Fe -symbol

  1. iron

fe·al·ty ['fē(-ə)l-tē] -n

  1. the fidelity of a vassal or feudal tenant to his lord
  2. the obligation of such fidelity
  3. intense fidelity

fear ['fir] -vt, n

  1. frighten
  2. to feel fear in (oneself)
  3. to have a reverential awe of
    • fear God
  4. to be afraid of : expect with alarm
    • fear the worst
  5. to be afraid or apprehensive
    • fear ed for their lives
  6. an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger
  7. an instance of this emotion
  8. a state marked by this emotion
  9. anxious concern : solicitude
  10. profound reverence and awe esp. toward God
  11. reason for alarm : danger

fear·ful ['fir-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. causing or likely to cause fear, fright, or alarm esp. because of dangerous quality
    • a fearful storm
  2. full of fear
    • fearful for his safety
  3. indicating or arising from fear
    • a fearful glance
  4. inclined to fear : timorous
  5. very great or bad used as an intensive
    • a fearful waste
    • fearful slum conditions

fear·less ['fir-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. free from fear : brave

fear·mon·ger ['fir-,məŋ-gər, -,mäŋ-] -n

  1. scaremonger

fear·some ['fir-səm] -adj, adv, n

  1. causing fear
    • a fearsome monster
  2. intense, extreme
    • fearsome determination
  3. timid, timorous

fea·si·ble ['fē-zə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. capable of being done or carried out
    • a feasible plan
  2. capable of being used or dealt with successfully : suitable
  3. reasonable, likely

feast ['fēst] -n

  1. an elaborate and usu. abundant meal often accompanied by a ceremony or entertainment : banquet
  2. something that gives unusual or abundant enjoyment
    • a visual feast
  3. abundance, profusion
    • an unprecedented feast of corruption, gargantuan in scale -- Neil Sheehan
  4. a periodic religious observance commemorating an event or honoring a deity, person, or thing
  5. to take part in a feast
  6. to enjoy some unusual pleasure or delight
  7. to give a feast for
  8. delight, gratify
    • feast ing our eyes on the scenery

Feast of Tabernacles

  1. sukkoth

feat ['fēt] -n

  1. act, deed
  2. a deed notable esp. for courage
  3. an act or product of skill, endurance, or ingenuity
  4. becoming, neat
  5. smart, dexterous

feath·er ['fe-thər] -n, adj

  1. any of the light horny epidermal outgrowths that form the external covering of the body of birds and that consist of a shaft bearing on each side a series of barbs which bear barbules which in turn bear barbicels commonly ending in hooked hamuli and interlocking with the barbules of an adjacent barb to link the barbs into a continuous vane
  2. plume
  3. the vane of an arrow
  4. plumage
  5. kind, nature
    • birds of a feather flock together
  6. attire, dress
  7. condition, mood
    • woke up in fine feather
  8. composure
    • some feather s had been ruffled -- D. J. Blum
  9. feathering
  10. a projecting strip, rib, fin, or flange
  11. a feathery flaw in the eye or in a precious stone
  12. the act of feathering an oar

feather ['feth-riŋ, 'fe-thə-] -vb

  1. to furnish (as an arrow) with a feather
  2. to cover, clothe, or adorn with or as if with feathers
  3. to turn (an oar blade) almost horizontal when lifting from the water at the end of a stroke to reduce air resistance
  4. to change the angle of (airplane propeller blades) so that the chords become approximately parallel to the line of flight
  5. to change the angle of airplane propeller blades of (an engine) in such a manner
  6. to change the angle of (a rotor blade of a rotorcraft) periodically in forward flight
  7. to reduce the edge of to a featheredge
  8. to cut (as air) with or as if with a wing
  9. to join by a tongue and groove
  10. to hit, throw, pass, or shoot softly and usu. with precision
    • feather ed a perfect lob over the net
  11. to grow or form feathers
  12. to have or take on the appearance of a feather or something feathered
  13. to soak in and spread : blur used of ink or a printed impression
  14. to feather an oar or an airplane propeller blade

feath·er·bed ['fe-thər-,bed] -adj

  1. calling for, sanctioning, or resulting from featherbedding
    • a featherbed rule
    • a featherbed job

featherbed -vi

  1. to require that more workers be hired than are needed
  2. to limit production under a featherbed rule
  3. to do featherbed work or put in time under a featherbed rule
  4. to bring under a featherbed rule
  5. to assist (as an industry) by government aid

feather bed -n

  1. a feather mattress
  2. a bed having a feather mattress

feath·er·bed·ding [-,be-diŋ] -n

  1. the requiring of an employer usu. under a union rule or safety statute to hire more employees than are needed or to limit production

feath·er·brain [-,brān] -n, adj

  1. a foolish scatterbrained person

feath·er·edge ['fe-thər-,ej, ,fe-thər-'] -n, vt

  1. a very thin sharp edge
  2. one that is easily broken or bent over

feath·er·head ['fe-thər-,hed] -n, adj

  1. a foolish person : featherbrain

feath·er·ing ['feth-riŋ, 'fe-thər-iŋ] -n

  1. a covering of feathers : plumage
  2. a fringe of hair (as on the legs of a dog)

feath·er·light ['fe-thər-'līt] -adj

  1. extremely light

feather star -n

  1. any of an order (Comatulida) of free-swimming stalkless crinoids

feath·er·stitch ['fe-thər-,stich] -n, vb

  1. an embroidery stitch consisting of a line of diagonal blanket stitches worked alternately to the left and right

feath·er·weight [-,wāt] -n, adj

  1. one that is very light in weight
  2. a boxer in a weight division having a maximum limit of 126 pounds for professionals and 125 pounds for amateurs
  3. lightweight

feath·ery ['feth-rē, 'fe-thər-ē] -adj

  1. resembling, suggesting, or covered with feathers
  2. extremely light

feat·ly ['fēt-lē] -adv

  1. in a graceful manner : nimbly
  2. in a suitable manner : properly
  3. with skill and ingenuity

featly -adj

  1. graceful, neat

fea·ture ['fē-chər] -n, adj

  1. the structure, form, or appearance esp. of a person
  2. physical beauty
  3. the makeup or appearance of the face or its parts
  4. a part of the face : lineament
  5. a prominent part or characteristic
  6. any of the properties (as voice or gender) that are characteristic of a grammatical element (as a phoneme or morpheme)
  7. one that is distinctive
  8. : a special attraction: as
  9. a featured motion picture
  10. a featured article, story, or department in a newspaper or magazine
  11. something offered to the public or advertised as particularly attractive
    • one of the car's most popular feature s

feature ['fēch-riŋ, 'fē-chər-iŋ] -vb

  1. to resemble in features
  2. to picture or portray in the mind : imagine
  3. to give special prominence to
    • the exhibit feature s local artists
  4. to have as a characteristic or feature
    • a menu featuring many options
  5. to play an important part

fea·tured ['fē-chərd] -adj

  1. having facial features of a particular kind used in combination
    • a heavy- featured lout
  2. displayed, advertised, or presented as a special attraction

fea·tur·ette ['fē-chər-,et, ,fē-chər-'] -n

  1. a short film
  2. a short documentary film about the making of a full-length movie

Feb -abbr

  1. February

febri- -comb form

  1. fever
    • febri fic

fe·brif·ic [fi-'brif-ik] -adj

  1. feverish

feb·ri·fuge ['fe-brə-,fyüj] -n, adj

  1. antipyretic

fe·brile ['fe-,brī(-ə)l also 'fē-] -adj

  1. marked or caused by fever : feverish

Feb·ru·ary ['fe-b(y)ə-,wer-ē, 'fe-brə-] -n

  1. the second month of the Gregorian calendar

fec -abbr

  1. he made it

fe·cal ['fē-kəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting feces

fe·ces ['fē-(,)sēz] -n pl

  1. bodily waste discharged through the anus : excrement

feck·less ['fek-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. weak, ineffective
  2. worthless, irresponsible

feck·ly ['fek-lē] -adv

  1. almost, nearly

fec·u·lent ['fe-kyə-lənt] -adj, n

  1. foul with impurities : fecal

fe·cund ['fe-kənd, 'fē-] -adj, n

  1. fruitful in offspring or vegetation : prolific
  2. intellectually productive or inventive to a marked degree
    • a fecund imagination

fe·cun·date ['fe-kən-,dāt, 'fē-] -vt, n

  1. to make fecund
  2. impregnate

fed -abbr

  1. federal; federation

Fed ['fed] -n

  1. a federal agent, officer, or official usu. used in pl.
  2. federal reserve board
  3. federal reserve system

fe·da·yee [fi-,da-'(y)ē, -,dä-] -n

  1. a member of an Arab commando group operating esp. against Israel usu. used in pl.

fed·er·al ['fe-d(ə-)rəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to a compact or treaty
  2. formed by a compact between political units that surrender their individual sovereignty to a central authority but retain limited residuary powers of government
  3. of or constituting a form of government in which power is distributed between a central authority and a number of constituent territorial units
  4. of or relating to the central government of a federation as distinguished from the governments of the constituent units
  5. advocating or friendly to the principle of a federal government with strong centralized powers
  6. of or relating to the American Federalists
  7. of, relating to, or loyal to the federal government or the Union armies of the U.S. in the American Civil War
  8. being or belonging to a style of architecture and decoration current in the U.S. following the American Revolution

Federal -n

  1. a supporter of the U.S. government in the Civil War
  2. a soldier in the federal armies
  3. fed usu. used in pl.

federal case -n

  1. big deal
    • don't make a federal case out of it

federal court -n

  1. a court established by a federal government
  2. one established under the constitution and laws of the U.S.

federal district -n

  1. a district set apart as the seat of the central government of a federation

federal district court -n

  1. a district trial court of law and equity that hears cases under federal jurisdiction

fed·er·al·ese [,fe-d(ə-)rə-'lēz, -'lēs; 'fe-d(ə-)rə-,] -n

  1. bureaucratese

federal funds -n pl

  1. reserve funds lent overnight by one Federal Reserve bank to another

fed·er·al·ism ['fe-d(ə-)rə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. the distribution of power in an organization (as a government) between a central authority and the constituent units
  2. support or advocacy of this principle
  3. Federalist principles

fed·er·al·ist [-list] -n, adj

  1. : an advocate of federalism: as
  2. an advocate of a federal union between the American colonies after the Revolution and of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution
  3. world federalist
  4. a member of a major political party in the early years of the U.S. favoring a strong centralized national government

fed·er·al·i·za·tion [,fe-d(ə-)rə-lə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. the act of federalizing
  2. the state of being federalized

fed·er·al·ize ['fe-d(ə-)rə-,līz] -vt

  1. to unite in or under a federal system
  2. to bring under the jurisdiction of a federal government

Federal Reserve bank -n

  1. one of 12 reserve banks set up under the Federal Reserve Act to hold reserves and discount commercial paper for affiliated banks in their respective districts

Federal Reserve Board -n

  1. a 7-member board of governors overseeing the Federal Reserve System

Federal Reserve System -n

  1. the central banking system of the U.S. consisting of 12 districts with a Federal Reserve bank in the principal commercial city of each district

fed·er·ate ['fe-d(ə-)rət] -adj

  1. united in an alliance or federation : federated
  2. to join in a federation

federated church -n

  1. a local church uniting two or more congregations that maintain different denominational ties

fed·er·a·tion [,fe-də-'rā-shən] -n

  1. : an encompassing political or societal entity formed by uniting smaller or more localized entities: as
  2. a federal government
  3. a union of organizations
  4. the act of creating or becoming a federation
  5. the forming of a federal union

fed·er·a·tive ['fe-də-,rā-tiv, 'fe-d(ə-)rə-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or formed by federation
    • a federative republic

fedn -abbr

  1. federation

fe·do·ra [fi-'dȯr-ə] -n

  1. a low soft felt hat with the crown creased lengthwise

fed up -adj

  1. tired, sated, or disgusted beyond endurance

fee ['fē] -n

  1. an estate in land held in feudal law from a lord on condition of homage and service
  2. a piece of land so held
  3. an inherited or heritable estate in land
  4. a fixed charge
  5. a sum paid or charged for a service
  6. hire
  7. tip

fee·ble ['fē-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. markedly lacking in strength
  2. indicating weakness
  3. deficient in qualities or resources that indicate vigor, authority, force, or efficiency
  4. inadequate, inferior

fee·ble·mind·ed [,fē-bəl-'mīn-dəd] -adj, adv, n

  1. irresolute, vacillating
  2. mentally deficient
  3. foolish, stupid

fee·blish ['fē-b(ə-)lish] -adj

  1. somewhat feeble

feed ['fēd] -vb

  1. to give food to
  2. to give as food
  3. to furnish something essential to the development, sustenance, maintenance, or operation of
    • reading feed s the mind
  4. to supply (material to be operated on) to a machine
  5. to produce or provide food for
  6. satisfy, gratify
  7. support, encourage
  8. to supply for use or consumption
  9. channel, route
  10. to supply (a signal) to an electronic circuit
  11. to send (as by wire or satellite) to a transmitting station for broadcast
  12. to supply (a fellow actor) with cues and situations that make a role more effective
  13. to pass a ball or puck to (a teammate) esp. for a shot at the goal
  14. to consume food : eat
  15. prey used with on, upon, or off
  16. to become nourished or satisfied or sustained as if by food
  17. to become channeled or directed
  18. to move into a machine or opening in order to be used or processed
  19. an act of eating
  20. meal
  21. a large meal
  22. food for livestock
  23. a mixture or preparation for feeding livestock
  24. the amount given at each feeding
  25. material supplied (as to a furnace or machine)
  26. a mechanism by which the action of feeding is effected
  27. the motion or process of carrying forward the material to be operated upon (as in a machine)
  28. the act or process of feeding a signal (as an audio or video transmission)
  29. the signal being fed
  30. the action of passing a ball or puck to a team member who is in position to score

feed·back ['fēd-,bak] -n

  1. the return to the input of a part of the output of a machine, system, or process (as for producing changes in an electronic circuit that improve performance or in an automatic control device that provide self-corrective action)
  2. the partial reversion of the effects of a process to its source or to a preceding stage
  3. the transmission of evaluative or corrective information about an action, event, or process to the original or controlling source
  4. the information so transmitted
  5. a rumbling, whining, or whistling sound resulting from an amplified or broadcast signal (as music or speech) that has been returned as input and retransmitted

feedback inhibition -n

  1. inhibition of an enzyme controlling an early stage of a series of biochemical reactions by the end product when it reaches a critical concentration

feed dog -n

  1. a notched piece of metal on a sewing machine that feeds material into position under the needle

feed·er ['fē-dər] -n

  1. : one that feeds: as
  2. one that fattens livestock for slaughter
  3. a device or apparatus for supplying food
  4. one that eats or takes nourishment
  5. an animal being fattened or one suitable for fattening
  6. one that supplies, replenishes, or connects
  7. tributary
  8. a heavy wire conductor supplying electricity at some point of an electric distribution system (as from a substation)
  9. branch
  10. a branch transportation line
  11. a road that provides access to a major artery

feeding frenzy -n

  1. a frenzy of eating
  2. the excited pursuit of something by a group

feeding tube -n

  1. a flexible tube passed into the stomach for introducing fluids and liquid food into the stomach

feed·lot ['fēd-,lät] -n

  1. a plot of land on which livestock are fattened for market

feed·stock [-,stäk] -n

  1. raw material supplied to a machine or processing plant

feed·stuff [-,stəf] -n

  1. feed
  2. any of the constituent nutrients of an animal ration

feeforservice -n

  1. separate payment to a health-care provider for each medical service rendered to a patient

feel ['fēl] -vb

  1. to handle or touch in order to examine, test, or explore some quality
  2. to perceive by a physical sensation coming from discrete end organs (as of the skin or muscles)
  3. to undergo passive experience of
  4. to have one's sensibilities markedly affected by
  5. to ascertain by cautious trial usu. used with out
  6. to be aware of by instinct or inference
  7. believe, think
    • say what you really feel
  8. to receive or be able to receive a tactile sensation
  9. to search for something by using the sense of touch
  10. to be conscious of an inward impression, state of mind, or physical condition
  11. to have a marked sentiment or opinion
    • feel s strongly about it
  12. seem
    • it feel s like spring today
  13. to have sympathy or pity
    • I feel for you
  14. sensation, feeling
  15. the sense of touch
  16. the quality of a thing as imparted through or as if through touch
  17. typical or peculiar quality or atmosphere
  18. an awareness of such a quality or atmosphere
  19. intuitive knowledge or ability

feel·er ['fē-lər] -n

  1. : one that feels: as
  2. a tactile process (as a tentacle) of an animal
  3. something (as a proposal) ventured to ascertain the views of others

feeler gauge -n

  1. a thin metal strip or wire of known thickness used as a gauge

feelgood ['fēl-,gu̇d] -adj

  1. relating to or promoting an often specious sense of satisfaction or well-being
    • a feelgood reform program that makes no changes
  2. cheerfully sentimental
    • a feelgood movie

feel·ing ['fē-liŋ] -n

  1. the one of the basic physical senses of which the skin contains the chief end organs and of which the sensations of touch and temperature are characteristic : touch
  2. a sensation experienced through this sense
  3. generalized bodily consciousness or sensation
  4. appreciative or responsive awareness or recognition
  5. an emotional state or reaction
    • a kindly feeling toward the boy
  6. susceptibility to impression : sensitivity
    • the remark hurt her feeling s
  7. the undifferentiated background of one's awareness considered apart from any identifiable sensation, perception, or thought
  8. the overall quality of one's awareness
  9. conscious recognition : sense
  10. often unreasoned opinion or belief : sentiment
  11. presentiment
  12. capacity to respond emotionally esp. with the higher emotions
  13. the character ascribed to something : atmosphere
  14. the quality of a work of art that conveys the emotion of the artist
  15. sympathetic aesthetic response
  16. feel

feeling [-liŋ-lē] -adj, adv, n

  1. sentient, sensitive
  2. easily moved emotionally
  3. deeply felt
  4. expressing emotion or sensitivity

feel up -vt

  1. to touch or fondle (someone) for sexual pleasure

fee simple -n

  1. a fee without limitation to any class of heirs or restrictions on transfer of ownership

fee splitting -n

  1. payment by a specialist (as a doctor or a lawyer) of a part of his or her fee to the person who made the referral

feet ['fu̇t] -n

(variant of foot)

  1. the terminal part of the vertebrate leg upon which an individual stands
  2. an invertebrate organ of locomotion or attachment
  3. a ventral muscular surface or process of a mollusk
  4. any of various units of length based on the length of the human foot
  5. a unit equal to yard and comprising 12 inches pl. foot used between a number and a noun
    • a 10- foot pole
    pl. feet or foot used between a number and an adjective
    • 6 feet tall
  6. the basic unit of verse meter consisting of any of various fixed combinations or groups of stressed and unstressed or long and short syllables
  7. motion or power of walking or running : step
    • fleet of foot
  8. speed, swiftness
    • showed early foot
  9. : something resembling a foot in position or use: as
  10. the lower end of the leg of a chair or table
  11. the basal portion of the sporophyte in mosses
  12. a specialized outgrowth by which the embryonic sporophyte esp. of many bryophytes absorbs nourishment from the gametophyte
  13. a piece on a sewing machine that presses the cloth against the feed
  14. infantry
  15. the lower edge (as of a sail)
  16. the lowest part : bottom
    • the foot of the hill
  17. the end that is lower or opposite the head
    • the foot of the bed
  18. the part (as of a stocking) that covers the foot
  19. material deposited esp. in aging or refining : dregs
  20. footlights
  21. dance
  22. to go on foot
  23. to make speed : move
  24. to perform the movements of (a dance)
  25. to walk, run, or dance on, over, or through
  26. kick
  27. reject
  28. establish
  29. to add up
  30. to pay or stand credit for
    • foot the bill
  31. to make or renew the foot of (as a stocking)

fee tail -n

  1. a fee limited to a particular class of heirs

feet·first [,fēt-'fərst] -adv

  1. with the feet foremost

feet of clay

  1. a character flaw that is usu. not readily apparent

feeze ['fēz, 'fāz] -n

  1. rush
  2. a state of alarm or excitement

Feh·ling's solution ['fā-liŋ(z)-] -n

  1. a blue solution of Rochelle salt and copper sulfate used as an oxidizing agent in a test for sugars and aldehydes

feign ['fān] -vb, n

  1. pretend, dissemble
  2. to give a false appearance of : induce as a false impression
    • feign death
  3. to assert as if true : pretend
  4. invent, imagine
  5. to give fictional representation to
  6. disguise, conceal

feigned -adj

  1. fictitious
  2. not genuine or real

fei·joa [fā-'yō-ə, -'hō-ə] -n

  1. the green round or oval juicy fruit of a shrub or small tree ( Feijoa sellowiana) of the myrtle family that is native to So. America and is grown commercially esp. in New Zealand
  2. the tree or shrub

feint ['fānt] -n

  1. something feigned
  2. a mock blow or attack on or toward one part in order to distract attention from the point one really intends to attack
  3. to make a feint
  4. to lure or deceive with a feint
  5. to make a pretense of

fei·rie ['fē-rē] -adj

  1. nimble, strong

feist ['fīst] -n

  1. a small dog

feisty ['fī-stē] -adj, n

  1. full of nervous energy : fidgety
  2. touchy, quarrelsome
  3. exuberantly frisky
  4. having or showing a lively aggressiveness : spunky
    • the movie's feisty heroine

felafel [fə-'lä-fəl] -n

(variant of falafel)

  1. a spicy mixture of ground vegetables (as chick-peas or fava beans) formed into balls or patties and then fried

feld·sher ['fel(d)-shər] -n

  1. a medical or surgical practitioner without full professional qualifications or status in some east European countries and esp. Russia

feld·spar ['fel(d)-,spär] -n

  1. any of a group of crystalline minerals that consist of aluminum silicates with either potassium, sodium, calcium, or barium and that are an essential constituent of nearly all crystalline rocks

feld·spath·ic [fel(d)-'spa-thik] -adj

  1. relating to or containing feldspar

fe·li·cif·ic [,fē-lə-'si-fik] -adj

  1. causing or intended to cause happiness

felicific calculus -n

  1. a method of determining the rightness of an action by balancing the probable pleasures and pains that it would produce

fe·lic·i·tate [fi-'li-sə-,tāt] -adj

  1. made happy

felicitate [-,li-sə-'tā-shən] -vt, n

  1. to make happy
  2. to consider happy or fortunate
  3. to offer congratulations to

fe·lic·i·tous [fi-'li-sə-təs] -adj, adv, n

  1. very well suited or expressed : apt
    • a felicitous remark
  2. pleasant, delightful
    • felicitous weather

fe·lic·i·ty [fi-'li-sə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being happy
  2. great happiness
    • marital felicity
  3. an instance of happiness
  4. something that causes happiness
  5. a pleasing manner or quality esp. in art or language
    • a felicity with words
  6. an apt expression

fe·lid ['fē-ləd] -n, adj

  1. cat

fe·line ['fē-,līn] -adj, n, adv

  1. of, relating to, or affecting cats or the cat family
  2. : resembling a cat: as
  3. sleekly graceful
  4. sly, treacherous
  5. stealthy

feline distemper -n

  1. panleukopenia

feline panleukopenia -n

  1. panleukopenia

fell ['fel] -n

  1. skin, hide, pelt
  2. a thin tough membrane covering a carcass directly under the hide
  3. to cut, knock, or bring down
    • fell a tree
  4. kill
  5. to sew (a seam) by folding one raw edge under the other and sewing flat on the wrong side

fell ['fȯl] -vb

(variant of fall)

  1. to descend freely by the force of gravity
  2. to hang freely
    • her hair fall s over her shoulders
  3. to drop oneself to a lower position
    • fell to his knees
  4. to come or go as if by falling
    • darkness fall s early in the winter
  5. to become born usu. used of lambs
  6. to become lower in degree or level
    • the temperature fell 10
  7. to drop in pitch or volume
    • their voices fell to a whisper
  8. issue
    • wisdom that fell from his lips
  9. to become lowered
    • her eyes fell
  10. to leave an erect position suddenly and involuntarily
    • slipped and fell on the ice
  11. to enter as if unawares : stumble, stray
    • fell into error
  12. to drop down wounded or dead
  13. to die in battle
  14. to suffer military capture
    • after a long siege the city fell
  15. to lose office
    • the party fell from power
  16. to suffer ruin, defeat, or failure
    • the deal fell through
  17. to commit an immoral act
  18. to lose one's chastity
  19. to move or extend in a downward direction
    • the land fall s away to the east
  20. subside, abate
    • the wind is fall ing
  21. to decline in quality, activity, or quantity
    • production fell off
  22. to lose weight used with off or away
  23. to assume a look of shame, disappointment, or dejection
    • his face fell
  24. to decline in financial value or price
    • stocks fell sharply
  25. to occur at a certain time
    • her birthday fall s on a Monday this year
  26. to come by chance
    • a job that fell into his hands
  27. to come or pass by lot, assignment, or inheritance : devolve
    • it fell to him to break the news
  28. to have a certain or proper position, place, or station
    • the accent fall s on the second syllable
  29. to come within the limits, scope, or jurisdiction of something
    • this word fall s into the class of verbs
  30. to pass suddenly and passively into a state of body or mind or a new state or condition
    • fall asleep
    • fall in love
  31. to set about heartily or actively
    • fell to work
  32. strike, impinge
    • music fall ing on the ear
  33. fell
  34. the act of falling by the force of gravity
  35. a falling out, off, or away : dropping
    • the fall of leaves
    • a fall of snow
  36. the season when leaves fall from trees : autumn
  37. a thing or quantity that falls or has fallen
    • a fall of rock at the base of the cliff
  38. one or more meteorites or their fragments that have fallen together
  39. birth
  40. the quantity born usu. used of lambs
  41. a costume decoration of lace or thin fabric arranged to hang loosely and gracefully
  42. a very wide turned-down collar worn in the 17th century
  43. the part of a turnover collar from the crease to the outer edge
  44. a wide front flap on trousers (as those worn by sailors)
  45. the freely hanging lower edge of the skirt of a coat
  46. one of the three outer and often drooping segments of the flower of an iris
  47. long hair overhanging the face of dogs of some breeds
  48. a usu. long straight portion of hair that is attached to a person's own hair
  49. a hoisting-tackle rope or chain
  50. the part of it to which the power is applied
  51. loss of greatness : collapse
    • the fall of the Roman Empire
  52. the surrender or capture of a besieged place
    • the fall of Troy
  53. lapse or departure from innocence or goodness
  54. loss of a woman's chastity
  55. the blame for a failure or misdeed
    • took the fall for the robbery
  56. the downward slope (as of a hill) : declivity
  57. a precipitous descent of water : waterfall usu. used in pl. but sing. or pl. in constr.
  58. a musical cadence
  59. a falling-pitch intonation in speech
  60. a decrease in size, quantity, degree, or value
  61. the distance which something falls
  62. inclination, pitch
  63. the act of felling something
  64. the quantity of trees cut down
  65. an act of forcing a wrestler's shoulders to the mat for a specified time (as one second)
  66. a bout of wrestling
  67. destiny, lot
  68. of, relating to, or suitable for autumn
    • a new fall coat

fel·la ['fe-lə] -n

  1. fellow, man

fel·lah ['fe-lə, fə-'lä] -n

  1. a peasant or agricultural laborer in an Arab country (as Egypt)

fel·late ['fe-,lāt, fə-'lāt] -vb, n

  1. to perform fellatio on
  2. to fellate someone

fel·la·tio [fə-'lā-shē-,ō, fe-] -n

  1. oral stimulation of the penis

fell·mon·ger ['fel-,məŋ-gər, -,mäŋ-] -n, adj

  1. one who removes hair or wool from hides in preparation for leather making

fel·low ['fe-(,)lō] -n

  1. comrade, associate
  2. an equal in rank, power, or character : peer
  3. one of a pair : mate
  4. a member of a group having common characteristics
  5. a member of an incorporated literary or scientific society
  6. a person of one of the lower social classes
  7. a worthless man or boy
  8. man, boy
  9. boyfriend, beau
  10. an incorporated member of a college or collegiate foundation esp. in a British university
  11. a person appointed to a position granting a stipend and allowing for advanced study or research

fellow feeling -n

  1. a feeling of community of interest or of mutual understanding

fel·low·ly [-lō-lē, -lə-lē] -adj, adv

  1. sociable

fellow man -n

  1. a kindred human being

fellow servant -n

  1. an employee working with another employee under such circumstances that each one if negligent may expose the other to harm which the employer cannot reasonably be expected to guard against or be held legally liable for

fel·low·ship ['fe-lə-,ship, -lō-] -n

  1. companionship, company
  2. community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience
  3. the state of being a fellow or associate
  4. a company of equals or friends : association
  5. the quality or state of being comradely
  6. membership, partnership
  7. the position of a fellow (as of a university)
  8. the stipend of a fellow
  9. a foundation for the providing of such a stipend

fellowship [-,shipt] -vb

  1. to join in fellowship esp. with a church member
  2. to admit to fellowship (as in a church)

fellow traveler -n, adj

  1. a person who sympathizes with and often furthers the ideals and program of an organized group (as the Communist party) without membership in the group or regular participation in its activities
  2. a sympathetic supporter of another's cause

fel·ly ['fe-lē] -n

  1. the exterior rim or a segment of the rim of a wheel supported by the spokes

felodese [,fe-lō-də-'sā, -'sē] -n

  1. a person who commits suicide or who dies from the effects of having committed an unlawful malicious act
  2. an act of deliberate self-destruction : suicide

fel·on ['fe-lən] -n

  1. one who has committed a felony
  2. villain
  3. whitlow

felon -adj

  1. cruel
  2. evil
  3. wild

fe·lo·ni·ous [fə-'lō-nē-əs] -adj, adv, n

  1. very evil : villainous
  2. of, relating to, or having the nature of a felony
    • felonious assault

fel·on·ry ['fe-lən-rē] -n

  1. felons
  2. the convict population of a penal colony

fel·o·ny ['fe-lə-nē] -n

  1. an act on the part of a feudal vassal involving the forfeiture of his fee
  2. a grave crime formerly differing from a misdemeanor under English common law by involving forfeiture in addition to any other punishment
  3. a grave crime declared to be a felony by the common law or by statute regardless of the punishment actually imposed
  4. a crime declared a felony by statute because of the punishment imposed
  5. a crime for which the punishment in federal law may be death or imprisonment for more than one year

fel·site ['fel-,sīt] -n, adj

  1. a dense igneous rock consisting almost entirely of feldspar and quartz

fel·spar ['fel(d)-,spär] -n

(variant of feldspar)

  1. any of a group of crystalline minerals that consist of aluminum silicates with either potassium, sodium, calcium, or barium and that are an essential constituent of nearly all crystalline rocks

felt ['felt] -n, adj

  1. a cloth made of wool and fur often mixed with natural or synthetic fibers through the action of heat, moisture, chemicals, and pressure
  2. a firm woven cloth of wool or cotton heavily napped and shrunk
  3. an article made of felt
  4. : a material resembling felt: as
  5. a heavy paper of organic or asbestos fibers impregnated with asphalt and used in building construction
  6. semirigid pressed fiber insulation used in building
  7. to make out of or cover with felt
  8. to cause to adhere and mat together
  9. to make into felt or a similar substance

felt ['fēl] -vb

(variant of feel)

  1. to handle or touch in order to examine, test, or explore some quality
  2. to perceive by a physical sensation coming from discrete end organs (as of the skin or muscles)
  3. to undergo passive experience of
  4. to have one's sensibilities markedly affected by
  5. to ascertain by cautious trial usu. used with out
  6. to be aware of by instinct or inference
  7. believe, think
    • say what you really feel
  8. to receive or be able to receive a tactile sensation
  9. to search for something by using the sense of touch
  10. to be conscious of an inward impression, state of mind, or physical condition
  11. to have a marked sentiment or opinion
    • feel s strongly about it
  12. seem
    • it feel s like spring today
  13. to have sympathy or pity
    • I feel for you
  14. sensation, feeling
  15. the sense of touch
  16. the quality of a thing as imparted through or as if through touch
  17. typical or peculiar quality or atmosphere
  18. an awareness of such a quality or atmosphere
  19. intuitive knowledge or ability

felt·ing ['fel-tiŋ] -n

  1. the process of making felt
  2. felt

felttip ['fel(t)-,tip] -n, adj

  1. a pen having a writing point made of felt

fe·luc·ca [fə-'lü-kə, -'lə-kə] -n

  1. a narrow fast lateen-rigged sailing vessel chiefly of the Mediterranean area

fem -abbr

  1. female; feminine

FEMA -abbr

  1. Federal Emergency Management Agency

fe·male ['fē-,māl] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or being the sex that bears young or produces eggs
  2. pistillate
  3. composed of members of the female sex
    • the female population
  4. characteristic of girls or women
    • composed for female voices
    • a female name
  5. having some quality (as gentleness) associated with the female sex
  6. designed with a hollow or groove into which a corresponding male part fits
    • the female coupling of a hose

female -n

  1. a female person : a woman or a girl
  2. an individual that bears young or produces large usu. immobile gametes (as eggs) that are fertilized by small usu. motile gametes of a male
  3. a pistillate plant

female genital mutilation -n

  1. a procedure performed esp. as a cultural rite that typically includes the total or partial excision of the female external genitalia and esp. the clitoris and labia minora and that is now outlawed in many nations including the U.S. abbr. FGM called also female circumcision

fem·i·na·zi ['fe-mə-,nät-sē] -n

  1. an extreme or militant feminist

fem·i·nine ['fe-mə-nən] -adj, adv, n

  1. female
  2. characteristic of or appropriate or unique to women
    • feminine beauty
    • a feminine perspective
  3. of, relating to, or constituting the gender that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to females
    • a feminine noun
  4. being an unstressed and usu. hypermetric final syllable
    • a feminine ending
  5. having an unstressed final syllable
  6. having the final chord occurring on a weak beat
    • music in feminine cadences

feminine -n

  1. a noun, pronoun, adjective, or inflectional form or class of the feminine gender
  2. the feminine gender
  3. the embodiment or conception of a timeless or idealized feminine nature

fem·i·nin·i·ty [,fe-mə-'ni-nə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or nature of the female sex
  2. effeminacy
  3. women, womankind

fem·i·nise ['fe-mə-,nīz] -vt, n

(variant of feminize)

  1. to give a feminine quality to
  2. to cause (a male or castrate) to take on feminine characters (as by implantation of ovaries or administration of estrogens)

fem·i·nism ['fe-mə-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj

  1. the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes
  2. organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests

fe·min·i·ty [fe-'mi-nə-tē, fə-] -n

  1. femininity

fem·i·nize ['fe-mə-,nīz] -vt, n

  1. to give a feminine quality to
  2. to cause (a male or castrate) to take on feminine characters (as by implantation of ovaries or administration of estrogens)

femme ['fem] -n

  1. woman
  2. a lesbian who is notably or stereotypically feminine in appearance and manner

femme fa·tale [,fem-fə-'tal, ,fam-, -'täl] -n

  1. a seductive woman who lures men into dangerous or compromising situations
  2. a woman who attracts men by an aura of charm and mystery

fem·o·ral ['fe-mə-rəl, 'fem-rəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to the femur or thigh

femoral artery -n

  1. the chief artery of the thigh lying in its anterior inner part

femto- -comb form

  1. one quadrillionth (10 15) part of
    • femto second

fem·to·sec·ond ['fem(p)-tə-,se-kənd, -kənt, -tō-] -n

  1. one quadrillionth of a second

fe·mur ['fē-mər] -n

  1. the proximal bone of the hind or lower limb that extends from the hip to the knee called also thighbone
  2. the segment of an insect's leg that is third from the body

fen ['fen] -n

  1. low land that is covered wholly or partly with water unless artificially drained and that usu. has peaty alkaline soil and characteristic flora (as of sedges and reeds)
  2. see yuan at

fence ['fen(t)s] -n, adj

  1. a means of protection : defense
  2. a barrier intended to prevent escape or intrusion or to mark a boundary
  3. such a barrier made of posts and wire or boards
  4. an immaterial barrier or boundary line
    • on the other side of the fence in the argument
  5. fencing
  6. a receiver of stolen goods
  7. a place where stolen goods are bought
  8. to enclose with a fence
  9. to keep in or out with a fence
  10. to ward off
  11. to provide a defense for
  12. to sell (stolen property) to a fence
  13. to practice fencing
  14. to use tactics of attack and defense resembling those of fencing
  15. to parry arguments by shifting ground
  16. to provide protection

fencemend·ing ['fen(t)s-,men-diŋ] -n

  1. the rehabilitating of a deteriorated political relationship

fence·row ['fen(t)s-,rō] -n

  1. the land occupied by a fence including the uncultivated area on each side

fencesit·ting ['fen(t)s-,si-tiŋ] -n

  1. a state of indecision or neutrality with respect to conflicting positions

fencing -n

  1. the art or practice of attack and defense with the foil, epee, or saber
  2. fence
  3. the fences of a property or region
  4. material used for building fences

fend ['fend] -vb

  1. defend
  2. to keep or ward off : repel often used with off
    • fend off an invader
  3. to provide for : support
  4. to make an effort : struggle
  5. to try to get along without help : shift
    • had to fend for themselves
  6. to provide a livelihood
  7. an effort or attempt esp. for oneself

fend·er ['fen-dər] -n, adj

  1. : a device that protects: as
  2. a cushion (as foam rubber or a wood float) between a boat and a dock or between two boats that lessens shock and prevents chafing
  3. a pile or a row or cluster of piles placed to protect a dock or bridge pier from damage by ships or floating objects
  4. railing
  5. a device in front of locomotives and streetcars to lessen injury to animals or pedestrians in case of collision
  6. a guard over the wheel of a motor vehicle
  7. a low metal frame or a screen before an open fireplace
  8. an oblong or triangular shield of leather attached to the stirrup leather of a saddle to protect a rider's legs

fender bender -n

  1. a minor automobile accident

fe·nes·tra [fə-'nes-trə] -n, adj

  1. : a small anatomical opening (as in a bone): as
  2. oval window called also fenestra ova*lis -o-va-ls fenestra ves*tib*u*li -ves-ti-by-()le
  3. round window called also fenestra cochleae fenestra ro*tun*da -ro-tn-d
  4. an opening cut in bone

fe·nes·trate [fə-'nes-,trāt, 'fe-nə-,strāt] -adj

  1. fenestrated

fen·es·trat·ed ['fe-nə-,strā-təd] -adj

  1. having one or more openings or pores
    • fenestrated blood capillaries

fen·es·tra·tion [,fe-nə-'strā-shən] -n

  1. the arrangement, proportioning, and design of windows and doors in a building
  2. an opening in a surface (as a wall or membrane)
  3. the operation of cutting an opening in the bony labyrinth between the inner ear and tympanum to replace natural fenestrae that are not functional

fen·flur·amine [,fen-'flu̇r-ə-,mēn] -n

  1. an anorectic amphetamine derivative C 12H 16F 3N with little stimulant effect on the central nervous system formerly used in the form of its hydrochloride to treat obesity but no longer used due to its association with heart valve disease

feng shui ['fəŋ-'shwē, -'shwā] -n

  1. a Chinese geomantic practice in which a structure or site is chosen or configured so as to harmonize with the spiritual forces that inhabit it
  2. orientation, placement, or arrangement according to the precepts of feng shui

Fe·ni·an ['fē-nē-ən] -n, adj

  1. a member of a legendary band of warriors defending Ireland in the second and third centuries a.d.
  2. a member of a secret 19th century Irish and Irish-American organization dedicated to the overthrow of British rule in Ireland

fen·land ['fen-,land] -n

  1. an area of low often marshy ground

fen·nec ['fe-nik] -n

  1. a small pale-fawn fox ( Vulpes zerdasyn. Fennecus zerda) with large ears that inhabits the deserts of northern Africa and Arabia

fen·nel ['fe-nᵊl] -n

  1. : a perennial European herb ( Foeniculum vulgare) of the carrot family having two cultivated forms:
  2. the commonly cultivated form ( F. vulgare dulce) having aromatic leaves and seeds
  3. Florence fennel

fen·ny ['fe-nē] -adj

  1. having the characteristics of a fen : boggy
  2. peculiar to or found in a fen

fenphen ['fen-,fen] -n

  1. a former diet drug combination of phentermine with either fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine called also phen-fen

fen·ta·nyl ['fen-tə-,nil] -n

  1. a synthetic opioid narcotic analgesic C 22H 28N 2O with pharmacological action similar to morphine that is administered esp. in the form of its citrate

fenu·greek ['fen-yə-,grēk] -n

  1. a leguminous annual Eurasian herb ( Trigonella foenum-graecum) with aromatic seeds
  2. its seeds

feoff·ee [fe-'fē, fē-'fē] -n

  1. one to whom a feoffment is made

feoff·ment ['fef-mənt, 'fēf-] -n

  1. the granting of a fee

feof·for ['fe-fər, 'fē-; fe-'fȯr, fē-] -n

  1. one who makes a feoffment

FEPA -abbr

  1. Fair Employment Practices Act

FEPC -abbr

  1. Fair Employment Practices Commission

fe·rae na·tu·rae ['fer-,ī-nə-'tu̇r-,ī] -adj

  1. wild by nature and not usu. tamed

fe·ral ['fir-əl, 'fer-; 'fe-rəl] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or suggestive of a wild beast
    • feral teeth
    • feral instincts
  2. not domesticated or cultivated : wild
  3. having escaped from domestication and become wild
    • feral cats

ferdelance ['fer-də-'lan(t)s, -'än(t)s] -n

  1. a large extremely venomous pit viper ( Bothrops atrox) of Central and So. America

fere ['fir] -n

  1. companion
  2. spouse

fe·ria ['fir-ē-ə, 'fer-] -n, adj

  1. a weekday of a church calendar on which no feast falls
  2. a Hispanic market festival often in observance of a religious holiday

fe·rine ['fir-,īn] -adj

  1. feral

fer·i·ty ['fer-ət-ē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being feral
  2. barbarity

fer·lie ['fer-lē] -n

  1. wonder

fer·ma·ta [fer-'mä-tə] -n

  1. a prolongation at the discretion of the performer of a musical note, chord, or rest beyond its given time value
  2. the sign denoting such a prolongation called also hold

Fer·mat's last theorem [fer-'mäz-] -n

  1. a theorem in number theory: the equation x + y zhas no solutions when x, y, z,and nare all positive integers and nis greater than 2

fer·ment [(,)fər-'ment] -vi, adj

  1. to undergo fermentation
  2. to be in a state of agitation or intense activity
  3. to cause to undergo fermentation
  4. to work up (as into a state of agitation) : foment
  5. a living organism (as a yeast) that causes fermentation by virtue of its enzymes
  6. enzyme
  7. a state of unrest : agitation
  8. a process of active often disorderly development
    • the great period of creative ferment in literature -- William Barrett

fer·men·ta·tion [,fər-mən-'tā-shən, -,men-] -n

  1. a chemical change with effervescence
  2. an enzymatically controlled anaerobic breakdown of an energy-rich compound (as a carbohydrate to carbon dioxide and alcohol or to an organic acid)
  3. an enzymatically controlled transformation of an organic compound
  4. ferment

fer·men·ta·tive [(,)fər-'men-tə-tiv] -adj

  1. causing or producing a substance that causes fermentation
    • fermentative organisms
  2. of, relating to, or produced by fermentation

fer·men·ter [(,)fər-'men-tər] -n

  1. an organism that causes fermentation
  2. an apparatus for carrying out fermentation

fer·mi ['fer-(,)mē, 'fər-] -n

  1. a unit of length equal to 10 13centimeter

fer·mi·on ['fer-mē-,än, 'fər-] -n, adj

  1. a particle (as an electron, proton, or neutron) whose spin quantum number is an odd multiple of

fer·mi·um ['fer-mē-əm, 'fər-] -n

  1. a radioactive metallic element produced artificially (as by bombardment of plutonium with neutrons)

fern ['fərn] -n, adj

  1. any of a division (Filicophyta) or class (Filicopsida) of flowerless spore-producing vascular plants having alternating sporophyte and gametophyte generations
  2. any of an order (Filicales) of homosporous plants possessing roots, stems, and leaflike fronds

fern bar -n

  1. a bar or restaurant fashionably decorated with green plants and esp. ferns

fern·ery ['fər-nə-rē] -n

  1. a place or stand where ferns grow
  2. a collection of growing ferns

fern seed -n

  1. the dustlike asexual spores of ferns formerly thought to be seeds and believed to make the possessor invisible

fe·ro·cious [fə-'rō-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. exhibiting or given to extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality
    • a ferocious predator
  2. extremely intense
    • ferocious heat

fe·roc·i·ty [fə-'rä-sə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being ferocious

fer·re·dox·in [,fer-ə-'däk-sən] -n

  1. any of a group of iron- and sulfur-containing proteins that function as electron carriers in photosynthetic and nitrogen-fixing organisms and in some anaerobic bacteria

fer·ret ['fer-ət] -n, adj

  1. a domesticated usu. albino, brownish, or silver-gray animal ( Mustela putorius furo) that is descended from the European polecat
  2. black-footed ferret
  3. an active and persistent searcher

ferret -vi, n

  1. to hunt with ferrets
  2. to search about
  3. to hunt (as rabbits) with ferrets
  4. to force out of hiding : flush
  5. to find and bring to light by searching usu. used with out
    • ferret out the answers
  6. harry, worry
  7. a narrow cotton, silk, or wool tape called also ferreting

ferri- -comb form

  1. iron
    • ferri ferous
  2. ferric iron
    • ferri cyanide

fer·ri·age ['fer-ē-ij] -n

  1. the fare paid for a ferry passage
  2. the act or business of transporting by ferry

fer·ric ['fer-ik, 'fe-rik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or containing iron
  2. being or containing iron usu. with a valence of three

ferric ammonium citrate -n

  1. a complex salt containing varying amounts of iron and used esp. for making blueprints

ferric chloride -n

  1. a deliquescent dark salt FeCl 3that readily hydrates to the yellow-orange form and that is used esp. for etching, in sewage treatment, and as an astringent

ferric oxide -n

  1. the red or black oxide of iron Fe 2O 3found in nature as hematite and as rust and also obtained synthetically and used esp. in magnetic materials, as a pigment, and for polishing

fer·ri·cy·a·nide [,fer-,ī-'sī-ə-,nīd, ,fer-i-] -n

  1. the trivalent anion Fe(CN) 6 3
  2. a compound containing the ferricyanide anion
  3. the red salt K 3Fe(CN) 6used in making blue pigments

fer·rif·er·ous [fə-'ri-f(ə-)rəs, fe-] -adj

  1. containing or yielding iron

fer·ri·mag·net·ic ['fer-,ī-mag-'ne-tik, ,fer-i-] -adj, n, adv

  1. of or relating to a substance (as ferrite) characterized by magnetization in which two types of ions of unequal magnetic moment are polarized in opposite directions

Fer·ris wheel ['fer-əs-, 'fe-rəs-] -n

  1. an amusement device consisting of a large upright power-driven wheel carrying seats that remain horizontal around its rim

fer·rite ['fer-,īt] -n, adj

  1. any of several magnetic substances that consist essentially of ferric oxide combined with the oxides of one or more other metals (as manganese, nickel, or zinc), have high magnetic permeability and high electrical resistivity, and are used esp. in electronic devices
  2. a solid solution in which alpha iron is the solvent

fer·ri·tin ['fer-ə-tən] -n

  1. a crystalline iron-containing protein that functions in the storage of iron and is found esp. in the liver and spleen

ferro- -comb form

  1. iron
    • ferro concrete
  2. ferrous iron
    • ferro cyanide

fer·roce·ment [,fer-ō-si-'ment] -n

  1. a building material made of thin cement slabs reinforced with steel mesh

fer·ro·cene ['fer-ō-,sēn] -n

  1. a crystalline stable organometallic coordination compound (C 5H 5) 2Fe
  2. an analogous compound with a heavy metal (as chromium)

fer·ro·con·crete [,fer-ō-'kän-,krēt, -kän-'] -n

  1. reinforced concrete

fer·ro·cy·a·nide [-'sī-ə-,nīd] -n

  1. the tetravalent anion Fe(CN) 6 4
  2. a compound containing the ferrocyanide anion
  3. the salt K 4Fe(CN) 6used in making blue pigments (as Prussian blue)

fer·ro·elec·tric [,fer-ō-i-'lek-trik] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to crystalline substances having spontaneous electric polarization reversible by an electric field

fer·ro·mag·ne·sian [-mag-'nē-zhən, -shən] -adj

  1. containing iron and magnesium
    • ferromagnesian minerals

fer·ro·mag·net·ic [-'ne-tik] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to substances with an abnormally high magnetic permeability, a definite saturation point, and appreciable residual magnetism and hysteresis

fer·ro·man·ga·nese [-'maŋ-gə-,nēz, -,nēs] -n

  1. an alloy of iron and manganese containing usu. about 80 percent manganese and used in the manufacture of steel

fer·ro·sil·i·con [-'si-li-kən, -lə-,kän] -n

  1. an alloy of iron and silicon containing 15 to 95 percent silicon and used for deoxidizing molten steel and making silicon steel and high-silicon cast iron

fer·ro·type ['fer-ə-,tīp] -n

  1. a positive photograph made by a collodion process on a thin iron plate having a darkened surface called also tintype
  2. the process by which a ferrotype is made

fer·rous ['fer-əs, 'fe-rəs] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or containing iron
  2. being or containing divalent iron

ferrous sulfate -n

  1. a salt obtained usu. in its bluish-green hydrated form FeSO 47H 2O that is used esp. in making inks, pigments, and other iron salts and in medicine for treating anemia caused by iron deficiency

fer·ru·gi·nous [fə-'rü-jə-nəs, fe-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or containing iron
    • a ferruginous soil
  2. resembling iron rust in color

ferruginous hawk -n

  1. a large hawk ( Buteo regalis) of western No. America that is typically rust-colored above and white below with long tapered wings

fer·rule ['fer-əl, 'fe-rəl] -n, adj

  1. a ring or cap usu. of metal put around a slender shaft (as a cane or a tool handle) to strengthen it or prevent splitting
  2. a usu. metal sleeve used esp. for joining or binding one part to another (as pipe sections or the bristles and handle of a brush)

fer·ry ['fer-ē, 'fe-rē] -vb

  1. to carry by boat over a body of water
  2. to cross by a ferry
  3. to convey (as by aircraft or motor vehicle) from one place to another : transport
  4. to fly (an airplane) from the factory or other shipping point to a designated delivery point or from one base to another
  5. to cross water in a boat

ferry -n

  1. a place where persons or things are carried across a body of water (as a river) in a boat
  2. ferryboat
  3. a franchise or right to operate a ferry service across a body of water
  4. an organized service and route for flying airplanes esp. across a sea or continent for delivery to the user

fer·ry·boat [-,bōt] -n

  1. a boat used to ferry passengers, vehicles, or goods

fer·ry·man [-mən] -n

  1. a person who operates a ferry

fer·tile ['fər-tᵊl] -adj, adv, n

  1. producing or bearing fruit in great quantities : productive
  2. characterized by great resourcefulness of thought or imagination : inventive
    • a fertile mind
  3. plentiful
  4. capable of sustaining abundant plant growth
    • fertile soil
  5. affording abundant possibilities for growth or development
    • damp bathrooms are fertile ground for fungi -- Consumer Reports
    • a fertile area for research
  6. capable of growing or developing
    • a fertile egg
  7. capable of producing fruit
  8. containing pollen
  9. developing spores or spore-bearing organs
  10. capable of breeding or reproducing
  11. capable of being converted into fissionable material
    • fertile uranium 238

fer·til·i·ty [(,)fər-'ti-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being fertile
  2. the birthrate of a population

fer·til·i·za·tion [,fər-tə-lə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. : an act or process of making fertile: as
  2. the application of fertilizer
  3. an act or process of fecundation, insemination, or pollination not used technically
  4. the process of union of two gametes whereby the somatic chromosome number is restored and the development of a new individual is initiated

fertilization membrane -n

  1. a resistant membranous layer in eggs of many animals that forms following fertilization by the thickening and separation of the vitelline membrane from the cell surface and that prevents multiple fertilization

fer·til·ize ['fər-tə-,līz] -vt, adj

  1. : to make fertile: as
  2. to apply a fertilizer to
    • fertilize land
  3. to cause the fertilization of

fer·til·iz·er [-,lī-zər] -n

  1. one that fertilizes
  2. a substance (as manure or a chemical mixture) used to make soil more fertile

fer·ule ['fer-əl, 'fe-rəl] -n

  1. an instrument (as a flat piece of wood like a ruler) used to punish children
  2. school discipline

fe·ru·lic acid [fə-'rü-lik-] -n

  1. a white crystalline acid that is structurally related to vanillin and is obtained esp. from plant sources (as aspen bark)

fer·ven·cy ['fər-vən(t)-sē] -n

  1. fervor

fer·vent ['fər-vənt] -adj, adv

  1. very hot : glowing
  2. exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling : zealous
    • fervent prayers

fer·vid ['fər-vəd] -adj, adv, n

  1. very hot : burning
  2. marked by often extreme fervor
    • a fervid crusader

fer·vor ['fər-vər] -n

  1. intensity of feeling or expression
    • booing and cheering with almost equal fervor -- Alan Rich
  2. intense heat

fer·vour ['fər-vər] -n

(variant of fervor)

  1. intensity of feeling or expression
    • booing and cheering with almost equal fervor -- Alan Rich
  2. intense heat

fes·cen·nine ['fe-sə-,nīn, -,nēn] -adj

  1. scurrilous, obscene

fes·cue ['fes-(,)kyü] -n

  1. a small pointer (as a stick) used to point out letters to children learning to read
  2. any of a genus ( Festuca) of tufted perennial grasses with panicled spikelets

fescue foot -n

  1. a disease of the feet of cattle resembling ergotism that is associated with feeding on fescue grass and esp. tall fescue

fess ['fes] -n

  1. a broad horizontal bar across the middle of a heraldic field
  2. the center point of an armorial escutcheon
  3. to own up : confess usu. used with up

fest [,fest] -n

  1. a gathering, event, or show having a specified focus
    • a music fest
    often used in combination
    • a gab fest

fes·tal ['fes-tᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to a feast or festival : festive

fes·ter ['fes-tər] -n

  1. a suppurating sore : pustule

fester [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vb

  1. to generate pus
  2. putrefy, rot
  3. to cause increasing poisoning, irritation, or bitterness : rankle
    • dissent fester ed unchecked
  4. to undergo or exist in a state of progressive deterioration
    • allowed slums to fester
  5. to make inflamed or corrupt

fes·ti·nate ['fes-tə-,nāt] -vb

  1. hasten
  2. hasty
    • a most festinate preparation -- Shak.

fes·ti·val ['fes-tə-vəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, appropriate to, or set apart as a festival

festival -n

  1. a time of celebration marked by special observances
  2. feast
  3. an often periodic celebration or program of events or entertainment having a specified focus
    • a daffodil festival
    • a Greek festival
  4. gaiety, conviviality

fes·ti·val·go·er [-,gō-ər] -n

  1. one who attends a festival

fes·tive ['fes-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival
    • a festive occasion
  2. joyful, gay
    • a festive mood

fes·tiv·i·ty [fes-'ti-və-tē, fəs-] -n

  1. festival
  2. the quality or state of being festive : gaiety
  3. festive activity

fes·toon [fes-'tün] -n

  1. a decorative chain or strip hanging between two points
  2. a carved, molded, or painted ornament representing a decorative chain

festoon -vt

  1. to hang or form festoons on
  2. to shape into festoons
  3. decorate, adorn
  4. cover

fes·toon·ery [fes-'tü-nə-rē] -n

  1. an arrangement of festoons

Fest·schrift ['fes(t)-,shrift] -n

  1. a volume of writings by different authors presented as a tribute or memorial esp. to a scholar

FET -abbr

  1. Federal excise tax
  2. field-effect transistor

fe·ta ['fe-tə, 'fe-,tä] -n

  1. a white moderately hard and crumbly Greek cheese made from sheep's or goat's milk and cured in brine

fe·tal ['fē-tᵊl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a fetus

fetal alcohol syndrome -n

  1. a highly variable group of birth defects including mental retardation, deficient growth, and malformations of the skull and face that tend to occur in the offspring of women who consume large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy

fetal hemoglobin -n

  1. a hemoglobin variant that predominates in the blood of a newborn and persists in increased proportions in some forms of anemia (as thalassemia)

fetal position -n

  1. a position (as of a sleeping person) in which the body lies curled up on one side with the arms and legs drawn up and the head bowed forward and which is assumed in some forms of psychic regression

fetch ['fech] -vb, n

  1. to go or come after and bring or take back
    • fetch a doctor
  2. derive, deduce
  3. to cause to come
  4. to bring in (as a price) : realize
  5. interest, attract
  6. to give (a blow) by striking : deal
  7. bring about, accomplish
  8. to take in (as a breath) : draw
  9. to bring forth (as a sound) : heave
    • fetch a sigh
  10. to reach by sailing esp. against the wind or tide
  11. to arrive at : reach
  12. to get and bring something
  13. to retrieve killed game
  14. to take a roundabout way : circle
  15. to hold a course on a body of water
  16. veer
  17. trick, stratagem
  18. an act or instance of fetching
  19. the distance along open water or land over which the wind blows
  20. the distance traversed by waves without obstruction
  21. doppelganger

fetch·ing ['fe-chiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. attractive, pleasing
    • a fetching smile

fetch up -vt

  1. to bring up or out : produce
  2. to make up (as lost time)
  3. to bring to a stop
  4. to reach a standstill, stopping place, or goal : end up
    • may have fetched up running a village store -- Geoffrey Household

fete ['fāt, 'fet] -n

  1. festival
  2. a lavish often outdoor entertainment
  3. a large elaborate party
  4. to honor or commemorate with a fete
  5. to pay high honor to

fete cham·pe·tre [,fāt-,shäⁿ(m)-'petrᵊ, ,fet-] -n

  1. an outdoor entertainment

fe·ti·cide ['fē-tə-,sīd] -n

  1. the act of causing the death of a fetus

fet·id ['fe-təd, esp Brit 'fē-tid] -adj, adv, n

  1. having a heavy offensive smell
    • a fetid swamp

fe·tish ['fe-tish also 'fē-] -n

  1. an object (as a small stone carving of an animal) believed to have magical power to protect or aid its owner
  2. a material object regarded with superstitious or extravagant trust or reverence
  3. an object of irrational reverence or obsessive devotion : prepossession
  4. an object or bodily part whose real or fantasied presence is psychologically necessary for sexual gratification and that is an object of fixation to the extent that it may interfere with complete sexual expression
  5. a rite or cult of fetish worshipers
  6. fixation

fe·tish·ism [-tish-,i-zəm] -n, adj, adv

  1. belief in magical fetishes
  2. extravagant irrational devotion
  3. the pathological displacement of erotic interest and satisfaction to a fetish

fe·tish·ize [-ti-,shīz] -vt

  1. to make a fetish of : treat or regard with fetishism

fet·lock ['fet-,läk] -n

  1. a projection bearing a tuft of hair on the back of the leg above the hoof of a horse or similar animal
  2. the tuft of hair itself
  3. the joint of the limb at the fetlock

feto- -comb form

  1. fetus
    • feti cide

fe·tol·o·gy [fē-'tä-lə-jē] -n

  1. a branch of medical science concerned with the study and treatment of the fetus in the uterus

fe·to·pro·tein [,fē-tō-'prō-,tēn, -'prō-tē-ən] -n

  1. any of several fetal antigens present in the adult in some abnormal conditions

fe·tor ['fē-tər, 'fē-,tȯr] -n

  1. a strong offensive smell : stench

fe·to·scope ['fē-tə-,skōp] -n

  1. an endoscope for visual examination of the pregnant uterus
  2. a stethoscope for listening to the fetal heartbeat

fet·ter ['fe-tər] -n

  1. a chain or shackle for the feet
  2. something that confines : restraint

fetter -vt

  1. to put fetters on : shackle
  2. to restrain from motion, action, or progress

fet·tle ['fe-tᵊl] -n

  1. state or condition of health, fitness, wholeness, spirit, or form often used in the phrase in fine fettle

fettle ['fet-liŋ, 'fe-tᵊl-iŋ] -vt

  1. to cover or line the hearth of (as a reverberatory furnace) with loose material (as sand or gravel)

fet·tuc·ci·ne [,fe-tə-'chē-nē] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. pasta in the form of narrow ribbons
  2. a dish of which fettuccine forms the base

fettuccine Al·fre·do [-(,)al-'frā-(,)dō, -(,)äl-] -n

  1. a dish consisting of fettuccine with butter, Parmesan cheese, cream, and seasonings called also fettuccine all'Alfredo -al-()al-, -al-()al-

fe·tus ['fē-təs] -n

  1. an unborn or unhatched vertebrate esp. after attaining the basic structural plan of its kind
  2. a developing human from usu. two months after conception to birth

feud ['fyüd] -n, vi

  1. a mutual enmity or quarrel that is often prolonged or inveterate
  2. blood feud
  3. fee

feu·dal ['fyü-dᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a medieval fee
  2. of, relating to, or suggestive of feudalism
    • feudal law

feu·dal·ism ['fyü-də-,li-zəm] -n, adj

  1. the system of political organization prevailing in Europe from the 9th to about the 15th centuries having as its basis the relation of lord to vassal with all land held in fee and as chief characteristics homage, the service of tenants under arms and in court, wardship, and forfeiture
  2. any of various political or social systems similar to medieval feudalism

feu·dal·i·ty [fyü-'da-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being feudal
  2. a feudal holding, domain, or concentration of power

feu·dal·ize ['fyü-də-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to make feudal

feu·da·to·ry ['fyü-də-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. owing feudal allegiance
  2. being under the overlordship of a foreign state

feudatory -n

  1. a dependent lordship : fee
  2. one holding lands by feudal tenure

feud·ist ['fyü-dist] -n

  1. a specialist in feudal law

feudist -n

  1. one who feuds

feuil·le·ton [,fə-yə-'tōⁿ, ,fər- ,fœ-] -n

  1. a part of a European newspaper or magazine devoted to material designed to entertain the general reader
  2. something (as an installment of a novel) printed in a feuilleton
  3. a novel printed in installments
  4. a work of fiction catering to popular taste
  5. a short literary composition often having a familiar tone and reminiscent content

Feul·gen ['fȯil-gən] -adj

  1. of, relating to, utilizing, or staining by the Feulgen reaction
    • positive Feulgen mitochondria

Feulgen reaction -n

  1. the development of a brilliant purple color by DNA in a microscopic preparation stained with a modified Schiff's reagent

fe·ver ['fē-vər] -n

  1. a rise of body temperature above the normal
  2. any of various diseases of which fever is a prominent symptom
  3. a state of heightened or intense emotion or activity
  4. a contagious usu. transient enthusiasm : craze

fever ['fē-vriŋ, 'fe-vər-iŋ] -vb

  1. to throw into a fever : agitate
  2. to contract or be in a fever : become feverish

fever blister -n

  1. cold sore

fe·ver·few ['fē-vər-,fyü] -n

  1. a perennial European composite herb ( Chrysanthemum parthenium) widely cultivated as an ornamental

fe·ver·ish ['fē-vrish, 'fe-vər-ish] -adj, adv, n

  1. tending to cause fever
  2. having the symptoms of a fever
  3. indicating or relating to fever
  4. marked by intense emotion, activity, or instability
    • feverish excitement

fe·ver·ous ['fē-vrəs, 'fe-vər-əs] -adj

  1. feverish

fever pitch -n

  1. a state of intense excitement and agitation

fever tree -n

  1. any of several shrubs or trees that are thought to indicate regions free from fever or that yield remedies for fever
  2. an African acacia ( Acacia xanthlophloea)

fe·ver·wort ['fē-vər-,wərt, -,wȯrt] -n

  1. a coarse American herb ( Triosteum perfoliatum) of the honeysuckle family called also horse gentian

few ['fyü] -pron, pl in constr

  1. not many persons or things
    • few were present
    • few of his stories are true
  2. consisting of or amounting to only a small number
    • one of our few pleasures
  3. at least some but indeterminately small in number used with a
    • caught a few fish
  4. a small number of units or individuals
    • a few of them
  5. a special limited number
    • the discriminating few

few·er ['fyü-ər, 'fyu̇r] -pron, pl in constr

  1. a smaller number of persons or things

fewer ['fyü] -pron, pl in constr

(variant of few)

  1. not many persons or things
    • few were present
    • few of his stories are true
  2. consisting of or amounting to only a small number
    • one of our few pleasures
  3. at least some but indeterminately small in number used with a
    • caught a few fish
  4. a small number of units or individuals
    • a few of them
  5. a special limited number
    • the discriminating few

few·trils ['fyü-trəlz] -n pl

  1. things of little value : trifles

fey ['fā] -adj, adv, n

  1. fated to die : doomed
  2. marked by a foreboding of death or calamity
  3. able to see into the future : visionary
  4. marked by an otherworldly air or attitude
  5. crazy, touched
  6. excessively refined : precious
  7. quaintly unconventional : campy

fez ['fez] -n, adj

  1. a brimless cone-shaped flat-crowned hat that usu. has a tassel, is usu. made of red felt, and is worn esp. by men in eastern Mediterranean countries