, legible
- not stormy or foul : fine
- ample
- marked by impartiality and honesty : free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism
- a very fair person to do business with
- conforming with the established rules : allowed
- consonant with merit or importance : due
- open to legitimate pursuit, attack, or ridicule
- promising, likely
- favorable to a ship's course
- free of obstacles
- not dark
- sufficient but not ample : adequate
- a fair understanding of the work
- moderately numerous, large, or significant
- takes a fair amount of time
- being such to the utmost : utter
- a fair treat to watch him -- New Republic
- beauty, fairness
- something that is fair or fortunate
- woman
- sweetheart
- in a fair manner
- fairly
- fair makes you want to cry
- clear
- to join so that the external surfaces blend smoothly
- a gathering of buyers and sellers at a particular place and time for trade
- a competitive exhibition usu. with accompanying entertainment and amusements
- an exhibition designed to acquaint prospective buyers or the general public with a product
- an exposition that promotes the availability of services or opportunities
- a sale of assorted articles usu. for a charitable purpose
fair ball -n
- a batted baseball that lands within the foul lines or that is within the foul lines when bounding to the outfield past first or third base or when going beyond the outfield for a home run
fair catch -n, vt
- a catch of a kicked football by a player who gives a prescribed signal, may not advance the ball, and may not be tackled
fair copy -n
- a neat and exact copy esp. of a corrected draft
fair·go·er ['fer-,gō-ər] -n
- one who attends a fair
fair·ground ['fer-,grau̇nd] -n
- an area where outdoor fairs, circuses, or exhibitions are held often used in pl. with sing. constr.
- what a spot for a fairground s -- W. L. Gresham
fairhaired ['fer-'herd] -adj
- specially favored : white-headed used esp. in the phrase fair-haired boy
fair·ing ['fer-iŋ] -n
- a present bought or given at a fair
- gift
- desert
fairing -n
- a member or structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and to reduce drag (as on an airplane)
fair·ish ['fer-ish] -adj, adv
- fairly good
- a fairish wage for those days
Fair Isle -n
- a style of knitting originating in the Shetland Islands that is characterized by bands of multicolored geometric patterns
- an article of clothing knitted in this style
fair·lead ['fer-,lēd] -n
- a block, ring, or strip of plank with holes that serves as a guide for the running rigging or any ship's rope and keeps it from chafing
- a course of running ship's rope that avoids all chafing
fair·ly ['fer-lē] -adv
- in a handsome manner
- in a gentle manner : quietly
- in a courteous manner
- so to speak : nearly, practically
- fairly bursting with pride
- in a proper or legal manner
- without bias or distortion : impartially
- a story told fairly and objectively
- to a full degree or extent : plainly, distinctly
- had fairly caught sight of him
- rather , moderately
fair market value -n
- a price at which buyers and sellers with a reasonable knowledge of pertinent facts and not acting under any compulsion are willing to do business
fairmind·ed ['fer-,mīn-dəd] -adj, n
- marked by impartiality and honesty : just, unprejudiced
fairness doctrine -n
- a tenet of licensed broadcasting that ensures a reasonable opportunity for the airing of conflicting viewpoints on controversial issues
fair play -n
- equitable or impartial treatment : justice
fair shake -n
- a fair chance or fair treatment
- give the negative side a fair shake -- S. L. Payne
fairspo·ken ['fer-,spō-kən] -adj
- pleasant and courteous in speech
fairtrade ['fer-'trād] -vt, n
- to market (a commodity) in compliance with the provisions of a fair-trade agreement
fairtrade agreement -n
- an agreement between a producer and a seller that commodities bearing a trademark, label, or brand name belonging to the producer be sold at or above a specified price
fair use -n
- a legal doctrine that portions of copyrighted materials may be used without permission of the copyright owner provided the use is fair and reasonable, does not substantially impair the value of the materials, and does not curtail the profits reasonably expected by the owner
fair·way ['fer-,wā] -n
- a navigable part of a river, bay, or harbor
- an open path or space
- the closely mowed part of a golf course between a tee and a green
fairweather -adj
- loyal only during a time of success
- suitable for or done during fair weather
fairy ['fer-ē] -n, adj
- a mythical being of folklore and romance usu. having diminutive human form and magic powers
- a male homosexual
fairy godmother -n
- a generous friend or benefactor
fairy·ism [-,i-zəm] -n
- the power to enchant
fairy·land [-,land] -n
- the land of fairies
- a place of delicate beauty or magical charm
fairy ring -n
- a ring of basidiomycetous mushrooms produced at the periphery of a body of mycelium which has grown outward from an initial growth point
- a ring of luxuriant vegetation esp. when associated with these mushrooms
- a mushroom (esp. Marasmius oreades) that commonly grows in fairy rings
fairy shrimp -n
- any of several very small translucent freshwater branchiopod crustaceans (order Anostraca)
fairytale -adj
- characteristic of or suitable to a fairy tale
- marked by seemingly unreal beauty, perfection, luck, or happiness
- a store clerk's fairytale romance
fairy tale -n
- a story (as for children) involving fantastic forces and beings (as fairies, wizards, and goblins) called also fairy story
- a story in which improbable events lead to a happy ending
- a made-up story usu. designed to mislead
fait ac·com·pli ['fā-tə-,käm-'plē, 'fe-, 'fe-,ta-, -,kōⁿ(m)-, Brit usu -'käm-(,)plē] -n
- a thing accomplished and presumably irreversible
faith ['fāth] -n
- allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty
- fidelity to one's promises
- sincerity of intentions
- belief and trust in and loyalty to God
- belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion
- firm belief in something for which there is no proof
- complete trust
- something that is believed esp. with strong conviction
- a system of religious beliefs
- believe, trust
faith·ful ['fāth-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- full of faith
- steadfast in affection or allegiance : loyal
- firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty : conscientious
- given with strong assurance : binding
- true to the facts, to a standard, or to an original
faithful -n
- church members in full communion and good standing used with the
- the body of believers in Islam used with the
- one who is faithful
- a loyal follower, member, or fan
faith healing -n
- a method of treating diseases by prayer and exercise of faith in God
faith·less ['fāth-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- not true to allegiance or duty : treacherous, disloyal
- not to be relied on : untrustworthy
fai·tour ['fā-tər] -n
- cheat, imposter
fa·ji·ta [fə-'hē-tə, fä-] -n
- a marinated strip usu. of beef or chicken grilled or broiled and served usu. with a flour tortilla and various savory fillings usu. used in pl.
fake ['fāk] -vt
- to coil in fakes
- one loop of a coil (as of ship's rope or a fire hose) coiled free for running
- counterfeit, sham
- : one that is not what it purports to be: as
- a worthless imitation passed off as genuine
- impostor, charlatan
- a simulated movement in a sports contest (as a pretended kick, pass, or jump or a quick movement in one direction before going in another) designed to deceive an opponent
- a device or apparatus used by a magician to achieve the illusion of magic in a trick
- to alter, manipulate, or treat so as to give a spuriously genuine appearance to : doctor
- counterfeit, simulate, concoct
- to deceive (an opponent) in a sports contest by means of a fake
- improvise, ad-lib
- whistle a few bars...and I'll fake the rest -- Robert Sylvester
- to engage in faking something : pretend sometimes used with it
- if you don't have the answers, fake it
- to give a fake to an opponent
fake out -vt
- to deliberately mislead : fool, trick
fa·kir -n
- a Muslim mendicant : dervish
- an itinerant Hindu ascetic or wonder-worker
- impostor
- swindler
fa la [fä-'lä] -n
- a 16th and 17th century part-song
fa·la·fel [fə-'lä-fəl] -n
- a spicy mixture of ground vegetables (as chick-peas or fava beans) formed into balls or patties and then fried
Fa·lan·gist [fə-'lan-jist, 'fā-,] -n
- a member of the fascist political party governing Spain after the civil war of 193639
Fa·la·sha [fə-'lä-shə] -n
- a member of a people of highland Ethiopia who practice a variety of Judaism
fal·cate ['fal-,kāt, 'fȯl-] -adj
- hooked or curved like a sickle
fal·chion ['fȯl-chən] -n
- a broad-bladed slightly curved sword of medieval times
- sword
fal·ci·form ['fal-sə-,fȯrm, 'fȯl-] -adj
- having the shape of a scythe or sickle
fal·cip·a·rum malaria [fal-'si-pə-rəm-] -n
- extremely severe malaria caused by a sporozoan parasite ( Plasmodium falciparum)
fal·con ['fal-kən, 'fȯl- also 'fȯ-kən] -n
- any of various hawks trained for use in falconry
- peregrine falcon used technically only of a female
- any of various hawks (family Falconidae) that have long pointed wings, a long tail, and a notched beak and that usu. inhabit open areas
fal·con·er [-kə-nər] -n
- a person who breeds, trains, or hunts with hawks
fal·con·et [,fal-kə-'net, ,fȯl- also ,fȯ-] -n
- a very small cannon used in the 16th and 17th centuries
- any of several very small falcons (genera Microhierax, Polihierax,and Spiziapteryx)
fal·congen·tle [-kən-'jen-tᵊl] -n
- the female peregrine falcon
fal·con·ry ['fal-kən-rē, 'fȯl- also 'fȯ-kən-] -n
- the art of training hawks to hunt in cooperation with a person
- the sport of hunting with hawks
falderal ['fäl-də-,räl] -n
(variant of folderol)
- a useless ornament or accessory : trifle
- nonsense
fald·stool ['fȯl(d)-,stül] -n
- a folding stool or chair
- one used by a bishop
- a folding stool or small desk at which one kneels during devotions
- one used by the sovereigns of England at their coronation
- the desk from which the litany is read in Anglican churches
fall ['fȯl] -vb
- to descend freely by the force of gravity
- to hang freely
- her hair fall s over her shoulders
- to drop oneself to a lower position
- to come or go as if by falling
- darkness fall s early in the winter
- to become born usu. used of lambs
- to become lower in degree or level
- to drop in pitch or volume
- their voices fell to a whisper
- issue
- wisdom that fell from his lips
- to become lowered
- to leave an erect position suddenly and involuntarily
- slipped and fell on the ice
- to enter as if unawares : stumble, stray
- to drop down wounded or dead
- to die in battle
- to suffer military capture
- after a long siege the city fell
- to lose office
- the party fell from power
- to suffer ruin, defeat, or failure
- to commit an immoral act
- to lose one's chastity
- to move or extend in a downward direction
- the land fall s away to the east
- subside, abate
- to decline in quality, activity, or quantity
- to lose weight used with off or away
- to assume a look of shame, disappointment, or dejection
- to decline in financial value or price
- to occur at a certain time
- her birthday fall s on a Monday this year
- to come by chance
- a job that fell into his hands
- to come or pass by lot, assignment, or inheritance : devolve
- it fell to him to break the news
- to have a certain or proper position, place, or station
- the accent fall s on the second syllable
- to come within the limits, scope, or jurisdiction of something
- this word fall s into the class of verbs
- to pass suddenly and passively into a state of body or mind or a new state or condition
- to set about heartily or actively
- strike, impinge
- music fall ing on the ear
- fell
- the act of falling by the force of gravity
- a falling out, off, or away : dropping
- the season when leaves fall from trees : autumn
- a thing or quantity that falls or has fallen
- a fall of rock at the base of the cliff
- one or more meteorites or their fragments that have fallen together
- birth
- the quantity born usu. used of lambs
- a costume decoration of lace or thin fabric arranged to hang loosely and gracefully
- a very wide turned-down collar worn in the 17th century
- the part of a turnover collar from the crease to the outer edge
- a wide front flap on trousers (as those worn by sailors)
- the freely hanging lower edge of the skirt of a coat
- one of the three outer and often drooping segments of the flower of an iris
- long hair overhanging the face of dogs of some breeds
- a usu. long straight portion of hair that is attached to a person's own hair
- a hoisting-tackle rope or chain
- the part of it to which the power is applied
- loss of greatness : collapse
- the fall of the Roman Empire
- the surrender or capture of a besieged place
- lapse or departure from innocence or goodness
- loss of a woman's chastity
- the blame for a failure or misdeed
- took the fall for the robbery
- the downward slope (as of a hill) : declivity
- a precipitous descent of water : waterfall usu. used in pl. but sing. or pl. in constr.
- a musical cadence
- a falling-pitch intonation in speech
- a decrease in size, quantity, degree, or value
- the distance which something falls
- inclination, pitch
- the act of felling something
- the quantity of trees cut down
- an act of forcing a wrestler's shoulders to the mat for a specified time (as one second)
- a bout of wrestling
- destiny, lot
- of, relating to, or suitable for autumn
fal·la·cious [fə-'lā-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- embodying a fallacy
- tending to deceive or mislead : delusive
fal·la·cy ['fa-lə-sē] -n
- guile, trickery
- deceptive appearance : deception
- a false or mistaken idea
- erroneous character : erroneousness
- an often plausible argument using false or invalid inference
fallal [fa-'lal, 'fa(l)-,lal] -n
- a fancy ornament esp. in dress
fall armyworm -n
- a migratory American noctuid moth ( Spodoptera frugiperda) that is destructive to grains and grasses as a larva
fall·away ['fȯl-ə-,wā] -adj, n
- made while moving away from the basket in basketball
fall away -vi
- to withdraw friendship or support
- to renounce one's faith
- to diminish gradually in size
- to drift off a course
fall·back ['fȯl-,bak] -n
- something on which one can fall back : reserve often used attributively
- a falling back : retreat
- something that falls back
- the fallback from an explosion
fall back -vi
- retreat, recede
fall down -vi
- to fail to meet expectations or requirements
fall·er ['fȯ-lər] -n
- a machine part that acts by falling
- a logger who fells trees
fall·fish ['fȯl-,fish] -n
- a common silvery cyprinid fish ( Semotilus corporalis) of the streams of northeastern No. America
fall guy -n
- scapegoat
- a fall guy for his boss's errors
fal·li·bil·i·ty [,fa-lə-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- liability to err
fal·li·ble ['fa-lə-bəl] -adj, adv
- liable to be erroneous
- a fallible generalization
- capable of making a mistake
fall in -vi
- to sink inward
- to take one's proper place in a military formation
falling diphthong -n
- a diphthong (as i in niz noise) composed of a vowel followed by a less sonorous glide
fall·ingout [,fȯ-liŋ-'au̇t] -n
- an instance of falling out : quarrel
- had a fallingout with his parents
falling rhythm -n
- rhythm with stress occurring regularly on the first syllable of each foot
falling star -n
- meteor
fall line -n
- a line joining the waterfalls on numerous rivers that marks the point where each river descends from the upland to the lowland and the limit of the navigability of each river
- the natural downhill course (as for skiing) between two points on a slope
fall·off ['fȯl-,ȯf] -n
- a decline esp. in quantity or quality
- a falloff of light intensity
fall off -vi
- trend
- to deviate to leeward of the point to which the bow was directed
fal·lo·pi·an tube [fə-'lō-pē-ən-] -n
- either of the pair of tubes that carry the egg from the ovary to the uterus
fall·out ['fȯl-,au̇t] -n
- the often radioactive particles stirred up by or resulting from a nuclear explosion and descending through the atmosphere
- other polluting particles (as volcanic ash) descending likewise
- descent (as of fallout) through the atmosphere
- a secondary and often lingering effect, result, or set of consequences
- have to take a position and accept the political fallout -- Andy Logan
fall out -vi
- quarrel
- to cut off relations over a quarrel
- former friends who have fallen out
- turn out, happen
- expected to be in the States..., but things fell out otherwise -- Mark Twain
- to leave one's place in the ranks
- to leave a building in order to take one's place in a military formation
fal·low ['fa-(,)lō] -adj
- of a light yellowish-brown color
fallow -n
- usu. cultivated land that is allowed to lie idle during the growing season
- plowed land
- the state or period of being fallow
- the tilling of land without sowing it for a season
- to plow, harrow, and break up (land) without seeding to destroy weeds and conserve soil moisture
- left untilled or unsown after plowing
- dormant, inactive used esp. in the phrase to lie fallow
- at this very moment there are probably important inventions lying fallow -- Harper's
fallow deer -n
- a deer ( Dama damasyn. Cervus dama) of variable color with palmate antlers in the male and typically a yellow-brown coat spotted with white in the summer that was orig. of Mediterranean regions of Europe and Asia but has been introduced elsewhere
fall to -vi
- to begin doing something (as working or eating) esp. vigorously often used in invitation or command
false ['fȯls] -adj, adv, n
- not genuine
- intentionally untrue
- adjusted or made so as to deceive
- a trunk with a false bottom
- intended or tending to mislead
- not true
- not faithful or loyal : treacherous
- lacking naturalness or sincerity
- not essential or permanent used of parts of a structure that are temporary or supplemental
- fitting over a main part to strengthen it, to protect it, or to disguise its appearance
- inaccurate in pitch
- based on mistaken ideas
- inconsistent with the facts
- a false sense of security
- threateningly sudden or deceptive
- don't make any false moves
- in a false or faithless manner : treacherously
- his friends played him false
false alarm -n
- an alarm (as a fire or burglar alarm) that is set off needlessly
- one causing alarm or excitement that proves to be unfounded
false arrest -n
- an arrest not justifiable under law
false color -n
- color in an image (as a photograph) of an object that does not actually appear in the object but is used to enhance, contrast, or distinguish details
false·hood ['fȯls-,hu̇d] -n
- an untrue statement : lie
- absence of truth or accuracy
- the practice of lying : mendacity
false imprisonment -n
- imprisonment of a person contrary to law
false mi·ter·wort [-'mī-tər-,wərt, -,wȯrt] -n
- foamflower
false morel -n
- any of a genus ( Gyromitra) of fungi that are often poisonous and have a cap with convolutions resembling a brain
false pregnancy -n
- pseudocyesis, pseudopregnancy
false rib -n
- a rib whose cartilages unite indirectly or not at all with the sternum
false Solomon's seal -n
- any of a genus ( Smilacina) of herbs of the lily family that differ from Solomon's seal in having flowers in a terminal raceme or panicle called also false Solomonseal
false start -n
- a premature start (as of a race or football play)
- an unsuccessful attempt to begin something (as a career)
fal·set·to [fȯl-'se-(,)tō] -n
- an artificially high voice
- an artificially produced singing voice that overlaps and extends above the range of the full voice esp. of a tenor
- a singer who uses falsetto
falsetto -adv
- in falsetto
false·work ['fȯls-,wərk] -n
- temporary construction work on which a main work is wholly or partly built and supported until the main work is strong enough to support itself
fals·ie ['fȯl-sē] -n
- an artificial addition to a bodily part worn to enhance appearance
- a breast-shaped usu. fabric or rubber cup used to pad a brassiere usu. used in pl.
fal·si·fy ['fȯl-sə-,fī] -vb, n, adj
- to prove or declare false : disprove
- : to make false: as
- to make false by mutilation or addition
- the accounts were falsified to conceal a theft
- to represent falsely : misrepresent
- to prove unsound by experience
- to tell lies : lie
fal·si·ty ['fȯl-sə-tē] -n
- something false : lie
- the quality or state of being false
Fal·staff ['fȯl-,staf] -n, adj
- a fat, convivial, roguish character in Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsorand Henry IV
fal·ter ['fȯl-tər] -vb, n, adv
- to walk unsteadily : stumble
- to give way : totter
- could feel my legs falter ing
- to move waveringly or hesitatingly
- to speak brokenly or weakly : stammer
- to hesitate in purpose or action : waver
- he never falter ed in his determination
- to lose drive or effectiveness
- the business was falter ing
- to utter hesitatingly or brokenly
falter -n
- an act or instance of faltering
fam -abbr
- familiar
- family
fame ['fām] -n
- public estimation : reputation
- popular acclaim : renown
- rumor
- report, repute
- to make famous
famed ['fāmd] -adj
- known widely and well : famous
fa·mil·ial [fə-'mil-yəl, -'mi-lē-əl] -adj
- tending to occur in more members of a family than expected by chance alone
- of, relating to, or suggestive of a family
- has familial ties to the area
familial adenomatous pol·yp·o·sis [-,pä-li-'pō-səs] -n
- an inherited disease of the large intestine marked by the formation esp. in the colon and rectum of numerous glandular polyps which typically become malignant if left untreated called also familial polyposis
familial hypercholesterolemia -n
- an inherited metabolic disorder marked by excess accumulation of LDL cholesterol in the blood resulting esp. in atherosclerosis and irregular yellow skin lesions
fa·mil·iar [fə-'mil-yər] -n
- a member of the household of a high official
- one that is familiar
- an intimate associate : companion
- a spirit often embodied in an animal and held to attend and serve or guard a person
- one who is well acquainted with something
- one who frequents a place
familiar -adj, adv, n
- closely acquainted : intimate
- affable, sociable
- of or relating to a family
- remembering past familiar celebrations
- frequented by families
- being free and easy
- the familiar association of old friends
- marked by informality
- overly free and unrestrained : presumptuous
- grossly familiar behavior
- moderately tame
- frequently seen or experienced : easily recognized
- of everyday occurrence
- possibly known but imperfectly remembered
- having personal or intimate knowledge used with with
- familiar with the facts of the case
fa·mil·iar·ise [fə-'mil-yə-,rīz] -vt, n
(variant of familiarize)
- to make known or familiar
- Shakespeare...familiarize s the wonderful -- Samuel Johnson
- to make well acquainted
- familiarize students with good literature
fa·mil·iar·i·ty [fə-,mi-lē-'(y)er-ə-tē, -'(y)a-rə-; -,mil-'yer-, -,mil-'ya-rə-] -n
- the quality or state of being familiar
- a state of close relationship : intimacy
- absence of ceremony : informality
- an unduly informal act or expression : impropriety
- a sexual liberty
- close acquaintance with something
fa·mil·iar·ize [fə-'mil-yə-,rīz] -vt, n
- to make known or familiar
- Shakespeare...familiarize s the wonderful -- Samuel Johnson
- to make well acquainted
- familiarize students with good literature
familiar spirit -n
- a spirit or demon that serves or prompts an individual
- the spirit of a dead person invoked by a medium to advise or prophesy
fam·i·lism ['fa-mə-,li-zəm] -n, adj
- a social pattern in which the family assumes a position of ascendance over individual interests
fa·mille rose [fə-'mē-] -n
- Chinese porcelain in the decoration of which a rose color predominates
fa·mille verte [fə-'mē-'vert] -n
- Chinese porcelain in the decoration of which green predominates
fam·i·ly ['fam-lē, 'fa-mə-] -n
- a group of individuals living under one roof and usu. under one head : household
- a group of persons of common ancestry : clan
- a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a common stock : race
- a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation : fellowship
- the staff of a high official (as the President)
- : a group of things related by common characteristics: as
- a closely related series of elements or chemical compounds
- a group of soils with similar chemical and physical properties (as texture, pH, and mineral content) that comprise a category ranking above the series and below the subgroup in soil classification
- a group of related languages descended from a single ancestral language
- the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children
- any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family
- spouse and children
- want to spend more time with my family
- a group of related plants or animals forming a category ranking above a genus and below an order and usu. comprising several to many genera
- the descendants or line of a particular individual esp. of some outstanding female
- an identifiable strain within a breed
- a set of curves or surfaces whose equations differ only in parameters
- a unit of a crime syndicate (as the Mafia) operating within a geographic area
family -adj
- of or relating to a family
- designed or suitable for both children and adults
family Bible -n
- a large Bible usu. having special pages for recording births, marriages, and deaths
family court -n
- court of domestic relations
family doctor -n
- a doctor regularly consulted by a family
- a doctor specializing in family practice
family jewels -n pl
- a man's testicles
family leave -n
- a usu. unpaid leave of absence for an employee to attend to family concerns (as a serious illness or the care of an infant)
family man -n
- a man with a wife and children dependent on him
- a man devoted to his family
family name -n
- surname
family physician -n
- family doctor
family planning -n
- planning intended to determine the number and spacing of one's children through birth control
family practice -n
- a medical practice or specialty which provides continuing general medical care for the individual and family called also family medicine
family practitioner -n
- family doctor
family room -n
- a large room designed as a recreation center and informal gathering place for members of a family
family style -adv or adj
- with the food placed on the table in serving dishes from which those eating may help themselves
family tree -n
- genealogy
- a genealogical diagram
family values -n pl
- values esp. of a traditional or conservative kind which are held to promote the sound functioning of the family and to strengthen the fabric of society
family way -n
- condition of being pregnant used with in and the or a
fam·ine ['fa-mən] -n
- an extreme scarcity of food
- starvation
- a ravenous appetite
- a great shortage
fam·ish ['fa-mish] -vb, n
- to cause to suffer severely from hunger
- to cause to starve to death
- starve
- to suffer for lack of something necessary
- a moment when French poetry in particular was famish ing for such invention -- T. S. Eliot
fam·ished ['fa-misht] -adj
- intensely hungry
- needy
fa·mous ['fā-məs] -adj, n
- widely known
- honored for achievement
- excellent, first-rate
- famous weather for a walk
fa·mous·ly -adv
- in a celebrated manner
- in a superlative fashion
- to an unusual degree : very
fam·u·lus ['fam-yə-ləs] -n
- a private secretary or attendant
fan ['fan] -n, adj
- any of various devices for winnowing grain
- : an instrument for producing a current of air: as
- a device that is held in the hand and moved back and forth to cool a person and that is usu. shaped like a segment of a circle and composed of material (as feathers or paper) mounted on thin rods or slats moving about a pivot so that the device may be closed compactly when not in use
- a device that consists of a series of vanes radiating from a hub rotated on its axle by a motor
- an airplane propeller
- something resembling an open fan
- a gently sloping fan-shaped body of detritus
- alluvial fan
- to drive away the chaff of (grain) by means of a current of air
- to eliminate (as chaff) by winnowing
- to move or impel (air) with a fan
- to blow or breathe upon
- the breeze fanning her hair
- to direct a current of air upon with a fan
- to stir up to activity as if by fanning : stimulate
- fanning the fires of nationalism
- wave
- spank
- to spread like a fan
- the peacock fanned his tail
- to strike (a batter) out in baseball
- to fire a series of shots from (a single-action revolver) by holding the trigger back and successively striking the hammer to the rear with the free hand
- to move like a fan : flutter
- to spread like a fan often used with out
- strike out
- an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usu. as a spectator
- an ardent admirer or enthusiast (as of a celebrity or a pursuit)
fa·nat·ic [fə-'na-tik] -adj, n, adv
- marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion
- they're fanatic about politics
fa·nat·i·cism [fə-'na-tə-,si-zəm] -n
- fanatic outlook or behavior
fa·nat·i·cize [-,sīz] -vt
- to cause to become fanatic
fan·boy ['fan-,bȯi] -n
- a boy who is an enthusiastic devotee (as of comics or movies)
fan·ci·er ['fan(t)-sē-ər] -n
- one that has a special liking or interest
- a person who breeds or grows a particular animal or plant for points of excellence
fan·ci·ful ['fan(t)-si-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- marked by fancy or unrestrained imagination rather than by reason and experience
- existing in fancy only
- marked by or as if by fancy or whim
- gave their children fanciful names
fan·ci·fy ['fan(t)-sə-,fī] -vt
- to make ornate, elaborate, or fancy
fan·cy ['fan(t)-sē] -vt
- to have a fancy for : like
- to form a conception of : imagine
- to believe mistakenly or without evidence
- to believe without being certain
- she fancied she had met him before
- to visualize or interpret as
- fancied myself a child again
fancy -n
- a liking formed by caprice rather than reason : inclination
- amorous fondness : love
- notion, whim
- an image or representation of something formed in the mind
- fantastic quality or state
- imagination esp. of a capricious or delusive sort
- the power of conception and representation used in artistic expression (as by a poet)
- taste, judgment
- devotees of some particular art, practice, or amusement
- the object of interest of such a fancy
- boxing
- dependent or based on fancy : whimsical
- not plain : ornamental
- swanky , posh
- of particular excellence or highest grade
- impressive
- posted some fancy numbers
- bred esp. for bizarre or ornamental qualities that lack practical utility
- based on conceptions of the fancy
- dealing in fancy goods
- extravagant
- executed with technical skill and style
- parti-color
fancydan ['fan(t)-sē-'dan, -,dan] -adj
- showy , fancy
- fancydan basketball players hotdogging on the court
fancy Dan -n
- one given to flamboyant display esp. of technique or dress
fancy dress -n
- a costume (as for a masquerade) chosen to suit the wearer's fancy
fan·cyfree [,fan(t)-sē-'frē] -adj
- free from amorous attachment or engagement
- free to imagine or fancy
fancy man -n
- a woman's paramour
- pimp
fancypants -adj
- overly elegant or refined : la-di-da
fancy up -vt
- to add superficial adornment to
fancy woman -n
- a woman of questionable morals
- prostitute
fan·cy·work ['fan(t)-sē-,wərk] -n
- decorative needlework
fan·dan·go [fan-'daŋ-(,)gō] -n
- a lively Spanish or Spanish-American dance in triple time that is usu. performed by a man and a woman to the accompaniment of guitar and castanets
- music for this dance
- tomfoolery
fan·dom ['fan-dəm] -n
- all the fans (as of a sport)
- the state or attitude of being a fan
fane ['fān] -n
- temple
- church
fan·fare ['fan-,fer] -n
- a short and lively sounding of trumpets
- a showy outward display
fan·far·o·nade [,fan-,fa-rə-'nād, -'näd] -n
- empty boasting : bluster
fan fiction [-'fik] -n
- stories involving popular fictional characters that are written by fans and often posted on the Internet called also fan fic -fik
fan·fold ['fan-,fōld] -n, vt
- paper (as business forms or tape) made from a web and folded like a fan lengthwise and sometimes crosswise
fang ['faŋ] -n, adj
- : a long sharp tooth: as
- one by which an animal's prey is seized and held or torn
- one of the long hollow or grooved and often erectile teeth of a venomous snake
- one of the chelicerae of a spider at the tip of which a poison gland opens
- the root of a tooth or one of the processes or prongs into which a root divides
- a projecting tooth or prong
Fang ['faŋ, 'fäŋ] -n
- a member of a Bantu-speaking people of northern Gabon, mainland Equatorial Guinea, and southern Cameroon
- the language of the Fang people
fanjet ['fan-,jet] -n
- a jet engine having a fan that operates in a duct and draws in extra air whose compression and expulsion provide extra thrust
- an airplane powered by a fan-jet engine
fan letter -n
- a letter sent to a public figure by an admirer
fan·light ['fan-,līt] -n
- a semicircular window with radiating bars like the ribs of a fan that is placed over a door or window
fan mail -n
- fan letters
fan·ny ['fa-nē] -n
- vulva
- buttocks
fanny pack -n
- a pack that straps to the waist and is used for carrying personal articles
fan·tab·u·lous [fan-'ta-byə-ləs] -adj
- marvelously good
fan·tail ['fan-,tāl] -n
- a fan-shaped tail or end
- a domestic pigeon having a broad rounded tail often with 30 or 40 feathers
- an architectural part resembling a fan
- a counter or after overhang of a ship shaped like a duck's bill
fantan ['fan-,tan] -n
- a Chinese gambling game in which the banker divides a pile of objects (as beans) into fours and players bet on what number will be left at the end of the count
- a card game in which players must build in sequence upon sevens and attempt to be the first one out of cards
fan·ta·sia [fan-'tā-zhə, -z(h)ē-ə; ,fan-tə-'zē-ə] -n
- a free usu. instrumental composition not in strict form
- a work (as a poem or play) in which the author's fancy roves unrestricted
- something possessing grotesque, bizarre, or unreal qualities
fan·ta·sied ['fan-tə-sēd, -zēd] -adj
- existing only in the imagination : fancied
- full of fancies or strange whims
fan·ta·sise [-,sīz] -vb, n
(variant of fantasize)
- to indulge in reverie : create or develop imaginative and often fantastic views or ideas
- doing things I'd fantasized about in my sheltered childhood -- Diane Arbus
- to portray in the mind : fancy
- likes to fantasize herself as very wealthy
fan·ta·sist [-sist, -zist] -n
- one who creates fantasias or fantasies
fan·ta·size [-,sīz] -vb, n
- to indulge in reverie : create or develop imaginative and often fantastic views or ideas
- doing things I'd fantasized about in my sheltered childhood -- Diane Arbus
- to portray in the mind : fancy
- likes to fantasize herself as very wealthy
fantasm ['fan-,ta-zəm] -n, adj
(variant of phantasm)
- : a product of fantasy: as
- delusive appearance : illusion
- ghost, specter
- a figment of the imagination
- a mental representation of a real object
fan·tast ['fan-,tast] -n
- visionary
- a fantastic or eccentric person
- fantasist
fan·tas·tic [fan-'tas-tik, fən-] -adj, n
- based on fantasy : not real
- conceived or seemingly conceived by unrestrained fancy
- so extreme as to challenge belief : unbelievable
- exceedingly large or great
- marked by extravagant fantasy or extreme individuality : eccentric
- excellent, superlative
fantastic -n
- eccentric
fan·tas·ti·cal·ly [fan-'tas-ti-k(ə-)lē, fən-] -adv
- in a fantastic manner
- to a fantastic degree : extremely
- fantastically expensive clothes
fan·tas·ti·cate [fan-'tas-tə-,kāt, fən-] -vt, n
- to make fantastic
fan·tas·ti·co [fan-'tas-ti-,kō, fən-] -n
- a ridiculously fantastic individual
fan·ta·sy ['fan-tə-sē, -zē] -n
- hallucination
- fancy
- the free play of creative imagination
- : a creation of the imaginative faculty whether expressed or merely conceived: as
- a fanciful design or invention
- a chimerical or fantastic notion
- fantasia
- imaginative fiction featuring esp. strange settings and grotesque characters called also fantasy fiction
- caprice
- the power or process of creating esp. unrealistic or improbable mental images in response to psychological need
- a mental image or a series of mental images (as a daydream) so created
- sexual fantasies of adolescence
- a coin usu. not intended for circulation as currency and often issued by a dubious authority (as a government-in-exile)
fantasy -vb
- fantasize
fan·ta·sy·land [-,land] -n
- an imaginary or ideal place or situation
fan·toc·ci·ni [,fän-tə-'chē-nē, ,fan-] -n pl
- a puppet show using puppets operated by strings or mechanical devices
- such puppets
fan·tod ['fan-,täd] -n
- a state of irritability and tension
- fidgets
- an emotional outburst : fit
fan vault -n
- a Gothic vault in which the ribs from each springer spread out like the vanes of a fan
fan·wise ['fan-,wīz] -adv or adj
- in the manner or position of the slats of an open fan
- boats anchored fanwise at the pier
fan·zine ['fan-,zēn] -n
- a magazine written by and for fans
- a punk rocker with her own fanzine
FAO -abbr
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FAQ -abbr
- fair average quality
- frequently asked question
far ['fär] -adv
- at or to a considerable distance in space
- to a great extent : much
- by a broad interval : widely
- to or at a definite distance, point, or degree
- to an advanced point or extent
- a bright student will go far
- worked far into the night
- at a considerable distance in time
- not far from the year 1870
- remote in space
- distinctly different in quality or relationship
- remote in time
- long
- of notable extent : comprehensive
- the more distant of two
- extreme
- a far right political organization
FAR -abbr
- federal air regulation
far·ad ['fer-,ad, -əd; 'fa-,rad, -,rəd] -n
- the unit of capacitance equal to the capacitance of a capacitor between whose plates there appears a potential of one volt when it is charged by one coulomb of electricity
far·a·day ['fer-ə-,dā, -dē; 'fa-rə-] -n
- the quantity of electricity transferred in electrolysis per equivalent weight of an element or ion equal to about 96,500 coulombs
fa·rad·ic [fə-'ra-dik, fa-'ra-] -adj
- of or relating to an asymmetric alternating current of electricity produced by an induction coil
- faradic stimulation of the muscles
far·a·dism ['fer-ə-,di-zəm, 'fa-rə-] -n
- the application of a faradic current of electricity (as for therapeutic purposes)
far and away -adv
- by a considerable margin
- was far and away the better team
far·an·dole ['fer-ən-,dōl, 'fa-rən-] -n
- a lively Provenal dance in which men and women hold hands, form a chain, and follow a leader through a serpentine course
- music in sextuple time for a farandole
far and wide -adv
- in every direction : everywhere
far·away ['fär-ə-,wā] -adj
- lying at a great distance : remote
- dreamy, abstracted
- a faraway look in her eyes
farce ['färs] -vt
- stuff
- to improve as if by stuffing
- a savory stuffing : forcemeat
- a light dramatic composition marked by broadly satirical comedy and improbable plot
- the broad humor characteristic of farce or pretense
- ridiculous or empty show
- mockery
- the enforcement of this law became a farce
far·ceur [fär-'sər] -n
- joker, wag
- a writer or actor of farce
far·ci [fär-'sē] -adj
- stuffed esp. with forcemeat
far·ci·cal ['fär-si-kəl] -adj, n, adv
- of, relating to, or resembling farce : ludicrous
- laughably inept : absurd
far cry -n
- a long distance
- something notably different
- the effects of the foreign-aid program were a far cry from what was intended
far·cy ['fär-sē] -n
- glanders
- cutaneous glanders
fard ['färd] -vt, n
- to paint (the face) with cosmetics
- to gloss over
far·del ['fär-dᵊl] -n
- bundle
- burden
fare ['fer] -vi
- go, travel
- get along, succeed
- how did you fare on your exam?
- eat, dine
- range of food : diet
- material provided for use, consumption, or enjoyment
- the price charged to transport a person
- a paying passenger on a public conveyance
faretheewell ['fer-(,)thē-,wel] -n
- the utmost degree
- researched the story to a faretheewell
- a state of perfection
- imitated the speaker's pompous manner to a faretheewell
fare·well [fer-'wel] -vb imper
- get along well used interjectionally to or by one departing
farewell -n
- a wish of well-being at parting : good-bye
- an act of departure : leave-taking
- a formal occasion honoring a person about to leave or retire
fare·well -vt
- to bid farewell to
- of or relating to leave-taking : final
far·fal·le [fär-'fä-(,)lā, -lē] -n
- butterfly-shaped pasta
far·fel ['fär-fəl] -n
- noodles in the form of pellets or granules
farfetched ['fär-'fecht] -adj, n
- brought from a remote time or place
- not easily or naturally deduced or introduced : improbable
farflung [-'fləŋ] -adj
- widely spread or distributed
- remote
fa·ri·na [fə-'rē-nə] -n
- a fine meal of vegetable matter (as cereal grains) used chiefly for puddings or as a breakfast cereal
- any of various powdery or mealy substances
far·i·na·ceous [,fer-ə-'nā-shəs, ,fa-rə-] -adj
- having a mealy texture or surface
- containing or rich in starch
farin·fra·red ['fär-,in-frə-'red] -adj
- of or relating to the longer wavelengths of radiation in the infrared spectrum and esp. to those between 10 and 1000 micrometers
fa·ri·nha [fə-'rēn-yə] -n
- cassava meal
far·kle·ber·ry ['fär-kəl-,ber-ē] -n
- a shrub or small tree ( Vaccinium arboreum) of the heath family of the southeastern U.S. having a small hard black berry with stony seeds
farl ['fär(-ə)l] -n
- a small thin triangular cake or biscuit made esp. with oatmeal or wheat flour
farm ['färm] -n
- a sum or due fixed in amount and payable at fixed intervals
- a letting out of revenues or taxes for a fixed sum to one authorized to collect and retain them
- a district or division of a country leased out for the collection of government revenues
- a tract of land devoted to agricultural purposes
- a plot of land devoted to the raising of animals and esp. domestic livestock
- a tract of water reserved for the artificial cultivation of some aquatic life form
- a minor-league team (as in baseball) associated with a major-league team as a subsidiary
- an area containing a number of similar structures or objects (as radio antennas or storage tanks)
- rent
- to collect and take the fees or profits of (an occupation or business) on payment of a fixed sum
- to give up (as an estate or a business) to another on condition of receiving in return a fixed sum
- to devote to agriculture
- to manage and cultivate as a farm
- to grow or cultivate in quantity
- to engage in raising crops or animals
farm·er ['fär-mər] -n
- a person who pays a fixed sum for some privilege or source of income
- a person who cultivates land or crops or raises animals (as livestock or fish)
- yokel, bumpkin
farmer cheese -n
- a pressed unripened cheese similar to but drier and firmer than cottage cheese
farm·er·ette [,fär-mə-'ret] -n
- a woman who is a farmer or farmhand
farmer's lung -n
- an acute pulmonary disorder characterized by sudden onset, fever, cough, expectoration, and breathlessness that results from the inhalation of spores in dust from moldy hay or straw
farm·hand ['färm-,hand] -n
- a farm laborer
- a hired laborer on a farm
- a player on a farm team
farm·house [-,hau̇s] -n
- a dwelling on a farm
farm·ing -n
- the practice of agriculture or aquaculture
farm·land ['färm-,land] -n
- land used or suitable for farming
farm out -vt
- to turn over (as a job) for performance by another usu. under contract
- to put (as children) into the hands of another for care
- to send (as a baseball player) to a farm team
- to exhaust (land) by farming esp. by continuously raising one crop
farm·stead ['färm-,sted] -n
- the buildings and adjacent service areas of a farm
- a farm with its buildings
farm·wife ['färm-,wīf] -n
- a farmer's wife
farm·work·er ['färm-,wər-kər] -n
- farmhand
farm·yard [-,yärd] -n
- land around or enclosed by farm buildings
- barnyard
faro ['fer-(,)ō] -n
- a gambling game in which players bet on cards drawn from a dealing box
faroff ['fär-,ȯf] -adj
- remote in time or space
fa·rouche [fə-'rüsh] -adj
- wild
- marked by shyness and lack of social graces
farout ['fär-,au̇t] -adj, n
- marked by a considerable departure from the conventional or traditional
far·rag·i·nous [fə-'ra-jə-nəs] -adj
- consisting of a farrago
far·ra·go [fə-'rä-(,)gō, -'rā-] -n
- a confused mixture : hodgepodge
farreach·ing ['fär-,rē-chiŋ] -adj
- having a wide range or effect
farred [-'red] -adj
- near-infrared
far·ri·er ['fer-ē-ər, 'fa-rē-] -n
- a person who shoes horses
far·row ['fer-(,)ō, 'fa-(,)rō] -vb
- to give birth to (a farrow)
- to bring forth young often used with down
farrow -n
- a litter of pigs
- an act of farrowing
- not pregnant
far·see·ing ['fär-,sē-iŋ] -adj
- farsighted
Far·si ['fär-sē] -n
- persian
far·side -n
- the farther side
- the side of the moon away from the earth
far·sight·ed ['fär-,sī-təd] -adj, adv
- seeing or able to see to a great distance
- having or showing foresight or good judgment : sagacious
- affected with hyperopia
far·sight·ed·ness -n
- the quality or state of being farsighted
- hyperopia
fart ['färt] -vi
- to expel intestinal gas from the anus
- an expulsion of intestinal gas
- a foolish or contemptible person
- couldn't stand the old fart
far·ther ['fär-thər] -adv
- at or to a greater distance or more advanced point
- got no farther than the first page
- nothing could be farther from the truth
- to a greater degree or extent
- see to it that I do not have to act any farther in the matter -- Bernard DeVoto
farther -adj
- more distant : remoter
- further
- clearing his throat preparatory to farther revelations -- Edith Wharton
far·ther·most [-,mōst] -adj
- most distant : farthest
far·thest ['fär-thəst] -adj
- most distant esp. in space or time
- the seat farthest from the door
farthest -adv
- to or at the greatest distance in space or time
- who can jump the farthest
- to the most advanced point
- goes farthest toward answering the question
- by the greatest degree or extent : most
- the painting farthest removed from reality
far·thing ['fär-thiŋ] -n
- a former British monetary unit equal to of a penny
- a coin representing this unit
- something of small value : mite
far·thin·gale ['fär-thən-,gāl, -thiŋ-] -n
- a support (as of hoops) worn esp. in the 16th century beneath a skirt to expand it at the hipline
farultraviolet -adj
- of, relating to, or being the shortest wavelengths of radiation in the ultraviolet spectrum and esp. those between 100 and 300 nanometers
FAS -abbr
- fetal alcohol syndrome
- firsts and seconds
- free alongside ship
fasc -abbr
- fascicle
fas·ces ['fas-,ēz] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a bundle of rods and among them an ax with projecting blade borne before ancient Roman magistrates as a badge of authority
fas·cia [1 & 3 are usu 'fā-sh(ē-)ə, 2 is usu 'fa-] -n, adj
- : a flat usu. horizontal member of a building having the form of a flat band or broad fillet: as
- a flat piece used as a molding
- a horizontal piece (as a board) covering the joint between the top of a wall and the projecting eaves called also fascia board
- a nameplate over the front of a shop
- a sheet of connective tissue covering or binding together body structures (as muscles)
- tissue of this character
- the dashboard of an automobile
fas·ci·at·ed ['fa-shē-,ā-təd] -adj
- exhibiting fasciation
- arranged in fascicles
fas·ci·a·tion [,fa-s(h)ē-'ā-shən] -n
- a malformation of plant stems commonly manifested as enlargement and flattening as if several stems were fused
fas·ci·cle ['fa-si-kəl] -n, adj
- a small or slender bundle (as of pine needles or nerve fibers)
- one of the divisions of a book published in parts
fas·cic·u·lar [fə-'si-kyə-lər, fa-] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or consisting of fascicles or fasciculi
fas·cic·u·late [-lət] -adj
- fascicular
fas·cic·u·la·tion [fə-,si-kyə-'lā-shən, fa-] -n
- muscular twitching involving the simultaneous contraction of contiguous groups of muscle fibers
fas·ci·cule ['fa-si-,kyül] -n
- fascicle
fas·cic·u·lus [fə-'si-kyə-ləs, fa-] -n
- a slender bundle of anatomical fibers (as nerve fibers)
- fascicle
fas·ci·i·tis [,fa-shē-'ī-təs, -sē-] -n
- inflammation of a fascia (as from infection or injury)
fas·ci·nate ['fa-sə-,nāt] -vb
- bewitch
- to transfix and hold spellbound by an irresistible power
- believed that the serpent could fascinate its prey
- to command the interest of : allure
- was fascinated by carnivals
- to be irresistibly attractive
- the novel's flamboyant cover fascinate s
fascinating [-,ā-tiŋ-lē] -adj, adv
- extremely interesting or charming : captivating
fas·ci·na·tion [,fa-sə-'nā-shən] -n
- the quality or power of fascinating
- something fascinating
- the state of being fascinated : the state of feeling an intense interest in something
fas·ci·na·tor ['fa-sə-,nā-tər] -n
- one that fascinates
- a woman's lightweight head scarf usu. of crochet or lace
fas·cine [fa-'sēn, fə-] -n
- a long bundle of sticks of wood bound together and used for such purposes as filling ditches and making revetments for riverbanks
fa·sci·o·li·a·sis [fə-,sē-ə-'lī-ə-səs, -,sī-] -n
- infestation with or disease caused by liver flukes ( Fasciola hepaticaor F. gigantica)
fas·cism ['fa-,shi-zəm also 'fa-,si-] -n, n or adj, adj, adv
- a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
- a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control
- early instances of army fascism and brutality -- J. W. Aldridge
Fa·sci·sta [fä-'shē-(,)stä] -n
- a member of an Italian political organization under Mussolini governing Italy 19221943 according to the principles of fascism
fash ['fash] -vb, n
- vex
fash·ion ['fa-shᵊn] -n
- the make or form of something
- kind, sort
- a distinctive or peculiar and often habitual manner or way
- he will, after his sour fashion, tell you -- Shak.
- mode of action or operation
- assembled in an orderly fashion
- a prevailing custom, usage, or style
- the prevailing style (as in dress) during a particular time
- a garment in such a style
- always wears the latest fashion s
- social standing or prominence esp. as signalized by dress or conduct
fashion ['fash-niŋ, 'fa-shᵊn-iŋ] -vt, n
- to give shape or form to : mold
- alter, transform
- to mold into a particular character by influencing or training
- to make or construct usu. with the use of imagination and ingenuity
- fashion a lamp from an old churn
- fit, adapt
- contrive
fash·ion·able ['fash-nə-bəl, 'fa-shə-nə-] -adj, n, adv
- conforming to the custom, fashion, or established mode
- of or relating to the world of fashion
fashionable -n
- a fashionable person
fash·ion·is·ta [,fa-shə-'nēs-tə] -n
- a designer, promoter, or follower of the latest fashions
fash·ion·mon·ger ['fa-shᵊn-,mäŋ-gər, -,məŋ-] -n
- one that studies, imitates, or sets the fashion
fashion plate -n
- an illustration of a clothing style
- a person who dresses in the latest fashions
fast ['fast] -adj
- firmly fixed
- tightly shut
- adhering firmly
- not easily freed : stuck
- a ball fast in the mouth of the cannon
- stable
- movable items were made fast to the deck
- firmly loyal
- : characterized by quick motion, operation, or effect:
- moving or able to move rapidly : swift
- taking a comparatively short time
- imparting quickness of motion
- accomplished quickly
- agile of mind
- quick to learn
- a class for fast students
- conducive to rapidity of play or action
- indicating in advance of what is correct
- according to or being daylight saving time
- contributing to a shortening of exposure time
- acquired with unusually little effort and often by shady or dishonest methods
- had a keen eye for a fast buck -- R. A. Keith
- securely attached
- tenacious
- sound asleep
- not easily disturbed
- not fading or changing color readily
- wild
- sexually promiscuous
- resistant to change (as from destructive action or fading) often used in combination
- in a firm or fixed manner
- in a sound manner : deeply
- in a rapid manner : quickly
- in quick succession
- in a reckless or dissipated manner
- ahead of a correct time or schedule
- close, near
- to abstain from food
- to eat sparingly or abstain from some foods
- the practice of fasting
- a time of fasting
- something that fastens (as a mooring line) or holds a fastening
fast and loose -adv
- in a reckless or irresponsible manner
- played fast and loose with the public purse strings -- Paul Stuewe
- in a craftily deceitful way
- manipulated evidence...and played fast and loose with the truth -- C. V. Woodward
fast·back ['fas(t)-,bak] -n
- an automobile with a roof having a long curving downward slope to the rear
- the back of such an automobile
fast·ball ['fas(t)-,bȯl] -n
- a baseball pitch thrown at full speed and often rising slightly as it nears the plate
fast break -n, vi
- a quick offensive drive toward a goal (as in basketball) in an attempt to score before the opponent's defense is set up
fas·ten ['fa-sᵊn] -vb, n
- to attach esp. by pinning, tying, or nailing
- to make fast and secure
- to fix firmly or securely
- to secure against opening
- to fix or set steadily
- fasten ed her attention on the main problem
- to take a firm grip with
- the dog fasten ed its teeth in the shoe
- to attach (oneself) persistently and usu. objectionably
- to place forcefully : impose
- fasten ed the blame on the wrong person
- to become fast or fixed
- to take a firm grip or hold
- to focus attention
fastening -n
- something that fastens : fastener
fastfood ['fas(t)-,füd] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or specializing in food that can be prepared and served quickly
- designed for ready availability, use, or consumption and with little consideration given to quality or significance
fastfor·ward [,fas(t)-'fȯr-wərd] -n
- a function of an electronic device that advances a recording at a higher than normal speed
- a state or an instance of rapid advancement
- put her career in fast-forward
fastforward -vt
- to advance (a magnetic tape) using the fast-forward of a tape player
- to bypass (as a commercial) by fast-forwarding
- to advance a magnetic tape using the fast-forward
- to proceed rapidly forward esp. in time
- fastforward to the future
fas·tid·i·ous [fa-'sti-dē-əs, fə-] -adj, adv, n
- scornful
- having high and often capricious standards : difficult to please
- critics...so fastidious that they can talk only to a small circle of initiates -- Granville Hicks
- showing or demanding excessive delicacy or care
- reflecting a meticulous, sensitive, or demanding attitude
- having complex nutritional requirements
- fastidious microorganisms
fas·ti·gi·ate [fa-'sti-jē-ət] -adj
- narrowing toward the top
- having upright usu. clustered branches
fast lane -n, adj
- a traffic lane intended for vehicles traveling at higher speeds
- a way of life marked by a fast pace and usu. the pursuit of immediate gratification
- fast track
fast·ness ['fas(t)-nəs] -n
- : the quality or state of being fast: as
- the quality or state of being fixed
- the quality or state of being swift
- colorfast quality
- resistance (as of an organism) to the action of a usu. toxic substance
- a fortified or secure place
- a remote and secluded place
- vacationed in their mountain fastness
Fast of Esther
- a Jewish fast day observed the day before Purim in commemoration of a fast proclaimed by Queen Esther
fastpitch ['fas(t)-,pich] -n
- softball which is played with 9 or 10 players on each side and in which pitches are thrown with speed and base stealing is allowed
fasttalk ['fas(t)-,tȯk] -vt, n
- to influence or persuade by fluent, facile, and usu. deceptive or tricky talk
- fasttalk ed him into buying a lemon
fasttrack ['fas(t)-,trak] -adj
- of, relating to, or moving along a fast track
- of, relating to, or being a construction procedure in which work on a building begins before designs are completed
- of or relating to authority granted to the President of the U.S. by Congress that allows the President to negotiate trade agreements which Congress must confirm or reject in their entirety
- to speed up the processing, production, or construction of in order to meet a goal
fast track -n
- a course leading to rapid advancement or success
- a course of expedited consideration or approval
fasttwitch ['fas(t)-,twich] -adj
- of, relating to, or being muscle fiber that contracts quickly esp. during brief high-intensity physical activity requiring strength
fas·tu·ous ['fas-chə-wəs] -adj
- haughty, arrogant
- a fastuous air of finality -- Carl Van Vechten
- ostentatious, showy
- disdained fastuous ceremonies
fat ['fat] -adj, n
- : notable for having an unusual amount of fat:
- plump
- obese
- fattened for market
- oily, greasy
- well filled out : thick, big
- full in tone and quality : rich
- a gorgeous fat bass voice -- Irish Digest
- well stocked
- prosperous, wealthy
- grew fat on the war -- Time
- being substantial and impressive
- richly rewarding or profitable
- practically nonexistent
- productive, fertile
- stupid, foolish
- being swollen
- got a fat lip from the fight
- easy to hit
- to make fat : fatten
- animal tissue consisting chiefly of cells distended with greasy or oily matter
- oily or greasy matter making up the bulk of adipose tissue and often abundant in seeds
- any of various compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that are glycerides of fatty acids, are the chief constituents of plant and animal fat, are a major class of energy-rich food, and are soluble in organic solvents but not in water
- a solid or semisolid fat as distinguished from an oil
- the best or richest part
- obesity
- something in excess : superfluity
- trim the fat from the news operation -- Ray Olson
fa·tal ['fā-tᵊl] -adj
- fated
- fateful
- of or relating to fate
- resembling fate in proceeding according to a fixed sequence
- determining one's fate
- causing death
- bringing ruin
- a fatal attraction to gambling
- causing failure
fa·tal·ism [-tə-,li-zəm] -n, adj, adv
- a doctrine that events are fixed in advance so that human beings are powerless to change them
- a belief in or attitude determined by this doctrine
fa·tal·i·ty [fā-'ta-lə-tē, fə-] -n
- the quality or state of causing death or destruction
- the quality or condition of being destined for disaster
- something established by fate
- fate
- fatalism
- the agent or agency of fate
- death resulting from a disaster
- one that experiences a fatal outcome
fa·tal·ly -adv
- in a way determined by fate
- : in a manner suggesting fate or an act of fate: as
- in a manner resulting in death : mortally
- beyond repair : irrevocably
- in a manner resulting in ruin or evil
- it is fatally easy to pass off our prejudices as our opinions -- W. F. Hambly
- in a manner that cannot be easily resisted
- thinks she is fatally attractive -- J. W. Krutch
fa·ta mor·ga·na [,fä-tə-mȯr-'gä-nə, -'ga-] -n
- mirage
fat·back ['fat-,bak] -n
- the strip of fat from the back of a hog carcass usu. cured by drying and salting
fat body -n
- a fatty tissue esp. of nearly mature insect larvae that serves as a food reserve
fat cat ['fat-,kat] -n, adj
- a wealthy contributor to a political campaign fund
- a wealthy and privileged person
- big shot
- a lethargic complacent person
fat cell -n
- one of the fat-laden cells making up adipose tissue
fat depot -n
- adipose tissue
fate ['fāt] -n
- the will or principle or determining cause by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are or events to happen as they do : destiny
- an inevitable and often adverse outcome, condition, or end
- disaster
- death
- final outcome
- the expected result of normal development
- prospective fate of embryonic cells
- the circumstances that befall someone or something
- did not know the fate of her former classmates
- the three goddesses who determine the course of human life in classical mythology
- destine
- doom
fated -adj
- decreed, controlled, or marked by fate
fate·ful ['fāt-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- having a quality of ominous prophecy
- involving momentous consequences : decisive
- made his fateful decision to declare war -- W. L. Shirer
- deadly, catastrophic
- controlled by fate : foreordained
fat farm -n
- a health spa that specializes in weight reduction
fath -abbr
- fathom
fat·head ['fat-,hed] -n, adj, adv
- a stupid person
fa·ther ['fä-thər] -n, adj, adj or adv
- a man who has begotten a child
- sire
- god
- the first person of the Trinity
- forefather
- one related to another in a way suggesting that of father to child
- an old man used as a respectful form of address
- a pre-Scholastic Christian writer accepted by the church as an authoritative witness to its teaching and practice called also church father
- one that originates or institutes
- the father of modern science
- source
- the sun, the father of warmth and light -- Lena M. Whitney
- prototype
- a priest of the regular clergy
- priest used esp. as a title
- one of the leading men (as of a city) usu. used in pl.
father ['fäth-riŋ, 'fä-thə-] -vb
- beget
- to be the founder, producer, or author of
- father ed the improvement plan
- to accept responsibility for
- to fix the paternity or origin of
- to place responsibility for the origin or cause of
- collected gossip and father ed it on responsible men -- J. A. Williamson
- foist, impose
- to care for or look after someone as a father might
Father Christmas -n
- santa claus
father figure -n
- a person often of particular power or influence who serves as an emotional substitute for a father
father image -n
- an idealization of one's father often projected onto someone to whom one looks for guidance and protection
fatherinlaw ['fä-thə-rən-,lȯ, -thərn-,lȯ] -n
- the father of one's spouse
- stepfather
fa·ther·land ['fä-thər-,land] -n
- the native land or country of one's father or ancestors
- one's native land or country
fa·ther·ly ['fä-thər-lē] -adj, n, adv
- of, relating to, or befitting a father
- fatherly responsibilities
- resembling a father (as in affection or care)
Father's Day -n
- the third Sunday in June appointed for the honoring of fathers
Father Time -n
- time personified esp. as a bearded old man holding a scythe and an hourglass
fath·om ['fa-thəm] -n
- a unit of length equal to six feet (1.83 meters) used esp. for measuring the depth of water sometimes used in the singular when qualified by a number
- comprehension
fathom ['fa-thə-mə-bəl] -vi, adj
- probe
- to take soundings
- to measure by a sounding line
- to penetrate and come to understand
- couldn't fathom the problem
Fa·thom·e·ter [fa-'thä-mə-tər, 'fa-thə-,mē-] -trademark
- used for a sonic depth finder
fath·om·less ['fa-thəm-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- incapable of being fathomed : immeasurable
- fathomless powers of gravity and chemistry -- R. W. Emerson
fa·tid·ic [fā-'ti-dik, fə-] -adj
- of or relating to prophecy
fa·ti·ga·ble [fə-'tē-gə-bəl, 'fa-ti-gə-] -adj, n
- susceptible to fatigue
fa·tigue [fə-'tēg] -n
- labor
- manual or menial work performed by military personnel
- the uniform or work clothing worn on fatigue and in the field
- weariness or exhaustion from labor, exertion, or stress
- the temporary loss of power to respond that is induced in a sensory receptor or motor end organ by continued stimulation
- the tendency of a material to break under repeated stress
fatigue [-'tē-giŋ-lē] -vb, adv
- to weary with labor or exertion
- to induce a condition of fatigue in
- to suffer fatigue
- consisting of, done, or used in fatigue
- belonging to fatigues
fat·ling ['fat-liŋ] -n
- a young animal fattened for slaughter
fat·ly -adv
- richly
- in the manner of one that is fat
- in a smug manner : complacently
fats·hed·era [fats-'he-d(ə-)rə, 'fat-'se-] -n
- an ornamental foliage plant ( Fatshedera lizei) with lobed glossy palmate leaves that is a hybrid between plants of two different genera of the ginseng family
fat·so ['fat-(,)sō] -n
- a fat person
fat·stock [-,stäk] -n
- livestock that is fat and ready for market
fattailed sheep ['fat-,tāld-] -n
- a coarse-wooled mutton sheep that has great quantities of fat on each side of the tail bones
fat·ten ['fa-tᵊn] -vb, n
- to make fat, fleshy, or plump
- to feed (as a stock animal) for slaughter
- to make more substantial
- to make fertile
- to become fat
fat·tish ['fa-tish] -adj
- somewhat fat
Fat Tuesday -n
- mardi gras
fat·ty ['fa-tē] -adj, n
- containing fat esp. in unusual amounts
- unduly stout : corpulent
- greasy
- derived from or chemically related to fat
fatty -n
- one that is fat
- an overweight person
fatty acid -n
- any of numerous saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids C n H 2 n 1COOH (as acetic acid) including many that occur naturally usu. in the form of esters in fats, waxes, and essential oils
- any of the saturated or unsaturated monocarboxylic acids (as palmitic acid) usu. with an even number of carbon atoms that occur naturally in the form of glycerides in fats and fatty oils
fatty liver -n
- an abnormal condition of the liver marked by excess lipid accumulation in the hepatocytes and caused by injury, malnutrition, or toxins
- a liver affected with fatty liver
fa·tu·ity [fə-'tü-ət-ē, fa-, -'chü-, -'tyü-] -n
- something foolish or stupid
- stupidity, foolishness
- imbecility, dementia
fat·u·ous ['fa-chü-əs, -tyü-] -adj, adv, n
- complacently or inanely foolish : silly
fat·wa ['fət-wə, 'fät-wä] -n
- a legal opinion or decree handed down by an Islamic religious leader
fatwit·ted ['fat-,wi-təd] -adj
- stupid, idiotic
fat·wood ['fat-,wu̇d] -n
- lightwood
fau·bourg [fō-'bu̇r] -n
- suburb
- a suburb of a French city
- a city quarter
fau·ces ['fȯ-,sēz] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj
- the narrow passage from the mouth to the pharynx between the soft palate and the base of the tongue
fau·cet ['fȯ-sət, 'fä-] -n
- a fixture for drawing or regulating the flow of liquid esp. from a pipe
faugh [a strong p-sound or lip trill; often read as 'fȯ(k̲)] -interj
- used to express contempt, disgust, or abhorrence
fault ['fȯlt, in poetry also 'fȯt] -n
- lack
- weakness, failing
- a moral weakness less serious than a vice
- a physical or intellectual imperfection or impairment : defect
- an error esp. in service in a net or racket game
- misdemeanor
- mistake
- responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
- the accident was the driver's fault
- a fracture in the crust of a planet (as the earth) or moon accompanied by a displacement of one side of the fracture with respect to the other usu. in a direction parallel to the fracture
- to commit a fault : err
- to fracture so as to produce a geologic fault
- to find a fault in
- easy to praise this book and to fault it -- H. G. Roepke
- to produce a geologic fault in
- blame, censure
- can't fault them for not coming
fault·find·er ['fȯlt-,fīn-dər] -n
- one given to faultfinding
fault·find·ing [-diŋ] -adj
- disposed to find fault : captiously critical
faultfinding -n
- petty, nagging, or unreasonable criticism
fault·less ['fȯlt-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- having no fault : irreproachable
fault line -n
- something resembling a fault : split, rift
- a major conceptual fault line in foreign policy -- Morton Kondracke
faulttol·er·ant ['fȯlt-,tä-lə-rənt] -adj, n
- relating to or being a computer or program with a self-contained backup system that allows continued operation when major components fail
faulty ['fȯl-tē] -adj, adv, n
- marked by fault or defect : imperfect
faun ['fȯn, 'fän] -n
- a figure in Roman mythology similar to but gentler than the satyr
fau·na ['fȯ-nə, 'fä-] -n, adj, adv
- animal life
- the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment
fau·nis·tic [fȯ-'nis-tik, fä-] -adj, adv
- of or relating to zoogeography : faunal
Fau·nus ['fȯ-nəs, 'fä-] -n
- the Roman god of animals
Faust ['fau̇st] -n
- a magician of German legend who enters into a compact with the devil
Faust·ian ['fau̇-stē-ən, 'fȯ-] -adj
- of, relating to, resembling, or suggesting Faust
- made or done for present gain without regard for future cost or consequences
faute de mieux [,fōt-də-'myə(r), -'myœ] -adv
- for lack of something better or more desirable
- sherry made him dopey but he drank it faute de mieux -- F. T. Marsh
fau·teuil [fō-'tœy; 'fō-,til] -n
- armchair
- an upholstered chair with open arms
fauve ['fōv] -n
- a painter practicing fauvism : fauvist
- of or relating to the fauves
- vivid in color
fau·vism ['fō-,vi-zəm] -n, n or adj
- a movement in painting typified by the work of Matisse and characterized by vivid colors, free treatment of form, and a resulting vibrant and decorative effect
faux ['fō] -adj
- imitation, ersatz
fauxna·if [,fō-nä-'ēf] -adj
- spuriously or affectedly childlike : artfully simple
faux pas ['fō-,pä, fō-'] -n
- blunder
- a social blunder
fa·va bean ['fä-və-] -n
- broad bean
fave ['fāv] -n, adj
- favorite
fa·ve·la [fə-'ve-lə] -n
- a settlement of jerry-built shacks lying on the outskirts of a Brazilian city
fav·ism ['fä-,vi-zəm] -n
- a condition esp. of males of Mediterranean descent that is marked by the development of hemolytic anemia upon consumption of broad beans or inhalation of broad bean pollen and is caused by a usu. inherited deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate
fa·vo·ni·an [fə-'vō-nē-ən] -adj
- of or relating to the west wind : mild
fa·vor ['fā-vər] -n
- friendly regard shown toward another esp. by a superior
- approving consideration or attention : approbation
- partiality
- leniency
- permission
- popularity
- appearance
- face
- a facial feature
- gracious kindness
- an act of such kindness
- aid, assistance
- effort in one's behalf or interest : attention
- a token of love (as a ribbon) usu. worn conspicuously
- a small gift or decorative item given out at a party
- badge
- a special privilege or right granted or conceded
- sexual privileges usu. used in pl.
- letter
- behalf, interest
favor ['fā-v(ə-)riŋ] -vt, n
- to regard or treat with favor
- to do a kindness for : oblige
- endow
- to treat gently or carefully
- to show partiality toward : prefer
- to give support or confirmation to : sustain
- to afford advantages for success to : facilitate
- good weather favor ed the outing
- to bear a resemblance to
fa·vor·able ['fā-v(ə-)rə-bəl, 'fā-vər-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- disposed to favor : partial
- expressing approval : commendatory
- giving a result that is in one's favor
- affirmative
- winning approval : pleasing
- tending to promote or facilitate : advantageous
- marked by success
fa·vored ['fā-vərd] -adj
- having an appearance or features of a particular kind
- endowed with special advantages or gifts
- providing preferential treatment
fa·vor·ite ['fā-v(ə-)rət, 'fā-vərt, chiefly dial 'fā-və-,rīt] -n
- one that is treated or regarded with special favor or liking
- a person who is specially loved, trusted, or provided with favors by someone of high rank or authority
- a competitor judged most likely to win
favorite -adj
- constituting a favorite
- markedly popular
favorite son -n
- one favored by the delegates of his state as presidential candidate at a national political convention
- a famous person who is popular with hometown people
fa·vor·it·ism ['fā-v(ə-)rə-,ti-zəm, 'fā-vər-] -n
- the showing of special favor : partiality
- the state or fact of being a favorite
fa·vour ['fā-vər] -n
(variant of favor)
- friendly regard shown toward another esp. by a superior
- approving consideration or attention : approbation
- partiality
- leniency
- permission
- popularity
- appearance
- face
- a facial feature
- gracious kindness
- an act of such kindness
- aid, assistance
- effort in one's behalf or interest : attention
- a token of love (as a ribbon) usu. worn conspicuously
- a small gift or decorative item given out at a party
- badge
- a special privilege or right granted or conceded
- sexual privileges usu. used in pl.
- letter
- behalf, interest
fa·vus ['fā-vəs] -n
- any of several contagious skin diseases caused by ascomycetous fungi (as Trichophyton schoenleinii) and occurring in humans and many domestic animals
fawn ['fȯn, 'fän] -vi, n, adv
- to show affection used esp. of a dog
- to court favor by a cringing or flattering manner
- a young deer
- one still unweaned or retaining a distinctive baby coat
- kid
- a light grayish brown
fawn lily -n
- dogtooth violet
fax ['faks] -n, vb
- facsimile
- a device used to send or receive facsimile communications
- a facsimile communication
fax modem -n
- a computer peripheral capable of sending data to or receiving data from a fax machine or another computer esp. over phone lines
fay ['fā] -vb
- to fit or join closely or tightly
- faith
- fairy, elf
- resembling an elf
- ofay
faze ['fāz] -vt
- to disturb the composure of : disconcert, daunt