Ff
F , f /e f/ (F's, f's )
1 N‑VAR F is the sixth letter of the English alphabet.
2 N‑VAR In music, F is the fourth note in the scale of C major.
3 f. is an abbreviation for 'following'. It is written after a page or line number to indicate that you are referring to both the page or line mentioned and the one after it. You use ff. when you are referring to the page or line mentioned and two or more pages or lines after it.
fab /fæ b/ ADJ If you say that something is fab , you are emphasizing that you think it is very good. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ The dancing is fab.
fa|ble /fe I b ə l/ (fables )
1 N‑VAR A fable is a story which teaches a moral lesson. Fables sometimes have animals as the main characters. □ [+ of ] …the fable of the tortoise and the hare. □ Each tale has the timeless quality of fable.
2 N‑VAR You can describe a statement or explanation that is untrue but that many people believe as fable . □ Is reincarnation fact or fable? □ …little-known horticultural facts and fables.
fa|bled /fe I b ə ld/ ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe a person or thing as fabled , especially someone or something remarkable, you mean that they are well known because they are often talked about or a lot of stories are told about them. □ …the fabled city of Troy.
fab|ric ◆◇◇ /fæ br I k/ (fabrics )
1 N‑VAR Fabric is cloth or other material produced by weaving together cotton, nylon, wool, silk, or other threads. Fabrics are used for making things such as clothes, curtains, and sheets. □ …small squares of red cotton fabric. □ Whatever your colour scheme, there's a fabric to match.
2 N‑SING The fabric of a society or system is its basic structure, with all the customs and beliefs that make it work successfully. □ [+ of ] The fabric of society has been deeply damaged by the previous regime.
3 N‑SING The fabric of a building is its walls, roof, and the materials with which it is built. □ [+ of ] Condensation will eventually cause the fabric of the building to rot away. SYNONYMS fabric NOUN 1
cloth: She began cleaning the wound with a piece of cloth.
material: …the thick material of her skirt.
textile: …decorative textiles for the home.
fab|ri|cate /fæ br I ke I t/ (fabricates , fabricating , fabricated )
1 VERB If someone fabricates information, they invent it in order to deceive people. □ [V n] All four claim that officers fabricated evidence against them. □ [V -ed] Eleven key officials were hanged on fabricated charges. ● fab|ri|ca|tion /fæ br I ke I ʃ ə n/ (fabrications ) N‑VAR □ She described the article about her as a 'complete fabrication'. □ This story is total fabrication.
2 VERB If something is fabricated from different materials or substances, it is made out of those materials or substances. □ [be V -ed + from ] All the tools are fabricated from high quality steel. □ [V n] …a plant which fabricates airplane components. [Also V n + from ]
fabu|lous /fæ bjʊləs/ ADJ If you describe something as fabulous , you are emphasizing that you like it a lot or think that it is very good. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ This is a fabulous album. It's fresh, varied, fun. □ The scenery and weather were fabulous.
fa|cade /fəsɑː d/ (facades ) also façade
1 N‑COUNT The facade of a building, especially a large one, is its front wall or the wall that faces the street.
2 N‑SING A facade is an outward appearance which is deliberately false and gives you a wrong impression about someone or something. □ [+ of ] They hid the troubles plaguing their marriage behind a facade of family togetherness.
face
➊ NOUN USES
➋ VERB AND PHRASAL VERB USES
➊ face ◆◆◆ /fe I s/ (faces )
→ Please look at categories 28 to 32 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Your face is the front part of your head from your chin to the top of your forehead, where your mouth, eyes, nose, and other features are. □ A strong wind was blowing right in my face. □ He was going red in the face and breathing with difficulty. □ She had a beautiful face.
2 N‑COUNT [adj N ] If your face is happy, sad, or serious, for example, the expression on your face shows that you are happy, sad, or serious. □ He was walking around with a sad face. □ The priest frowned into the light, his face puzzled.
3 N‑COUNT The face of a cliff, mountain, or building is a vertical surface or side of it. □ [+ of ] …the north face of the Eiger. □ He scrambled 200 feet up the cliff face.
4 N‑COUNT The face of a clock or watch is the surface with the numbers or hands on it, which shows the time.
5 N‑SING If you say that the face of an area, institution, or field of activity is changing, you mean its appearance or nature is changing. □ [+ of ] …the changing face of the British countryside.
6 N‑SING If you refer to something as the particular face of an activity, belief, or system, you mean that it is one particular aspect of it, in contrast to other aspects. □ [+ of ] Who ever thought people would see Arsenal as the acceptable face of football?
7 N‑UNCOUNT If you lose face , you do something which makes you appear weak and makes people respect or admire you less. If you do something in order to save face , you do it in order to avoid appearing weak and losing people's respect or admiration. □ To cancel the airport would mean a loss of face for the present governor. □ She claimed they'd been in love, but I sensed she was only saying this to save face.
8 → see also about-face , face value , poker face
9 PHRASE If you say that someone can do something until they are blue in the face , you are emphasizing that however much they do it, it will not make any difference. [EMPHASIS ] □ You can criticise him until you're blue in the face, but you'll never change his personality.
10 PHRASE If someone or something is face down , their face or front points downwards. If they are face up , their face or front points upwards. □ All the time Stephen was lying face down and unconscious in the bath tub. □ Charles laid down his cards face up.
11 PHRASE You can use the expression ' on the face of the earth ' to mean 'in the whole world', when you are emphasizing a statement that you are making or making a very exaggerated statement. [EMPHASIS ] □ No human being on the face of the earth could do anything worse than what he did.
12 PHRASE If you come face to face with someone, you meet them and can talk to them or look at them directly. □ [+ with ] We were strolling into the town when we came face to face with Jacques Dubois. □ It was the first face-to-face meeting between the two men.
13 PHRASE If you come face to face with a difficulty or reality, you cannot avoid it and have to deal with it. □ Eventually, he came face to face with discrimination again.
14 PHRASE If an action or belief flies in the face of accepted ideas or rules, it seems to completely oppose or contradict them. □ …scientific principles that seem to fly in the face of common sense.
15 PHRASE If you take a particular action or attitude in the face of a problem or difficulty, you respond to that problem or difficulty in that way. □ The Prime Minister has called for national unity in the face of the violent anti-government protests.
16 PHRASE If you have a long face , you look very unhappy or serious. □ He came to me with a very long face.
17 PHRASE If you make a face , you show a feeling such as dislike or disgust by putting an exaggerated expression on your face, for example by sticking out your tongue. In British English, you can also say pull a face . □ [+ at ] Opening the door, she made a face at the musty smell. □ [+ at ] Kathryn pulled a face at Thomas behind his back.
18 PHRASE You say on the face of it when you are describing how something seems when it is first considered, in order to suggest that people's opinion may change when they know or think more about the subject. □ It is, on the face of it, a difficult point to grasp.
19 PHRASE If you put a brave face on a bad situation or put on a brave face , you try not to show how disappointed or upset you are about the situation. In American English you can also say put on a good face . □ Friends will see you are putting on a brave face and might assume you've got over your grief. □ Scientists are putting a good face on the troubles.
20 PHRASE You can say that someone has set their face against something to indicate that they are opposed to it, especially when you want to suggest that they are wrong. [mainly BRIT ] □ This Government has set its face against putting up income tax.
21 PHRASE If you show your face somewhere, you go there and see people, although you are not welcome, are rather unwilling to go, or have not been there for some time. □ I felt I ought to show my face at her father's funeral.
22 PHRASE If you manage to keep a straight face , you manage to look serious, although you want to laugh. □ What went through Tom's mind I can't imagine, but he did manage to keep a straight face. □ You have to wonder how anyone could say that seriously and with a straight face.
23 PHRASE If you say something to someone's face , you say it openly in their presence. □ Her opponent called her a liar to her face.
24 PHRASE If a feeling is written all over your face or is written across your face , it is very obvious to other people from your expression. □ Relief and gratitude were written all over his face. □ I could just see the pain written across her face.
25 to shut the door in someone's face → see door
26 to have egg on your face → see egg
27 to cut off your nose to spite your face → see nose
28 a slap in the face → see slap
➋ face ◆◆◆ /fe I s/ (faces , facing , faced )
→ Please look at category 8 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 VERB If someone or something faces a particular thing, person, or direction, they are positioned opposite them or are looking in that direction. □ [V n] They stood facing each other. □ [V adv/prep] The garden faces south.
2 VERB If you face someone or something, you turn so that you are looking at them. □ [V n] She stood up from the table and faced him. □ [V n] Stand up. Face the wall.
3 VERB If you have to face a person or group, you have to stand or sit in front of them and talk to them, although it may be difficult and unpleasant. □ [V n] Christie looked relaxed and calm as he faced the press.
4 VERB If you face or are faced with something difficult or unpleasant, or if it faces you, it is going to affect you and you have to deal with it. □ [V n] Williams faces life in prison if convicted of attempted murder. □ [be V -ed + with ] We are faced with a serious problem.
5 VERB If you face the truth or face the facts, you accept that something is true. If you face someone with the truth or with the facts, you try to make them accept that something is true. □ [V n] Although your heart is breaking, you must face the truth that a relationship has ended. □ [V n] He accused the Government of refusing to face facts about the economy. □ [V n + with ] He called a family conference and faced them with the problems. ● PHRASAL VERB Face up to means the same as face 5 . □ [V P P n] I have grown up now and I have to face up to my responsibilities.
6 VERB [with neg] If you cannot face something, you do not feel able to do it because it seems so difficult or unpleasant. □ [V n] My children want me with them for Christmas Day, but I can't face it. □ [V v-ing] I couldn't face seeing anyone.
7 PHRASE You use the expression ' let's face it ' when you are stating a fact or making a comment about something which you think the person you are talking to may find unpleasant or be unwilling to admit. □ She was always attracted to younger men. But, let's face it, who is not?
8 face the music → see music
▸ face down PHRASAL VERB If you face someone down , you oppose them or defeat them by being confident and looking at them boldly. [mainly AM ] □ [V n P ] He's confronted crowds before and faced them down. [Also V P n]
▸ face up to → see face ➋ 5
face|cloth /fe I sklɒθ, [AM ] -klɔːθ/ (facecloths ) also face cloth N‑COUNT A facecloth is the same as a face flannel or washcloth . [mainly BRIT ]
fa ce cream (face creams ) N‑VAR Face cream is a thick substance that you rub into your face in order to keep it soft.
-faced /-fe I st/
1 COMB -faced combines with adjectives to form other adjectives that describe someone's face or expression. □ …a slim, thin-faced man. □ The committee walked out, grim-faced and shocked.
2 → see also ashen-faced , bare-faced , po-faced , poker-faced , red-faced , shamefaced , straight-faced , two-faced
fa ce flan|nel (face flannels ) N‑COUNT A face flannel is a small cloth made of towelling which you use for washing yourself. [BRIT ] in AM, usually use washcloth
face|less /fe I sləs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone or something as faceless , you dislike them because they are uninteresting and have no character. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Ordinary people are at the mercy of faceless bureaucrats.
face|lift /fe I sl I ft/ (facelifts ) also face-lift
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you give a place or thing a facelift , you do something to make it look better or more attractive. □ Nothing gives a room a faster facelift than a coat of paint.
2 N‑COUNT A facelift is an operation in which a surgeon tightens the skin on someone's face in order to make them look younger.
fa ce mask (face masks )
1 N‑COUNT A face mask is a device that you wear over your face, for example to prevent yourself from breathing bad air or from spreading germs, or to protect your face when you are in a dangerous situation.
2 N‑COUNT A face mask is the same as a face pack . [mainly AM ]
fa ce pack (face packs ) N‑COUNT A face pack is a thick substance which you spread on your face, allow to dry for a short time, and then remove, in order to clean your skin thoroughly. [BRIT ] in AM, use face mask
fa ce pow|der (face powders ) N‑VAR Face powder is a very fine soft powder that you can put on your face in order to make it look smoother.
fa ce-saver (face-savers ) N‑COUNT A face-saver is an action or excuse which prevents damage to your reputation or the loss of people's respect for you. [JOURNALISM ]
fa ce-saving ADJ [ADJ n] A face-saving action is one which prevents damage to your reputation or the loss of people's respect for you. □ The decision is a face-saving compromise which will allow the government to remain in office.
fac|et /fæ s I t, -set/ (facets )
1 N‑COUNT A facet of something is a single part or aspect of it. □ [+ of ] The caste system shapes nearly every facet of Indian life.
2 N‑COUNT The facets of a diamond or other precious stone are the flat surfaces that have been cut on its outside.
fa ce-time
1 N‑UNCOUNT Face-time is time that you spend talking directly to someone, rather than talking by phone or email. □ I need some face-time with the minister.
2 N‑UNCOUNT FaceTime is a system that allows you to make video calls on an iPhone or other Apple device. [TRADEMARK ] □ Nice to have FaceTime with the family when I'm away.
fa|cetious /fəsiː ʃəs/ ADJ If you say that someone is being facetious , you are criticizing them because they are making humorous remarks or saying things that they do not mean in a situation where they ought to be serious. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The woman eyed him coldly. 'Don't be facetious,' she said.
fa ce to fa ce → see face ➊
fa ce va lue
1 N‑SING The face value of things such as coins, paper money, investment documents, or tickets is the amount of money that they are worth, and that is written on them. □ Tickets were selling at twice their face value.
2 PHRASE If you take something at face value , you accept it and believe it without thinking about it very much, even though it might be untrue. □ Statements from the groups involved should not necessarily be taken at face value.
fa|cial /fe I ʃ ə l/ (facials )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Facial means appearing on or being part of your face. □ Cross didn't answer; his facial expression didn't change. □ I ended up in hospital with facial injuries.
2 N‑COUNT A facial is a beauty treatment for the face.
fa|cie /fe I ʃi/ → see prima facie
fac|ile /fæ sa I l, [AM ] -s ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone's arguments or suggestions as facile , you are criticizing them because their ideas are too simple and indicate a lack of careful, intelligent thinking. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The subject of racism is admittedly too complex for facile summarization.
fa|cili|tate /fəs I l I te I t/ (facilitates , facilitating , facilitated ) VERB To facilitate an action or process, especially one that you would like to happen, means to make it easier or more likely to happen. □ [V n] The new airport will facilitate the development of tourism. □ [be V -ed] He argued that the economic recovery had been facilitated by his tough stance.
fa|cili|ta|tor /fəs I l I te I tə r / (facilitators ) N‑COUNT A facilitator is a person or organization that helps another one to do or to achieve a particular thing. [FORMAL ]
fa|cil|ity ◆◆◇ /fəs I l I ti/ (facilities )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Facilities are buildings, pieces of equipment, or services that are provided for a particular purpose. □ What recreational facilities are now available? □ The problem lies in getting patients to a medical facility as soon as possible.
2 N‑COUNT [oft n N , N to-inf] A facility is something such as an additional service provided by an organization or an extra feature on a machine which is useful but not essential. □ It is very useful to have an overdraft facility.
fac|ing /fe I s I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Facing is fabric which is stitched inside the edges of a piece of clothing in order to make them look neat and strengthen them.
fac|simi|le /fæks I m I li/ (facsimiles ) N‑COUNT [N n] A facsimile of something is a copy or imitation of it. [FORMAL ] □ …a facsimile edition of Beethoven's musical manuscripts.
fact ◆◆◆ /fæ kt/ (facts )
1 PHRASE You use the fact that after some verbs or prepositions, especially in expressions such as in view of the fact that , apart from the fact that , and despite the fact that , to link the verb or preposition with a clause. □ His chances do not seem good in view of the fact that the Chief Prosecutor has already voiced his public disapproval. □ We have to lie and hide the fact that I have an illness.
2 PHRASE You use the fact that instead of a simple that-clause either for emphasis or because the clause is the subject of your sentence. □ The fact that he had left proved to me that everything he'd said was true.
3 PHRASE You use in fact , in actual fact , or in point of fact to indicate that you are giving more detailed information about what you have just said. □ We've had a pretty bad time. In fact, we very nearly split up this time. □ When he realised what he had done, he apologised. In actual fact he wrote me a note.
4 PHRASE You use in fact , in actual fact , or in point of fact to introduce or draw attention to a comment that modifies, contradicts, or contrasts with a previous statement. □ That sounds rather simple, but in fact it's very difficult. □ Why had she ever trusted him? In point of fact she never had, she reminded herself.
5 N‑VAR When you refer to something as a fact or as fact , you mean that you think it is true or correct. □ …a statement of verifiable historical fact. □ How much was fact and how much fancy no one knew.
6 N‑COUNT Facts are pieces of information that can be discovered. □ There is so much information you can almost effortlessly find the facts for yourself. □ His opponent swamped him with facts and figures. □ The lorries always left at night when there were few witnesses around to record the fact.
7 PHRASE You use as a matter of fact to introduce a statement that gives more details about what has just been said, or an explanation of it, or something that contrasts with it. □ It's not that difficult. As a matter of fact, it's quite easy. □ 'I guess you haven't eaten yet.'—'As a matter of fact, I have,' said Hunter.
8 PHRASE If you say that you know something for a fact , you are emphasizing that you are completely certain that it is true. [EMPHASIS ] □ I know for a fact that Graham has kept in close touch with Alan.
9 PHRASE You use the fact is or the fact of the matter is to introduce and draw attention to a summary or statement of the most important point about what you have been saying. □ The fact is blindness hadn't stopped the children doing many of the things that sighted children enjoy. □ The fact of the matter is that student finances are stretched. SYNONYMS fact NOUN 5
truth: Is it possible to separate truth from fiction?
reality: Fiction and reality were increasingly blurred.
certainty: There are no certainties in modern Europe.
fa ct-finding ADJ [ADJ n] A fact-finding mission or visit is one whose purpose is to get information about a particular situation, especially for an official group. □ A U.N. fact-finding mission is on its way to the region.
fac|tion ◆◇◇ /fæ kʃ ə n/ (factions )
1 N‑COUNT A faction is an organized group of people within a larger group, which opposes some of the ideas of the larger group and fights for its own ideas. □ A peace agreement will be signed by the leaders of the country's warring factions.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Faction is also used to describe argument and disagreement within a group of people. □ Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm. COLLOCATIONS faction NOUN 1
noun + faction : rebel, rival; army, guerrilla
adjective + faction : competing, feuding, opposing, warring; armed, militant; breakaway, dominant, hardline, powerful
verb + faction : head, lead; unite
fac|tion|al /fæ kʃən ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Factional arguments or disputes involve two or more small groups from within a larger group. □ …factional disputes between the various groups that make up the leadership.
fac|tion|al|ism /fæ kʃənəl I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Factionalism refers to arguments or disputes between two or more small groups from within a larger group. □ There has been a substantial amount of factionalism within the movement.
fa ct of li fe (facts of life )
1 N‑COUNT You say that something which is not pleasant is a fact of life when there is nothing you can do to change it so you must accept it. □ Stress is a fact of life from time to time for all of us.
2 N‑PLURAL If you tell a child about the facts of life , you tell him or her about sexual intercourse and how babies are born. □ There comes a time when children need to know more than the basic facts of life.
fac|tor ◆◆◇ /fæ ktə r / (factors , factoring , factored )
1 N‑COUNT A factor is one of the things that affects an event, decision, or situation. □ [+ in ] Physical activity is an important factor in maintaining fitness.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If an amount increases by a factor of two, for example, or by a factor of eight, then it becomes two times bigger or eight times bigger. □ [+ of ] The cost of butter quadrupled and bread prices increased by a factor of five.
3 N‑SING You can use factor to refer to a particular level on a scale of measurement. □ …suncream with a protection factor of 8.
4 N‑COUNT A factor of a whole number is a smaller whole number which can be multiplied with another whole number to produce the first whole number. [TECHNICAL ]
▸ factor in or factor into PHRASAL VERB If you factor a particular cost or element into a calculation you are making, or if you factor it in , you include it. [mainly AM ] □ [V P n] Using a computer model they factored in the costs of transplants for those women who die. □ [V n P n] You'd better consider this and factor this into your decision making. [Also V n P ] COLLOCATIONS factor NOUN 1
noun + factor : fear, risk
adjective + factor : critical, crucial, deciding, decisive, significant; contributing, contributory; important, key, major, motivating; economic, environmental, psychological, social; aggravating, mitigating
fac|to|ry ◆◆◇ /fæ ktri/ (factories ) N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A factory is a large building where machines are used to make large quantities of goods. □ He owned furniture factories in New York State. SYNONYMS factory NOUN
plant: The plant provides forty per cent of the country's electricity.
works: The steel works could be seen for miles.
mill: …a textile mill.
workshop: …the railway workshops.
fa c|to|ry farm|ing N‑UNCOUNT Factory farming is a system of farming which involves keeping animals indoors, often with very little space, and giving them special foods so that they grow more quickly or produce more eggs or milk. [mainly BRIT ]
fa c|to|ry floo r N‑SING The factory floor refers to the workers in a factory, as opposed to the managers. It can also refer to the area where they work. □ He had worked on the factory floor for 16 years.
fa c|to|ry ou t|let (factory outlets ) or factory shop N‑COUNT [oft N n] A factory outlet is a shop where a factory sells damaged or out-of-date goods directly to customers at reduced prices.
fa c|to|ry ship (factory ships ) N‑COUNT A factory ship is a large fishing boat which has equipment for processing the fish that are caught, for example by cleaning or freezing them, before it returns to port.
fac|to|tum /fæktoʊ təm/ (factotums ) N‑COUNT A factotum is a servant who is employed to do a wide variety of jobs for someone. [FORMAL ]
fa ct sheet (fact sheets ) N‑COUNT A fact sheet is a short, printed document with information about a particular subject, especially a summary of information that has been given on a radio or television programme.
fac|tual /fæ ktʃuəl/ ADJ Something that is factual is concerned with facts or contains facts, rather than giving theories or personal interpretations. □ The editorial contained several factual errors. □ Any comparison that is not strictly factual runs the risk of being interpreted as subjective. ● fac|tu|al|ly ADV [ADV adj/-ed, ADV after v] □ I learned that a number of statements in my talk were factually wrong.
fac|ul|ty /fæ k ə lti/ (faculties )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl, oft poss N ] Your faculties are your physical and mental abilities. □ He was drunk and not in control of his faculties. □ [+ of ] It is also a myth that the faculty of hearing is greatly increased in blind people.
2 N‑VAR A faculty is a group of related departments in some universities, or the people who work in them. [BRIT ] □ [+ of ] …the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences.
3 N‑VAR [oft N n] A faculty is all the teaching staff of a university or college, or of one department. [AM ] □ The faculty agreed on a change in the requirements. □ How can faculty improve their teaching so as to encourage creativity? □ …eminent Stanford faculty members.
fad /fæ d/ (fads ) N‑COUNT You use fad to refer to an activity or topic of interest that is very popular for a short time, but which people become bored with very quickly. □ Hamnett does not believe environmental concern is a passing fad.
fad|dish /fæ d I ʃ/ ADJ If you describe something as faddish , you mean that it has no real value and that it will not remain popular for very long. □ …faddish footwear.
fad|dy /fæ di/ ADJ If you describe someone as faddy , you mean that they have very strong likes and dislikes, especially about what they eat, which you think are rather silly. [BRIT , DISAPPROVAL ] □ My boys have always been faddy eaters.
fade ◆◇◇ /fe I d/ (fades , fading , faded )
1 VERB When a coloured object fades or when the light fades it, it gradually becomes paler. □ [V ] All colour fades–especially under the impact of direct sunlight. □ [V n] No matter how soft the light is, it still fades curtains in every room. □ [V -ing] …fading portraits of the Queen and Prince Philip. ● fad|ed ADJ □ …a girl in a faded dress. □ …faded painted signs on the sides of some of the buildings.
2 VERB When light fades , it slowly becomes less bright. When a sound fades , it slowly becomes less loud. □ [V ] Seaton lay on his bed and gazed at the ceiling as the light faded. □ [V + into ] The sound of the last bomber's engines faded into the distance.
3 VERB When something that you are looking at fades , it slowly becomes less bright or clear until it disappears. □ [V + from ] They observed the comet for 70 days before it faded from sight. □ [V + into ] They watched the familiar mountains fade into the darkness. ● PHRASAL VERB Fade away means the same as fade . □ [V P + into ] We watched the harbour and then the coastline fade away into the morning mist. [Also V P ]
4 VERB If memories, feelings, or possibilities fade , they slowly become less intense or less strong. □ [V ] Sympathy for the rebels, the government claims, is beginning to fade. □ [V -ing] …fading memories of better days.
▸ fade out
1 PHRASAL VERB When something fades out , it slowly becomes less noticeable or less important until it disappears completely. □ [V P ] He thought her campaign would probably fade out soon in any case. [Also V P + of ]
2 PHRASAL VERB When light, an image, or a sound fades out , it disappears after gradually becoming weaker. □ [V P ] The new image faded in as the old image faded out. [Also V P + of ]
fae|cal /fiː k ə l/ in AM, use fecal ADJ Faecal means referring or relating to faeces. [FORMAL ] □ One of the ways the parasite spreads is through fecal matter.
fae|ces /fiː siːz/ in AM, use feces N‑UNCOUNT Faeces is the solid waste substance that people and animals get rid of from their body by passing it through the anus. [FORMAL ]
faff /fæ f/ (faffs , faffing , faffed )
▸ faff about or faff around PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone is faffing about or faffing around , you mean that they are doing things in a disorganized way and not achieving very much. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V P ] It was annoying to watch them faffing around when a more direct response was required.
fag /fæ g/ (fags )
1 N‑COUNT A fag is a cigarette. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ]
2 N‑COUNT A fag is a homosexual. [mainly AM , INFORMAL , OFFENSIVE ]
fa g end (fag ends ) also fag-end
1 N‑COUNT A fag end is the last part of a cigarette, which people throw away when they have smoked the rest. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you refer to the fag end of something, you mean the last part of it, especially when you consider this part boring or unimportant. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] He never had much confidence in his judgement at the fag-end of the working day.
fag|got /fæ gət/ (faggots ) N‑COUNT A faggot is a homosexual man. [AM , INFORMAL , OFFENSIVE ]
Fahr|en|heit /fæ rənha I t/ ADJ Fahrenheit is a scale for measuring temperature, in which water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. It is represented by the symbol °F. □ By mid-morning, the temperature was already above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. ● N‑UNCOUNT Fahrenheit is also a noun. □ He was asked for the boiling point of water in Fahrenheit.
fail ◆◆◆ /fe I l/ (fails , failing , failed )
1 VERB If you fail to do something that you were trying to do, you are unable to do it or do not succeed in doing it. □ [V to-inf] The Workers' Party failed to win a single governorship. □ [V + in ] He failed in his attempt to take control of the company. □ [V ] Many of us have tried to lose weight and failed miserably. □ [V -ed] The truth is, I'm a failed comedy writer really.
2 VERB If an activity, attempt, or plan fails , it is not successful. □ [V ] We tried to develop plans for them to get along, which all failed miserably. □ [V ] He was afraid the revolution they had started would fail. □ [V -ed] Scotch-Irish emigration began with the failed harvest of 1717.
3 VERB If someone or something fails to do a particular thing that they should have done, they do not do it. [FORMAL ] □ [V to-inf] Some schools fail to set any homework. □ [V to-inf] The bomb failed to explode.
4 VERB If something fails , it stops working properly, or does not do what it is supposed to do. □ [V ] The lights mysteriously failed, and we stumbled around in complete darkness. □ [V ] In fact many food crops failed because of the drought.
5 VERB If a business, organization, or system fails , it becomes unable to continue in operation or in existence. [BUSINESS ] □ [V ] So far this year, 104 banks have failed. □ [V -ed] …a failed hotel business. □ [V -ing] Who wants to buy a computer from a failing company?
6 VERB If something such as your health or a physical quality is failing , it is becoming gradually weaker or less effective. □ [V ] He was 58, and his health was failing rapidly. □ [V -ing] An apparently failing memory is damaging for a national leader.
7 VERB If someone fails you, they do not do what you had expected or trusted them to do. □ [V n] …communities who feel that the political system has failed them.
8 VERB If someone fails in their duty or fails in their responsibilities, they do not do everything that they have a duty or a responsibility to do. □ [V + in ] If we did not report what was happening in the country, we would be failing in our duty.
9 VERB If a quality or ability that you have fails you, or if it fails , it is not good enough in a particular situation to enable you to do what you want to do. □ [V n] For once, the artist's fertile imagination failed him. □ [V ] Their courage failed a few steps short and they came running back.
10 VERB If someone fails a test, examination, or course, they perform badly in it and do not reach the standard that is required. □ [V n] I lived in fear of failing my end-of-term exams. ● N‑COUNT Fail is also a noun. □ It's the difference between a pass and a fail.
11 VERB If someone fails you in a test, examination, or course, they judge that you have not reached a high enough standard in it. □ [V n] …the two men who had failed him during his first year of law school.
12 PHRASE You say if all else fails to suggest what could be done in a certain situation if all the other things you have tried are unsuccessful. □ If all else fails, I could always drive a truck.
13 PHRASE You use without fail to emphasize that something always happens. [EMPHASIS ] □ He attended every meeting without fail.
14 PHRASE You use without fail to emphasize an order or a promise. [EMPHASIS ] □ On the 30th you must without fail hand in some money for Alex.
fail|ing /fe I l I ŋ/ (failings )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl, oft with poss] The failings of someone or something are their faults or unsatisfactory features. □ Like many in Russia, she blamed the country's failings on futile attempts to catch up with the West.
2 PHRASE You say failing that to introduce an alternative, in case what you have just said is not possible. □ Find someone who will let you talk things through, or failing that, write down your thoughts.
fai l-safe also failsafe ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is fail-safe is designed or made in such a way that nothing dangerous can happen if a part of it goes wrong. □ There was a fail-safe mechanism in place to override the controls in case of a malfunction.
fail|ure ◆◆◇ /fe I ljə r / (failures )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Failure is a lack of success in doing or achieving something, especially in relation to a particular activity. □ This policy is doomed to failure. □ Three attempts on the British 200-metre record also ended in failure. □ …feelings of failure.
2 N‑COUNT If something is a failure , it is not a success. □ The marriage was a failure and they both wanted to be free of it. □ His six-year transition programme has by no means been a complete failure.
3 N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a failure , you mean that they have not succeeded in a particular activity, or that they are unsuccessful at everything they do. □ Elgar received many honors and much acclaim and yet he often considered himself a failure.
4 N‑UNCOUNT [N to-inf, oft poss N ] Your failure to do a particular thing is the fact that you do not do it, even though you were expected to do it. □ …their failure to get the product mix right.
5 N‑VAR [oft n N ] If there is a failure of something, for example a machine or part of the body, it goes wrong and stops working or developing properly. □ There were also several accidents mainly caused by engine failures on take-off. □ He was being treated for kidney failure.
6 N‑VAR If there is a failure of a business or bank, it is no longer able to continue operating. [BUSINESS ] □ Business failures rose 16% last month. COLLOCATIONS failure NOUN
2
adjective + failure : abject, catastrophic, heroic, systemic; complete, total
3
adjective + failure : complete, total
5
noun + failure : heart, kidney, liver, organ; engine, system
adjective + failure : renal, respiratory; mechanical
verb + failure : cause; suffer
faint /fe I nt/ (fainter , faintest , faints , fainting , fainted )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A faint sound, colour, mark, feeling, or quality has very little strength or intensity. □ He became aware of the soft, faint sounds of water dripping. □ He could see faint lines in her face. □ There was still the faint hope deep within him that she might never need to know. ● faint|ly ADV [usu ADV after v, oft ADV adj] □ He was already asleep in the bed, which smelled faintly of mildew. □ She felt faintly ridiculous.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A faint attempt at something is one that is made without proper effort and with little enthusiasm. □ Caroline made a faint attempt at a laugh. □ A faint smile crossed the Monsignor's face and faded quickly. ● faint|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ John smiled faintly and shook his head.
3 VERB If you faint , you lose consciousness for a short time, especially because you are hungry, or because of pain, heat, or shock. □ [V ] She suddenly fell forward on to the table and fainted. □ [V ] I thought he'd faint when I kissed him. ● N‑COUNT [oft in a N ] Faint is also a noun. □ She slumped to the ground in a faint.
4 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Someone who is faint feels weak and unsteady as if they are about to lose consciousness. □ Other signs of angina are nausea, sweating, feeling faint and shortness of breath.
faint|est /fe I nt I st/ ADJ [ADJ n, with neg] You can use faintest for emphasis in negative statements. For example, if you say that someone hasn't the faintest idea what to do, you are emphasizing that they do not know what to do. [EMPHASIS ] □ I haven't the faintest idea how to care for a snake.
fai nt-hea rted also fainthearted
1 ADJ If you describe someone or their behaviour as faint-hearted , you mean that they are not very confident and do not take strong action because they are afraid of failing. □ This is no time to be faint-hearted.
2 PHRASE If you say that something is not for the faint-hearted , you mean that it is an extreme or very unusual example of its kind, and is not suitable for people who like only safe and familiar things. □ It's a film about a serial killer and not for the faint-hearted.
fair ◆◆◇ /feə r / (fairer , fairest , fairs )
1 ADJ Something or someone that is fair is reasonable, right, and just. □ It didn't seem fair to leave out her father. □ Do you feel they're paying their fair share? □ Independent observers say the campaign's been very much fairer than expected. □ He claims that he would not get a fair trial. ● fair|ly ADV [usu ADV after v, oft ADV -ed] □ …demonstrating concern for employees and solving their problems quickly and fairly. □ In a society where water was precious, it had to be shared fairly between individuals.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A fair amount, degree, size, or distance is quite a large amount, degree, size, or distance. □ My neighbours across the street travel a fair amount. □ My mother's brother lives a fair distance away so we don't see him and his family very often.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] A fair guess or idea about something is one that is likely to be correct. □ It's a fair guess to say that the damage will be extensive. □ I have a fair idea of how difficult things can be.
4 ADJ If you describe someone or something as fair , you mean that they are average in standard or quality, neither very good nor very bad. □ Reimar had a fair command of English.
5 ADJ Someone who is fair , or who has fair hair, has light-coloured hair. □ Both children were very like Robina, but were much fairer than she was. ● COMB Fair is also a combining form. □ …a tall, fair-haired Englishman.
6 ADJ Fair skin is very pale and usually burns easily. □ It's important to protect my fair skin from the sun. ● COMB Fair is also a combining form. □ Fair-skinned people shouldn't spend a great deal of time in the sun.
7 ADJ When the weather is fair , it is quite sunny and not raining. [FORMAL ] □ Weather conditions were fair.
8 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A county, state, or country fair is an event where there are, for example, displays of goods and animals, and amusements, games, and competitions.
9 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A fair is an event at which people display and sell goods, especially goods of a particular type. □ …an antiques fair.
10 → see also craft fair , trade fair
11 PHRASE You use fair enough when you want to say that a statement, decision, or action seems reasonable to a certain extent, but that perhaps there is more to be said or done. [mainly SPOKEN ] □ If you don't like it, fair enough, but that's hardly a justification to attack the whole thing.
12 PHRASE If you say that someone plays fair , you mean that they behave or act in a reasonable and honest way. □ The government is not playing fair, one union official told me.
13 PHRASE If you say that someone won a competition fair and square , you mean that they won honestly and without cheating. □ There are no excuses. We were beaten fair and square.
fai r ga me N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone is fair game , you mean that it is acceptable to criticize or attack them, usually because of the way that they behave. □ Politicians were always considered fair game by cartoonists.
fair|ground /feə r graʊnd/ (fairgrounds ) N‑COUNT A fairground is an area of land where a fair is held.
fair|ly ◆◇◇ /feə r li/
1 ADV [ADV adj/adv] Fairly means to quite a large degree. For example, if you say that something is fairly old, you mean that it is old but not very old. □ Both ships are fairly new. □ We did fairly well but only fairly well.
2 ADV [ADV adj/adv] You use fairly instead of 'very' to add emphasis to an adjective or adverb without making it sound too forceful. [VAGUENESS ] □ Were you always fairly bright at school? □ I'll have no income and no home and will need a job fairly badly.
3 → see also fair SYNONYMS fairly ADV 1
moderately: …a moderately attractive woman.
rather: I grew up in rather unusual circumstances.
somewhat: He concluded that Oswald was somewhat abnormal.
reasonably: She was reasonably sure that he had tonsillitis.
fai r-mi nded ADJ A fair-minded person always tries to be fair and reasonable, and always listens to other people's opinions. □ She is one of the most fair-minded people I know.
fair|ness /feə r nəs/ N‑UNCOUNT Fairness is the quality of being reasonable, right, and just. □ …concern about the fairness of the election campaign.
fai r pla y N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to someone's attitude or behaviour as fair play , you approve of it because it shows respect and sympathy towards everyone, even towards people who are thought to be wrong or to deserve punishment. [APPROVAL ] □ The legal system is unmatched for its justice and sense of fair play.
fai r se x also fairer sex N‑SING If a man talks about the fair sex , he is referring to women in general. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
fai r tra de N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Fair trade is the practice of buying goods directly from producers in developing countries at a fair price. □ …fair trade coffee.
fair|way /feə r we I / (fairways ) N‑COUNT The fairway on a golf course is the long strip of short grass between each tee and green.
fai r-weather ADJ [ADJ n] You use fair-weather to refer to someone who offers help to someone, or who takes part in a particular activity, only when it is easy or pleasant for them to do so. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a fair-weather friend.
fairy /feə ri/ (fairies )
1 N‑COUNT A fairy is an imaginary creature with magical powers. Fairies are often represented as small people with wings.
2 N‑COUNT If someone describes a man as a fairy , they mean that he is a homosexual and they disapprove of this. [OFFENSIVE , OLD-FASHIONED , DISAPPROVAL ]
fai ry go d|mother N‑SING If you call a woman your fairy godmother , you are saying in a slightly humorous way that she has been very helpful in your life, often at times when you thought you had problems that could not be solved.
fairy|land /feə rilænd/ (fairylands )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Fairyland is the imaginary place where fairies live.
2 N‑VAR If you describe a place as a fairyland , you mean that it has a delicate beauty. □ If you came with me to one of my toy shops, you'd think you were stepping into a fairyland.
fai ry lights N‑PLURAL Fairy lights are small, coloured electric lights that are hung up as decorations, for example on a Christmas tree. [BRIT ]
fai ry sto|ry (fairy stories ) N‑COUNT A fairy story is the same as a fairy tale .
fai ry tale (fairy tales ) also fairytale N‑COUNT A fairy tale is a story for children involving magical events and imaginary creatures. □ She was like a princess in a fairy tale.
fait ac|com|pli /fe I t əkɒ mpli, [AM ] - ækɔːmpliː / (faits accomplis ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If something is a fait accompli , it has already been decided or done and cannot be changed. [FORMAL ] □ They became increasingly annoyed that they were being presented with a fait accompli.
faith ◆◇◇ /fe I θ/ (faiths )
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you have faith in someone or something, you feel confident about their ability or goodness. □ [+ in ] She had placed a great deal of faith in Mr Penleigh. □ [+ in ] People have lost faith in the British Parliament.
2 N‑COUNT [usu adj N ] A faith is a particular religion, for example Christianity, Buddhism, or Islam. □ He established a reputation as a steadfast defender of the Catholic faith.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Faith is strong religious belief in a particular God. □ Umberto Eco's loss of his own religious faith is reflected in his novels.
4 PHRASE If you break faith with someone you made a promise to or something you believed in, you stop acting in a way that supports them. □ If we don't, we're breaking faith with our people!
5 PHRASE If you do something in good faith , you seriously believe that what you are doing is right, honest, or legal, even though this may not be the case. □ This report was published in good faith but we regret any confusion which may have been caused.
6 PHRASE If you keep faith with someone you have made a promise to or something you believe in, you continue to support them even when it is difficult to do so. □ He has made one of the most powerful American films of the year by keeping faith with his radical principles.
7 → see also article of faith , leap of faith COLLOCATIONS faith NOUN
1
adjective + faith : blind, complete
verb + faith : keep, restore; lose; repay
3
adjective + faith : religious; deep, unwavering
verb + faith : shake, test
faith|ful /fe I θfʊl/
1 ADJ Someone who is faithful to a person, organization, idea, or activity remains firm in their belief in them or support for them. □ [+ to ] She had been faithful to her promise to guard this secret. □ Older Americans are among this country's most faithful voters. ● N‑PLURAL The faithful are people who are faithful to someone or something. □ He spends his time making speeches at factories or gatherings of the Party faithful. ● faith|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He has since 1965 faithfully followed and supported every twist and turn of government policy.
2 ADJ Someone who is faithful to their husband, wife, or lover does not have a sexual relationship with anyone else. □ [+ to ] She insisted that she had remained faithful to her husband.
3 ADJ A faithful account, translation, or copy of something represents or reproduces the original accurately. □ [+ to ] Colin Welland's screenplay is faithful to the novel. ● faith|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ When I adapt something I translate from one meaning to another as faithfully as I can.
faith|ful|ly /fe I θfʊli/
1 CONVENTION When you start a formal or business letter with 'Dear Sir' or 'Dear Madam', you write Yours faithfully before your signature at the end. [BRIT ] in AM, use Sincerely yours 2 → see also faithful
fai th heal|er (faith healers ) N‑COUNT A faith healer is someone who believes they can treat and heal sick people using prayer or supernatural powers.
fai th heal|ing also faith-healing N‑UNCOUNT Faith healing is the treatment of a sick person by someone who believes that they are able to heal people through prayer or a supernatural power.
faith|less /fe I θləs/ ADJ If you say that someone is faithless , you mean that they are disloyal or dishonest. □ …a revenge plot against a faithless lover.
fake /fe I k/ (fakes , faking , faked )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A fake fur or a fake painting, for example, is a fur or painting that has been made to look valuable or genuine, often in order to deceive people. □ The bank manager is said to have issued fake certificates. ● N‑COUNT A fake is something that is fake. □ It is filled with famous works of art, and every one of them is a fake.
2 VERB If someone fakes something, they try to make it look valuable or genuine, although in fact it is not. □ [V n] He faked his own death last year to collect on a $1 million insurance policy. □ [V -ed] …faked evidence.
3 N‑COUNT Someone who is a fake is not what they claim to be, for example because they do not have the qualifications that they claim to have.
4 VERB If you fake a feeling, emotion, or reaction, you pretend that you are experiencing it when you are not. □ [V n] Jon faked nonchalance. □ [V n] Maturity and emotional sophistication can't be faked.
fal|con /fɔː lkən, fæ lk-/ (falcons ) N‑COUNT A falcon is a bird of prey that can be trained to hunt other birds and animals.
fal|con|er /fɔː lkənə r , fæ lk-/ (falconers ) N‑COUNT A falconer is someone who trains and uses falcons for hunting.
fal|con|ry /fɔː lkənri, fæ lk-/ N‑UNCOUNT Falconry is the skill of training falcons to hunt, and the sport of using them to hunt.
fall ◆◆◆ /fɔː l/ (falls , falling , fell , fallen )
1 VERB If someone or something falls , they move quickly downwards onto or towards the ground, by accident or because of a natural force. □ [V prep] Her father fell into the sea after a massive heart attack. □ [V ] Bombs fell in the town. □ [V out/off ] I ought to seal the boxes up. I don't want the books falling out. □ [V -ing] Twenty people were injured by falling masonry. ● N‑COUNT Fall is also a noun. □ [+ from ] The helmets are designed to withstand impacts equivalent to a fall from a bicycle.
2 VERB If a person or structure that is standing somewhere falls , they move from their upright position, so that they are then lying on the ground. □ [V ] The woman gripped the shoulders of her man to stop herself from falling. □ [V prep/adv] We watched buildings fall on top of people and pets. □ [V prep/adv] He lost his balance and fell backwards. ● N‑COUNT Fall is also a noun. □ Mrs Briscoe had a bad fall last week. ● PHRASAL VERB Fall down means the same as fall . □ [V P ] I hit him so hard he fell down. □ [V P ] Children jumped from upper floors as the building fell down around them. ● fall|en ADJ [ADJ n] □ A number of roads have been blocked by fallen trees.
3 VERB When rain or snow falls , it comes down from the sky. □ [V ] Winds reached up to 100mph in some places with an inch of rain falling within 15 minutes. ● N‑COUNT Fall is also a noun. □ [+ of ] One night there was a heavy fall of snow.
4 → see also rainfall , snowfall
5 VERB If you fall somewhere, you allow yourself to drop there in a hurried or disorganized way, often because you are very tired. □ [V prep] Totally exhausted, he tore his clothes off and fell into bed.
6 VERB If something falls , it decreases in amount, value, or strength. □ [V + by ] Output will fall by 6%. □ [V + to/from ] Her weight fell to under seven stones. □ [V amount] Between July and August, oil product prices fell 0.2 per cent. □ [V ] The number of prosecutions has stayed static and the rate of convictions has fallen. □ [V -ing] …a time of falling living standards and emerging mass unemployment. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Fall is also a noun. □ There was a sharp fall in the value of the pound.
7 VERB If a powerful or successful person falls , they suddenly lose their power or position. □ [V ] There's a danger of the government falling because it will lose its majority. □ [V + from ] When Cromwell fell from power, the king took everything. ● N‑SING [with poss] Fall is also a noun. □ Since the fall of the military dictator, the country has had a civilian government.
8 VERB If a place falls in a war or election, an enemy army or a different political party takes control of it. □ [V + to ] Paris fell to the allies in August 1944. □ [V ] With the announcement 'Paphos has fallen!' a cheer went up from the assembled soldiers. ● N‑SING Fall is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the fall of Rome.
9 VERB If someone falls in battle, they are killed. [LITERARY ] □ [V ] Another wave of troops followed the first, running past those who had fallen.
10 V‑LINK You can use fall to show that someone or something passes into another state. For example, if someone falls ill , they become ill, and if something falls into disrepair , it is then in a state of disrepair. □ [V + in/into/out of ] It is almost impossible to visit Florida without falling in love with the state. □ [V adj] I took Moira to the cinema, where she fell asleep. □ [V n] Almost without exception these women fall victim to exploitation.
11 VERB If you say that something or someone falls into a particular group or category, you mean that they belong in that group or category. □ [V + into ] The problems generally fall into two categories. □ [V + into ] Both women fall into the highest-risk group.
12 VERB If the responsibility or blame for something falls on someone, they have to take the responsibility or the blame for it. [WRITTEN ] □ [V + on ] That responsibility falls on the local office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
13 VERB If a celebration or other special event falls on a particular day or date, it happens to be on that day or date. □ [V + on ] Easter falls on April 10 next year.
14 VERB When light or shadow falls on something, it covers it. □ [V + across/over/on ] Nancy, out of the corner of her eye, saw the shadow that suddenly fell across the doorway.
15 VERB If someone's hair or a garment falls in a certain way, it hangs downwards in that way. □ [V prep/adv] …a slender boy with black hair falling across his forehead.
16 VERB If you say that someone's eyes fell on something, you mean they suddenly noticed it. [WRITTEN ] □ [V + on/upon ] As he laid the flowers on the table, his eye fell upon a note in Grace's handwriting.
17 VERB When night or darkness falls , night begins and it becomes dark. □ [V ] As darkness fell outside, they sat down to eat at long tables.
18 N‑PLURAL ; N‑COUNT You can refer to a waterfall as the falls . □ …panoramic views of the falls. □ …Niagara Falls.
19 N‑VAR Fall is the season between summer and winter when the weather becomes cooler and the leaves fall off the trees. [AM ] □ He was elected judge in the fall. □ The Supreme Court will not hear the case until next fall. □ The program was launched in the fall of 1990. □ The policy will take effect after the fall election. in BRIT, use autumn 20 → see also fallen
21 PHRASE To fall to pieces , or in British English to fall to bits , means the same as to fall apart . □ At that point the radio handset fell to pieces.
22 to fall on your feet → see foot
23 to fall foul of → see foul
24 to fall flat → see flat
25 to fall from grace → see grace
26 to fall into place → see place
27 to fall short → see short ➊
28 to fall into the trap → see trap
29 to fall by the wayside → see wayside
▸ fall apart
1 PHRASAL VERB If something falls apart , it breaks into pieces because it is old or badly made. □ [V P ] The work was never finished and bit by bit the building fell apart.
2 PHRASAL VERB If an organization or system falls apart , it becomes disorganized or unable to work effectively, or breaks up into its different parts. □ [V P ] Europe's monetary system is falling apart. □ [V P ] I've tried everything to stop our relationship falling apart.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone is falling apart , you mean that they are becoming emotionally disturbed and are unable to think calmly or to deal with the difficult or unpleasant situation that they are in. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P ] I was falling apart. I wasn't getting any sleep.
▸ fall away
1 PHRASAL VERB If something falls away from the thing it is attached to, it breaks off. □ [V P + from ] Officials say that one or two engines fell away from the plane shortly after takeoff. [Also V P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If you say that land falls away , you mean it slopes downwards from a particular point. □ [V P ] On either side of the tracks the ground fell away sharply.
3 PHRASAL VERB If the degree, amount, or size of something falls away , it decreases. □ [V P ] His coalition may hold a clear majority but this could quickly fall away.
▸ fall back
1 PHRASAL VERB If you fall back , you move backwards a short distance away from someone or something. □ [V P ] He fell back in embarrassment when he saw that Ross had no hair at all. □ [V P + from ] The congregation fell back from them slightly as they entered.
2 PHRASAL VERB If an army falls back during a battle or war, it withdraws. □ [V P ] The Prussian garrison at Charleroi was falling back.
▸ fall back on PHRASAL VERB If you fall back on something, you do it or use it after other things have failed. □ [V P P n] Unable to defeat him by logical discussion, she fell back on criticizing his speech. □ [V P P n] When necessary, instinct is the most reliable resource you can fall back on.
▸ fall behind
1 PHRASAL VERB If you fall behind , you do not make progress or move forward as fast as other people. □ [V P ] Evans had rheumatic fever, missed school and fell behind. □ [V P n] Boris is falling behind all the top players.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you fall behind with something or let it fall behind , you do not do it or produce it when you should, according to an agreement or schedule. □ [V P + with ] He faces losing his home after falling behind with the payments. □ [V P ] Thousands of people could die because the relief effort has fallen so far behind. □ [V P n] Construction work fell behind schedule.
▸ fall down
1 → see fall 2
2 PHRASAL VERB If an argument, organization, or person falls down on a particular point, they are weak or unsatisfactory on that point. □ [V P + on ] Service was outstandingly friendly and efficient, falling down on only one detail. □ [V P ] That is where his argument falls down.
▸ fall for
1 PHRASAL VERB If you fall for someone, you are strongly attracted to them and start loving them. □ [V P n] He was fantastically handsome–I just fell for him right away.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you fall for a lie or trick, you believe it or are deceived by it. □ [V P n] It was just a line to get you out here, and you fell for it!
▸ fall in PHRASAL VERB If a roof or ceiling falls in , it collapses and falls to the ground. □ [V P ] Part of my bedroom ceiling has fallen in.
▸ fall into PHRASAL VERB If you fall into conversation or a discussion with someone, usually someone you have just met, you start having a conversation or discussion with them. □ [V P n] Over breakfast at my motel, I fell into conversation with the owner of a hardware shop.
▸ fall off
1 PHRASAL VERB If something falls off , it separates from the thing to which it was attached and moves towards the ground. □ [V P ] When your exhaust falls off, you have to replace it.
2 PHRASAL VERB If the degree, amount, or size of something falls off , it decreases. □ [V P ] Unemployment is rising again and retail buying has fallen off.
3 → see also falling-off
▸ fall on PHRASAL VERB If you fall on something when it arrives or appears, you eagerly seize it or welcome it. □ [V P n] They fell on the sandwiches with alacrity.
▸ fall out
1 PHRASAL VERB If something such as a person's hair or a tooth falls out , it comes out. □ [V P ] Her hair started falling out as a result of radiation treatment.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you fall out with someone, you have an argument and stop being friendly with them. You can also say that two people fall out . □ [V P + with ] She fell out with her sister. □ [V P ] Mum and I used to fall out a lot.
3 → see also fallout
▸ fall over PHRASAL VERB If a person or object that is standing falls over , they accidentally move from their upright position so that they are then lying on the ground or on the surface supporting them. □ [V P ] I remember falling over in a playground when I was a child.
▸ fall through PHRASAL VERB If an arrangement, plan, or deal falls through , it fails to happen. □ [V P ] They wanted to turn the estate into a private golf course, but the deal fell through.
▸ fall to
1 PHRASAL VERB If a responsibility, duty, or opportunity falls to someone, it becomes their responsibility, duty, or opportunity. □ [V P n] He's been very unlucky that no chances have fallen to him. □ [V P n to-inf] It fell to me to get rid of them.
2 PHRASAL VERB If someone falls to doing something, they start doing it. [WRITTEN ] □ [V P v-ing] When she had departed, they fell to fighting among themselves. USAGE fall
Fall
is an intransitive verb. You can’t say that someone ‘falls’ something. Don’t say, for example, ‘
He yelled and fell the tray
’. You say ‘He yelled and dropped
the tray’. □
She bumped into a chair and dropped
her plate.
SYNONYMS
fall
VERB
1
drop: He felt hot tears dropping onto his fingers.
plunge: At least 50 people died when a bus plunged into a river.
plummet: The jet burst into flames and plummeted to the ground.
collapse: The roof collapsed in a roar of rock and rubble.
tumble: A small boy tumbled off a third floor fire escape.
6
decrease: Population growth is decreasing by 1.4% each year.
decline: The number of staff has declined from 217,000 to 114,000.
go down: Income from sales tax went down.
slump: Net profits slumped by 41%.
fal|la|cious /fəle I ʃəs/ ADJ If an idea, argument, or reason is fallacious , it is wrong because it is based on a fallacy. [FORMAL ] □ Their main argument is fallacious.
fal|la|cy /fæ ləsi/ (fallacies ) N‑VAR [oft N that] A fallacy is an idea which many people believe to be true, but which is in fact false because it is based on incorrect information or reasoning. □ It's a fallacy that the affluent give relatively more to charity than the less prosperous. [Also + of ]
fall|back /fɔː lbæk/ ADJ [ADJ n] Someone's fallback position is what they will do if their plans do not succeed, or if something unexpected happens. [JOURNALISM ] □ Yesterday's vote itself was a retreat from an earlier fallback position.
fall|en /fɔː lən/
1 Fallen is the past participle of fall .
2 N‑PLURAL The fallen are soldiers who have died in battle. [LITERARY ] □ Work began on establishing the cemeteries as permanent memorials to the fallen.
3 → see also fall
fa ll guy (fall guys ) N‑COUNT If someone is the fall guy , they are blamed for something which they did not do or which is not their fault. [INFORMAL ] □ He claims he was made the fall guy for the affair.
fal|lible /fæ l I b ə l/ ADJ If you say that someone or something is fallible , you mean that they are not perfect and are likely to make mistakes or to fail in what they are doing. [FORMAL ] □ They are only human and all too fallible. ● fal|libil|ity /fæ l I b I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ Errors may have been made due to human fallibility.
fa lling-o ff N‑SING If there is a falling-off of an activity, there is a decrease in its amount or intensity. □ [+ of/in ] There has been a falling-off in box office income and other earnings.
fal|lo|pian tube /fəloʊ piən tjuː b, [AM ] - tuː b/ (fallopian tubes ) N‑COUNT A woman's fallopian tubes are the two tubes in her body along which eggs pass from her ovaries to her womb.
fall|out /fɔː laʊt/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Fallout is the radiation that affects a particular place or area after a nuclear explosion has taken place. □ They were exposed to radioactive fallout during nuclear weapons tests.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to the fallout from something that has happened, you mean the unpleasant consequences that follow it. □ [+ from ] Grundy lost his job in the fallout from the incident.
fal|low /fæ loʊ/
1 ADJ Fallow land has been dug or ploughed but nothing has been planted in it, especially so that its quality or strength has a chance to improve. □ The fields lay fallow.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A fallow period is a time when very little is being achieved. □ There followed something of a fallow period professionally, until a job came up in the summer.
fa l|low deer (fallow deer ) N‑COUNT A fallow deer is a small deer that has a reddish coat which develops white spots in summer.
false ◆◇◇ /fɔː ls/
1 ADJ If something is false , it is incorrect, untrue, or mistaken. □ It was quite clear the President was being given false information by those around him. □ You do not know whether what you're told is true or false. □ His sister said he had deliberately given the hospital a false name and address. ● false|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …a man who is falsely accused of a crime.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use false to describe objects which are artificial but which are intended to look like the real thing or to be used instead of the real thing. □ …a set of false teeth.
3 ADJ If you describe a person or their behaviour as false , you are criticizing them for being insincere or for hiding their real feelings. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ 'Thank you,' she said with false enthusiasm. ● false|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV after v] □ He was falsely jovial, with his booming, mirthless laugh. □ 'This food is divine,' they murmur, falsely.
fa lse ala rm (false alarms ) N‑COUNT When you think something dangerous is about to happen, but then discover that you were mistaken, you can say that it was a false alarm . □ …a bomb threat that turned out to be a false alarm.
false|hood /fɔː lshʊd/ (falsehoods )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Falsehood is the quality or fact of being untrue or of being a lie. □ She called the verdict a victory of truth over falsehood.
2 N‑COUNT A falsehood is a lie. [FORMAL ] □ He accused them of knowingly spreading falsehoods about him.
fa lse mo ve PHRASE You use one false move to introduce the very bad or serious consequences which will result if someone makes a mistake, even a very small one. □ One false move and I knew Sarah would be dead.
fa lse po si|tive (false positives ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A false positive is a mistaken result of a scientific test. For example, if the result of a pregnancy test is a false positive, it indicates that a woman is pregnant when she is not. □ …a high rate of false positive results.
fa lse sta rt (false starts )
1 N‑COUNT A false start is an attempt to start something, such as a speech, project, or plan, which fails because you were not properly prepared or ready to begin. □ Any economic reform, he said, faced false starts and mistakes.
2 N‑COUNT If there is a false start at the beginning of a race, one of the competitors moves before the person who starts the race has given the signal.
fal|set|to /fɔːlse toʊ/ (falsettos ) N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft in N , N n] If a man sings or speaks in a falsetto , his voice is high-pitched, and higher than a man's normal voice. □ He sang to himself in a soft falsetto. □ …a falsetto voice.
fal|si|fy /fɔː ls I fa I / (falsifies , falsifying , falsified ) VERB If someone falsifies something, they change it or add untrue details to it in order to deceive people. □ [V n] The charges against him include fraud, bribery, and falsifying business records. ● fal|si|fi|ca|tion /fɔː ls I f I ke I ʃ ə n/ (falsifications ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] …recent concern about the falsification of evidence in court.
fal|ter /fɔː ltə r / (falters , faltering , faltered )
1 VERB If something falters , it loses power or strength in an uneven way, or no longer makes much progress. □ [V ] Normal life is at a standstill, and the economy is faltering.
2 VERB If you falter , you lose your confidence and stop doing something or start making mistakes. □ [V ] I have not faltered in my quest for a new future.
fal|ter|ing /fɔː ltər I ŋ/ ADJ A faltering attempt, effort, or movement is uncertain because the person doing it is nervous or weak, or does not really know what to do. □ Leaning on Jon, Michael took faltering steps to the bathroom.
fame /fe I m/
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you achieve fame , you become very well-known. □ The film earned him international fame. □ …her rise to fame and fortune as a dramatist.
2 claim to fame → see claim
famed /fe I md/ ADJ If people, places, or things are famed for a particular thing, they are very well known for it. □ [+ for ] The city is famed for its outdoor restaurants. □ …the famed Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado.
fa|mil|ial /fəm I liəl/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Familial means relating to families in general, or typical of a family. [FORMAL ] □ Gerard also took on wider familial responsibilities.
fa|mili|ar ◆◇◇ /fəm I liə r /
1 ADJ If someone or something is familiar to you, you recognize them or know them well. □ [+ to ] He talked of other cultures as if they were more familiar to him than his own. □ They are already familiar faces on our TV screens. □ …the familiar names of long-established local firms. ● fa|mili|ar|ity /fəm I liæ r I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ Tony was unnerved by the uncanny familiarity of her face.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ with n] If you are familiar with something, you know or understand it well. □ Lesinko is quite familiar with Central Television. He worked there for 25 years. ● fa|mili|ar|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ with ] The enemy would always have the advantage of familiarity with the rugged terrain.
3 ADJ If someone you do not know well behaves in a familiar way towards you, they treat you very informally in a way that you might find offensive. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The driver of that taxi-cab seemed to me familiar to the point of impertinence. ● fa|mili|ar|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ …the easy familiarity with which her host greeted the head waiter. ● fa|mili|ar|ly ADV □ 'Gerald, isn't it?' I began familiarly.
fa|mili|ar|ity /fəm I liæ r I ti/
1 PHRASE Familiarity is used especially in the expression familiarity breeds contempt to say that if you know a person or situation very well, you can easily lose respect for that person or become careless in that situation.
2 → see also familiar
fa|mil|iar|ize /fəm I liəra I z/ (familiarizes , familiarizing , familiarized ) in BRIT, also use familiarise VERB If you familiarize yourself with something, or if someone familiarizes you with it, you learn about it and start to understand it. □ [V pron-refl + with ] I was expected to familiarise myself with the keyboard. □ [V n + with ] The goal of the experiment was to familiarize the people with the new laws.
fa|mili|ar|ly /fəm I ljə r li/ PHRASE If you say that something or someone is familiarly known as a particular thing or familiarly called a particular thing, you are giving the name that people use informally to refer to it. □ …Ann Hamilton's father, familiarly known as 'Dink'.
fami|ly ◆◆◆ /fæ m I li/ (families )
1 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] A family is a group of people who are related to each other, especially parents and their children. □ [+ of ] There's room in there for a family of five. □ His family are completely behind him, whatever he decides. □ To him the family is the core of society. □ Does he have any family?
2 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] When people talk about a family , they sometimes mean children. □ They decided to start a family. □ …couples with large families.
3 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] When people talk about their family , they sometimes mean their ancestors. □ Her family came to Los Angeles at the turn of the century. □ …the history of mental illness in the family.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use family to describe things that belong to a particular family. □ He returned to the family home. □ I was working in the family business.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use family to describe things that are designed to be used or enjoyed by both parents and children. □ It had been designed as a family house. □ A wedding is a family event.
6 N‑COUNT A family of animals or plants is a group of related species. □ …foods in the cabbage family, such as Brussels sprouts. COLLOCATIONS family NOUN 1
adjective + family : extended, immediate; nuclear, one-parent, single-parent; dysfunctional, happy, ordinary
fa mi|ly do c|tor (family doctors ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] A family doctor is a doctor who does not specialize in any particular area of medicine, but who has a medical practice in which he or she treats all types of illness. [BRIT ]
fa mi|ly man (family men )
1 N‑COUNT A family man is a man who is very fond of his partner and children and likes to spend a lot of time with them. □ I'm very much a family man and need to be close to those I love.
2 N‑COUNT A family man is a man who has a partner and children. □ I am a family man with a mortgage.
fa mi|ly name (family names ) N‑COUNT Your family name is your surname.
fa mi|ly pla n|ning N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Family planning is the practice of using contraception to control the number of children you have. □ …a family planning clinic.
fa mi|ly tree (family trees ) N‑COUNT A family tree is a chart that shows all the people in a family over many generations and their relationship to one another.
fam|ine /fæ m I n/ (famines ) N‑VAR Famine is a situation in which large numbers of people have little or no food, and many of them die. □ Thousands of refugees are trapped by war, drought and famine. □ The civil war is obstructing distribution of famine relief by aid agencies.
fam|ished /fæ m I ʃt/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are famished , you are very hungry. [INFORMAL ] □ Isn't dinner ready? I'm famished.
fa|mous ◆◆◇ /fe I məs/ ADJ Someone or something that is famous is very well known. □ [+ for ] New Orleans is famous for its cuisine. □ …England's most famous landscape artist, John Constable.
fa|mous|ly /fe I məsli/
1 ADV [usu ADV adj, oft ADV with v] You use famously to refer to a fact that is well known, usually because it is remarkable or extreme. □ Authors are famously ignorant about the realities of publishing.
2 ADV [ADV after v] If you get on or get along famously with someone, you are very friendly with each other and enjoy meeting and being together. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ] □ I got on famously with Leary from the first time we met.
fan ◆◆◇ /fæ n/ (fans , fanning , fanned )
1 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] If you are a fan of someone or something, especially a famous person or a sport, you like them very much and are very interested in them. □ As a boy he was a Manchester United fan. □ [+ of ] I am a great fan of rave music.
2 N‑COUNT A fan is a flat object that you hold in your hand and wave in order to move the air and make yourself feel cooler.
3 VERB If you fan yourself or your face when you are hot, you wave a fan or other flat object in order to make yourself feel cooler. □ [V pron-refl] She would have to wait in the truck, fanning herself with a piece of cardboard. □ [V n] Mo kept bringing me out refreshments and fanning me as it was that hot.
4 N‑COUNT A fan is a piece of electrical or mechanical equipment with blades that go round and round. It keeps a room or machine cool or gets rid of unpleasant smells. □ He cools himself in front of an electric fan. □ …an extractor fan.
5 VERB If you fan a fire, you wave something flat next to it in order to make it burn more strongly. If a wind fans a fire, it blows on it and makes it burn more strongly. □ [V n] During the afternoon, hot winds fan the flames.
6 VERB If someone fans an emotion such as fear, hatred, or passion, they deliberately do things to make people feel the emotion more strongly. □ [V n] He said students were fanning social unrest with their violent protests.
7 to fan the flames → see flame
8 the shit hit the fan → see shit
▸ fan out PHRASAL VERB If a group of people or things fan out , they move forwards away from a particular point in different directions. □ [V P ] The main body of British, American, and French troops had fanned out to the west. COLLOCATIONS fan NOUN 1
noun + fan : cricket, football, rugby, sports; music
adjective + fan : big, great, huge; diehard, keen, loyal
fa|nat|ic /fənæ t I k/ (fanatics )
1 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a fanatic , you disapprove of them because you consider their behaviour or opinions to be very extreme, for example in the way they support particular religious or political ideas. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I am not a religious fanatic but I am a Christian.
2 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] If you say that someone is a fanatic , you mean that they are very enthusiastic about a particular activity, sport, or way of life. □ Both Rod and Phil are football fanatics.
3 ADJ Fanatic means the same as fanatical .
fa|nati|cal /fənæ t I k ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone as fanatical , you disapprove of them because you consider their behaviour or opinions to be very extreme. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ As a boy he was a fanatical patriot.
fa|nati|cism /fənæ t I s I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Fanaticism is fanatical behaviour or the quality of being fanatical. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a protest against intolerance and religious fanaticism.
fa n base also fanbase (fan bases ) N‑COUNT The fan base of someone such as a pop star or a pop group is their fans, considered as a whole. □ His fan base is mostly middle-aged ladies.
fa n belt (fan belts ) N‑COUNT In a car engine, the fan belt is the belt that drives the fan which keeps the engine cool.
fan|boy /fæ nbɔ I / (fanboys ) N‑COUNT A fanboy is a boy or a young man who is very enthusiastic about and interested in a particular thing such as a film, entertainer, or type of music. [INFORMAL ] □ Comic book fanboys will love this.
fan|ci|er /fæ nsiə r / (fanciers )
1 N‑COUNT An animal or plant fancier is a person who breeds animals or plants of a particular type or who is very interested in them. □ …pigeon fanciers.
2 → see also fancy ➋
fan|ci|ful /fæ ns I fʊl/ ADJ If you describe an idea as fanciful , you disapprove of it because you think it comes from someone's imagination, and is therefore unrealistic or unlikely to be true. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …fanciful ideas about Martian life. □ Designing silicon chips to mimic human organs sounds fanciful.
fa n club (fan clubs ) N‑COUNT A fan club is an organized group of people who all admire the same person or thing, for example a pop singer or pop group. Members of the fan club receive information and can take part in activities such as trips to concerts.
fancy
➊ WANTING, LIKING, OR THINKING
➋ ELABORATE OR EXPENSIVE
➊ fan|cy ◆◇◇ /fæ nsi/ (fancies , fancying , fancied )
1 VERB If you fancy something, you want to have it or to do it. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V v-ing] What do you fancy doing, anyway? □ [V n] I just fancied a drink.
2 N‑COUNT A fancy is a liking or desire for someone or something, especially one that does not last long. □ She did not suspect that his interest was just a passing fancy.
3 VERB If you fancy someone, you feel attracted to them, especially in a sexual way. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] I think he thinks I fancy him or something.
4 VERB If you fancy yourself as a particular kind of person or fancy yourself doing a particular thing, you like the idea of being that kind of person or doing that thing. □ [V pron-refl + as ] So you fancy yourself as the boss someday? □ [V pron-refl v-ing] I didn't fancy myself wearing a kilt.
5 VERB If you say that someone fancies themselves as a particular kind of person, you mean that they think, often wrongly, that they have the good qualities which that kind of person has. □ [V pron-refl n] She fancies herself a bohemian. □ [V pron-refl] …a flighty young woman who really fancies herself.
6 VERB If you say that you fancy a particular competitor or team in a competition, you think they will win. [BRIT ] □ [V n] You have to fancy Bath because they are the most consistent team in England. □ [V n to-inf] I fancy England to win through.
7 EXCLAM You say ' fancy ' or ' fancy that ' when you want to express surprise or disapproval. [FEELINGS ] □ It was very tasteless. Fancy talking like that so soon after his death. □ 'Fancy that!' smiled Conti.
8 PHRASE If you take a fancy to someone or something, you start liking them, usually for no understandable reason. □ Sylvia took quite a fancy to him.
9 PHRASE If something takes your fancy or tickles your fancy , you like it a lot when you see it or think of it. □ She makes her own clothes, copying any fashion which takes her fancy.
➋ fan|cy /fæ nsi/ (fancier , fanciest )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as fancy , you mean that it is special, unusual, or elaborate, for example because it has a lot of decoration. □ It was packaged in a fancy plastic case with attractive graphics. □ …fancy jewellery.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as fancy , you mean that it is very expensive or of very high quality, and you often dislike it because of this. [INFORMAL ] □ …a fancy private school.
fa n|cy dre ss N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Fancy dress is clothing that you wear for a party at which everyone tries to look like a famous person or a person from a story, from history, or from a particular profession. □ Guests were told to come in fancy dress.
fa ncy-free footloose and fancy-free → see footloose
fan|dan|go /fændæ ŋgoʊ/ (fandangos ) N‑COUNT A fandango is a Spanish dance in which two people dance very close together.
fan|fare /fæ nfeə r / (fanfares )
1 N‑COUNT A fanfare is a short, loud tune played on trumpets or other similar instruments to announce a special event. □ The ceremony opened with a fanfare of trumpets.
2 N‑VAR If something happens with a fanfare , it happens or is announced with a lot of publicity. If something happens without a fanfare , it happens without a lot of fuss or publicity. [JOURNALISM ] □ [+ of ] The company was privatised with a fanfare of publicity.
fang /fæ ŋ/ (fangs ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Fangs are the two long, sharp, upper teeth that some animals have. □ The cobra sank its venomous fangs into his hand.
fan|girl /fæ ngɜː r l/ (fangirls ) N‑COUNT A fangirl is a girl or young woman who is very enthusiastic about and interested in a particular thing such as a film, entertainer, or type of music. [INFORMAL ] □ This is a site for fangirls.
fan|light /fæ nla I t/ (fanlights ) N‑COUNT A fanlight is a small window over a door or above another window.
fan|ny /fæ ni/ (fannies )
1 N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Someone's fanny is their bottom. [AM , INFORMAL , RUDE ]
2 N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] A woman's fanny is her genitals. [BRIT , INFORMAL , VERY RUDE ]
fan|ta|sia /fænte I ziə, [AM ] -ʒə/ (fantasias ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A fantasia is a piece of music that is not written in a traditional or fixed form. [TECHNICAL ]
fan|ta|sist /fæ ntəz I st/ (fantasists ) N‑COUNT A fantasist is someone who constantly tells lies about their life and achievements in order to make them sound more exciting than they really are. □ Singleton was a fantasist who claimed to have a karate blackbelt.
fan|ta|size /fæ ntəsa I z/ (fantasizes , fantasizing , fantasized ) in BRIT, also use fantasise 1 VERB If you fantasize about an event or situation that you would like to happen, you give yourself pleasure by imagining that it is happening, although it is untrue or unlikely to happen. □ [V + about ] I fantasised about writing music. □ [V that] Her husband died in 1967, although she fantasised that he was still alive. [Also V -ing]
2 VERB If someone fantasizes , they try to excite themselves sexually by imagining a particular person or situation. □ [V ] Research has shown that men are likely to fantasize far more frequently than women. □ [V + about/over ] I used to fantasize about her throughout my teens. [Also V n]
fan|tas|tic ◆◇◇ /fæntæ st I k/ The form fantastical is also used for meaning 3 . 1 ADJ If you say that something is fantastic , you are emphasizing that you think it is very good or that you like it a lot. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ I have a fantastic social life. □ I thought she was fantastic.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A fantastic amount or quantity is an extremely large one. □ …fantastic amounts of money. ● fan|tas|ti|cal|ly /fæntæ st I kli/ ADV [ADV adj/adv] □ …a fantastically expensive restaurant.
3 ADJ You describe something as fantastic or fantastical when it seems strange and wonderful or unlikely. □ Unlikely and fantastic legends grew up around a great many figures, both real and fictitious. □ The book has many fantastical aspects.
fan|ta|sy ◆◇◇ /fæ ntəzi/ (fantasies ) also phantasy
1 N‑COUNT A fantasy is a pleasant situation or event that you think about and that you want to happen, especially one that is unlikely to happen. □ …fantasies of romance and true love.
2 N‑VAR You can refer to a story or situation that someone creates from their imagination and that is not based on reality as fantasy . □ The film is more of an ironic fantasy than a horror story.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Fantasy is the activity of imagining things. □ …a world of imagination, passion, fantasy, reflection.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] Fantasy football, baseball, or another sport is a game in which players choose an imaginary team and score points based on the actual performances of the members of their team in real games. □ Haskins said he has been playing fantasy baseball for the past five years.
fan|zine /fæ nziːn/ (fanzines ) N‑COUNT A fanzine is a magazine for people who are fans of, for example, a particular pop group or football team. Fanzines are written by people who are fans themselves, rather than by professional journalists.
FAO You use FAO when addressing a letter or parcel to a particular person. FAO is a written abbreviation for 'for the attention of'. □ Send the coupon with your deposit to House Beautiful Weekend, FAO Heidi Ross.
FAQ /fæ k/ (FAQs ) N‑PLURAL FAQ is used especially on websites to refer to questions about computers and the internet. FAQ is an abbreviation for 'frequently asked questions'.
far ◆◆◆ /fɑː r / Far has two comparatives, farther and further , and two superlatives, farthest and furthest . Farther and farthest are used mainly in sense 1 , and are dealt with here. Further and furthest are dealt with in separate entries. 1 ADV [ADV after v, v-link ADV ] If one place, thing, or person is far away from another, there is a great distance between them. □ I know a nice little Italian restaurant not far from here. □ They came from as far away as Florida. □ Both of my sisters moved even farther away from home. □ They lay in the cliff top grass with the sea stretching out far below. □ Is it far?
2 ADV If you ask how far a place is, you are asking what distance it is from you or from another place. If you ask how far someone went, you are asking what distance they travelled, or what place they reached. □ How far is Pawtucket from Providence? □ How far is it to Malcy? □ How far can you throw? □ You can only judge how high something is when you know how far away it is. □ She followed the tracks as far as the road.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] When there are two things of the same kind in a place, the far one is the one that is a greater distance from you. □ He had wandered to the far end of the room.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use far to refer to the part of an area or object that is the greatest distance from the centre in a particular direction. For example, the far north of a country is the part of it that is the greatest distance to the north. □ I wrote the date at the far left of the blackboard.
5 ADV [ADV after v, v-link ADV ] A time or event that is far away in the future or the past is a long time from the present or from a particular point in time. □ …hidden conflicts whose roots lie far back in time. □ I can't see any farther than the next six months. □ The first day of term, which seemed so far away at the start of the summer holidays, is looming.
6 ADV [ADV with v, usu how ADV ] You can use far to talk about the extent or degree to which something happens or is true. □ How far did the film tell the truth about the inventor?
7 ADV [ADV with v, oft how ADV ] You can talk about how far someone or something gets to describe the progress that they make. □ Discussions never progressed very far. □ Think of how far we have come in a little time. □ I don't think Mr Cavanagh would get far with that trick.
8 ADV [ADV with v] You can talk about how far a person or action goes to describe the degree to which someone's behaviour or actions are extreme. □ It's still not clear how far the government will go to implement its own plans. □ This time he's gone too far.
9 ADV You can use far to mean 'very much' when you are comparing two things and emphasizing the difference between them. For example, you can say that something is far better or far worse than something else to indicate that it is very much better or worse. You can also say that something is, for example, far too big to indicate that it is very much too big. [EMPHASIS ] □ Women who eat plenty of fresh vegetables are far less likely to suffer anxiety or depression. □ The police say the response has been far better than expected. □ These trials are simply taking far too long.
10 ADJ [ADJ n] You can describe people with extreme left-wing or right-wing political views as the far left or the far right. □ Anti-racist campaigners are urging the Government to ban all far-Right groups.
11 ADV You can use far in expressions like ' as far as I know ' and ' so far as I remember ' to indicate that you are not absolutely sure of the statement you are about to make or have just made, and you may be wrong. [VAGUENESS ] □ It only lasted a couple of years, as far as I know. □ So far as I am aware, no proper investigation has ever been carried out into the subject.
12 PHRASE You use the expression far and away when you are comparing something or someone with others of the same kind, in order to emphasize how great the difference is between them. For example, you can say that something is far and away the best to indicate that it is definitely the best. [EMPHASIS ] □ He's still far and away the best we have.
13 PHRASE You use the expression by far when you are comparing something or someone with others of the same kind, in order to emphasize how great the difference is between them. For example, you can say that something is by far the best or the best by far to indicate that it is definitely the best. [EMPHASIS ] □ By far the most important issue for them is unemployment. □ It was better by far to be clear-headed.
14 PHRASE If you say that something is far from a particular thing or far from being the case, you are emphasizing that it is not that particular thing or not at all the case, especially when people expect or assume that it is. [EMPHASIS ] □ It was obvious that much of what they recorded was far from the truth. □ Far from being relaxed, we both felt so uncomfortable we hardly spoke. □ It is still far from clear exactly what the Thais intend to do.
15 PHRASE You can use the expression ' far from it ' to emphasize a negative statement that you have just made. [EMPHASIS ] □ Being dyslexic does not mean that one is unintelligent. Far from it.
16 PHRASE You say far be it from me to disagree, or far be it from me to criticize, when you are disagreeing or criticizing and you want to appear less hostile. □ Far be it from me to criticise, but shouldn't their mother take a share of the blame?
17 PHRASE If you say that something is good as far as it goes or true so far as it goes , you mean that it is good or true only to a limited extent. □ Tax relief is fine as far as it goes but it will not get the economy moving again.
18 PHRASE If you say that someone will go far , you mean that they will be very successful in their career. □ I was very impressed with the talent of this singer. He will go far.
19 PHRASE Someone or something that is far gone is in such a bad state or condition that not much can be done to help or improve them. □ The pain had stopped, but by then he was too far gone to find any comfort in that. □ Many of the properties are in a desperate state but none is too far gone to save.
20 PHRASE Someone or something that is not far wrong , not far out , or not far off is almost correct or almost accurate. □ I hadn't been far wrong in my estimate. □ Robertson is not far off her target.
21 PHRASE You can use the expression ' as far as I can see ' when you are about to state your opinion of a situation, or have just stated it, to indicate that it is your personal opinion. □ As far as I can see there are only two reasons for such an action.
22 PHRASE If you say that something only goes so far or can only go so far , you mean that its extent, effect, or influence is limited. □ Their loyalty only went so far. □ The church can only go so far in secular matters.
23 PHRASE If you tell or ask someone what has happened so far , you are telling or asking them what has happened up until the present point in a situation or story, and often implying that something different might happen later. □ It's been quiet so far. □ So far, they have met with no success.
24 PHRASE You can say so far so good to express satisfaction with the way that a situation or activity is progressing, developing, or happening. [FEELINGS ]
25 PHRASE If people come from far and wide , they come from a large number of places, some of them far away. If things spread far and wide , they spread over a very large area or distance. [WRITTEN ] □ Volunteers came from far and wide. □ His fame spread far and wide.
26 PHRASE If you say that someone won't go far wrong or can't go far wrong with a particular thing or course of action, you mean that it is likely to be successful or satisfactory. □ If you remember these three golden rules you won't go far wrong.
27 as far as I am concerned → see concern
28 a far cry from → see cry
29 insofar as
30 near and far → see near
far|away /fɑː rəwe I / also far-away ADJ [ADJ n] A faraway place is a long distance from you or from a particular place. □ They have just returned from faraway places with wonderful stories to tell.
farce /fɑː r s/ (farces )
1 N‑COUNT A farce is a humorous play in which the characters become involved in complicated and unlikely situations.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Farce is the style of acting and writing that is typical of farces. □ The plot often borders on farce.
3 N‑SING If you describe a situation or event as a farce , you mean that it is so disorganized or ridiculous that you cannot take it seriously. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The elections have been reduced to a farce.
far|ci|cal /fɑː r s I k ə l/ ADJ If you describe a situation or event as farcical , you mean that it is so silly or extreme that you are unable to take it seriously. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a farcical nine months' jail sentence imposed yesterday on a killer.
fare ◆◇◇ /feə r / (fares , faring , fared )
1 N‑COUNT A fare is the money that you pay for a journey that you make, for example, in a bus, train, or taxi. □ He could barely afford the railway fare. □ …taxi fares.
2 N‑UNCOUNT The fare at a restaurant or café is the type of food that is served there. [WRITTEN ] □ The fare has much improved since Hugh has taken charge of the kitchen. □ …traditional Portuguese fare in a traditional setting.
3 VERB If you say that someone or something fares well or badly, you are referring to the degree of success they achieve in a particular situation or activity. □ [V adv] It is unlikely that the marine industry will fare any better in September.
Fa r E a st N‑PROPER The Far East is used to refer to all the countries of Eastern Asia, including China, Japan, North and South Korea, and Indochina.
fare|well /feə r we l/ (farewells ) CONVENTION Farewell means the same as goodbye . [LITERARY , OLD-FASHIONED ] ● N‑COUNT Farewell is also a noun. □ They said their farewells there at the cafe.
fa r-fe tched ADJ If you describe a story or idea as far-fetched , you are criticizing it because you think it is unlikely to be true or practical. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The storyline was too far-fetched and none of the actors was particularly good.
fa r-flu ng (farther-flung , farthest-flung ) ADJ [ADJ n] Far-flung places are a very long distance away from where you are or from important places. □ Ferries are a lifeline to the far-flung corners of Scotland. □ …one of the farthest-flung outposts of the old Roman Empire.
farm ◆◆◇ /fɑː r m/ (farms , farming , farmed )
1 N‑COUNT A farm is an area of land, together with the buildings on it, that is used for growing crops or raising animals, usually in order to sell them. □ Farms in France are much smaller than those in the United States or even Britain.
2 VERB If you farm an area of land, you grow crops or keep animals on it. □ [V n] They farmed some of the best land in Scotland. □ [V ] He has lived and farmed in the area for 46 years.
3 N‑COUNT [n N ] A mink farm or a fish farm , for example, is a place where a particular kind of animal or fish is bred and kept in large quantities in order to be sold. □ …trout fresh from a local trout farm. COLLOCATIONS farm NOUN 2
noun + farm : dairy, pig, sheep
adjective + farm : organic VERB 2
farm + adverb : intensively, organically, sustainably
farm|er ◆◆◇ /fɑː r mə r / (farmers ) N‑COUNT A farmer is a person who owns or manages a farm.
fa rm|ers' ma r|ket (farmers' markets ) also farmers market N‑COUNT A farmers' market is a market where food growers sell their produce directly to the public.
farm|hand /fɑː r mhænd/ (farmhands ) also farm hand N‑COUNT A farmhand is a person who is employed to work on a farm.
farm|house /fɑː r mhaʊs/ (farmhouses ) also farm house N‑COUNT A farmhouse is the main house on a farm, usually where the farmer lives.
farm|ing /fɑː r m I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Farming is the activity of growing crops or keeping animals on a farm.
farm|land /fɑː r mlænd/ (farmlands ) N‑UNCOUNT Farmland is land which is farmed, or which is suitable for farming.
farm|yard /fɑː r mjɑː r d/ (farmyards ) N‑COUNT On a farm, the farmyard is an area of land near the farmhouse which is enclosed by walls or buildings.
fa r o ff (further off , furthest off )
1 ADJ If you describe a moment in time as far off , you mean that it is a long time from the present, either in the past or the future. □ Back in those far off days, his argument was credible. □ Agreement is even further off.
2 ADJ If you describe something as far off , you mean that it is a long distance from you or from a particular place. □ …stars in far-off galaxies. ● ADV [ADV after v] Far off is also an adverb. □ The band was playing far off in their blue and yellow uniforms.
fa r ou t also far-out ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe something as far out , you mean that it is very strange or extreme. [INFORMAL ] □ Fantasies cannot harm you, no matter how bizarre or far out they are.
far|ra|go /fərɑː goʊ/ (farragoes or farragos ) N‑COUNT If you describe something as a farrago , you are critical of it because you think it is a confused mixture of different types of things. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] His own books and memoirs are a farrago of half-truth and outright invention.
fa r-rea ching ADJ If you describe actions, events, or changes as far-reaching , you mean that they have a very great influence and affect a great number of things. □ The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented.
far|ri|er /fæ riə r / (farriers ) N‑COUNT A farrier is a person who fits horseshoes onto horses.
fa r-si ghted
1 ADJ If you describe someone as far-sighted , you admire them because they understand what is likely to happen in the future, and therefore make wise decisions and plans. [APPROVAL ] □ Far-sighted economists have told us that in the future we will work less, not more.
2 ADJ Far-sighted people cannot see things clearly that are close to them, and therefore need to wear glasses. [AM ] in BRIT, usually use long-sighted
fart /fɑː r t/ (farts , farting , farted ) VERB If someone farts , air is forced out of their body through their anus. [INFORMAL , RUDE ] □ [V ] He'd been farting all night. ● N‑COUNT Fart is also a noun. □ …a loud fart.
far|ther /fɑː r ðə r / Farther is a comparative form of far .
far|thest /fɑː r ð I st/ Farthest is a superlative form of far .
far|thing /fɑː r ð I ŋ/ (farthings ) N‑COUNT A farthing was a small British coin which was worth a quarter of an old penny.
fas|cia /fe I ʃə/ (fascias )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] In a car, the fascia is the part surrounding the instruments and dials. [BRIT , FORMAL ] in AM, use instrument panel 2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The fascia on a shop front is the flat surface above the shop window, on which the name of the shop is written. [BRIT ]
3 N‑COUNT The fascia of a mobile phone is its detachable cover.
fas|ci|nate /fæ s I ne I t/ (fascinates , fascinating , fascinated ) VERB If something fascinates you, it interests and delights you so much that your thoughts tend to concentrate on it. □ [V n] Politics fascinated Franklin's father. □ [V n] She fascinated him, both on and off stage.
fas|ci|nat|ed /fæ s I ne I t I d/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are fascinated by something, you find it very interesting and attractive, and your thoughts tend to concentrate on it. □ I sat on the stairs and watched, fascinated. □ [+ by ] A new generation of scientists became fascinated by dinosaurs. [Also + with ]
fas|ci|nat|ing /fæ s I ne I t I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe something as fascinating , you find it very interesting and attractive, and your thoughts tend to concentrate on it. □ Madagascar is the most fascinating place I have ever been to. □ Her perceptions and intuitions about human nature were fascinating.
fas|ci|na|tion /fæ s I ne I ʃ ə n/ (fascinations )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Fascination is the state of being greatly interested in or delighted by something. □ [+ with/of/for ] I've had a lifelong fascination with the sea and with small boats.
2 N‑COUNT A fascination is something that fascinates people. □ …a series focusing on the fascinations of the British Museum.
fas|ci|nat|or /fæ s I ne I tə r / (fascinators ) N‑COUNT A fascinator is a type of lightweight hat worn by women on formal occasions.
fas|cism /fæ ʃ I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Fascism is a set of right-wing political beliefs that includes strong control of society and the economy by the state, a powerful role for the armed forces, and the stopping of political opposition.
fas|cist /fæ ʃ I st/ (fascists )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use fascist to describe organizations, ideas, or systems which follow the principles of fascism. □ …the threatening nature of fascist ideology. ● N‑COUNT A fascist is someone who has fascist views.
2 N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a fascist , you are expressing disapproval of the fact that they have extreme views on something, and do not tolerate alternative views. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …health fascists who would meddle in their lives and regulate their calorie intake.
fash|ion ◆◆◇ /fæ ʃ ə n/ (fashions , fashioning , fashioned )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Fashion is the area of activity that involves styles of clothing and appearance. □ There are 20 full-colour pages of fashion for men. □ The fashion world does not mind what the real world thinks.
2 N‑COUNT A fashion is a style of clothing or a way of behaving that is popular at a particular time. □ [+ for ] Queen Mary started the fashion for blue and white china in England. □ [+ in ] He stayed at the top through all changes and fashions in pop music.
3 N‑SING If you do something in a particular fashion or after a particular fashion , you do it in that way. □ There is another drug called DHE that works in a similar fashion. □ It is happening in this fashion because of the obstinacy of one woman.
4 → see also parrot-fashion
5 VERB If you fashion an object or a work of art, you make it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Stone Age settlers fashioned necklaces from sheep's teeth.
6 → see also old-fashioned
7 PHRASE If you say that something was done after a fashion , you mean that it was done, but not very well. □ She was educated–after a fashion–at home. □ He knew the way, after a fashion.
8 PHRASE If something is in fashion , it is popular and approved of at a particular time. If it is out of fashion , it is not popular or approved of. □ That sort of house is back in fashion. □ Jeans go in and out of fashion, but I always love them.
fash|ion|able /fæ ʃənəb ə l/ ADJ Something or someone that is fashionable is popular or approved of at a particular time. □ It became fashionable to eat certain kinds of fish. □ Chelsea Harbour is renowned for its fashionable restaurants. ● fash|ion|ably ADV [usu ADV adj/-ed] □ …women who are perfectly made up and fashionably dressed.
fa sh|ion vic|tim (fashion victims ) N‑COUNT A fashion victim is someone who thinks that being fashionable is more important than looking nice, and as a result often wears very fashionable clothes that do not suit them or that make them look silly. [DISAPPROVAL ]
fast ◆◆◇ /fɑː st, fæ st/ (faster , fastest , fasts , fasting , fasted )
1 ADJ Fast means happening, moving, or doing something at great speed. You also use fast in questions or statements about speed. □ …fast cars with flashing lights and sirens. □ Brindley was known as a very, very fast driver. □ The party aims to attract votes from the business and professional communities, which want a faster pace of political reform. □ The only question is how fast the process will be. ● ADV [ADV with v] Fast is also an adverb. □ They work terrifically fast. □ It would be nice to go faster and break the world record. □ Barnes also knows that he is fast running out of time. □ How fast were you driving? □ How fast would the disease develop?
2 ADV [ADV after v] You use fast to say that something happens without any delay. □ When you've got a crisis like this you need professional help–fast! □ We'd appreciate your leaving as fast as possible. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Fast is also an adjective. □ That would be an astonishingly fast action on the part of the Congress.
3 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a watch or clock is fast , it is showing a time that is later than the real time. □ That clock's an hour fast.
4 ADV [ADV after v] If you hold something fast , you hold it tightly and firmly. If something is stuck fast , it is stuck very firmly and cannot move. □ She climbed the staircase cautiously, holding fast to the rail. □ The tanker is stuck fast on the rocks.
5 ADV [ADV after v] If you hold fast to a principle or idea, or if you stand fast , you do not change your mind about it, even though people are trying to persuade you to. □ We can only try to hold fast to the age-old values of honesty, decency and concern for others. □ He told supporters to stand fast over the next few vital days.
6 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If colours or dyes are fast , they do not come out of the fabrics they are used on when they get wet. □ The fabric was ironed to make the colours fast.
7 VERB If you fast , you eat no food for a period of time, usually for either religious or medical reasons, or as a protest. □ [V ] I fasted for a day and half and asked God to help me. ● N‑COUNT Fast is also a noun. □ The fast is broken at sunset, traditionally with dates and water. ● fast|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ …the Muslim holy month of fasting and prayer.
8 PHRASE Someone who is fast asleep is completely asleep. □ When he went upstairs five minutes later, she was fast asleep.
9 to make a fast buck → see buck
fa st-breeder re|a c|tor (fast-breeder reactors ) N‑COUNT A fast-breeder reactor or a fast-breeder is a kind of nuclear reactor that produces more plutonium than it uses.
fas|ten /fɑː s ə n, fæ s-/ (fastens , fastening , fastened )
1 VERB When you fasten something, you close it by means of buttons or a strap, or some other device. If something fastens with buttons or straps, you can close it in this way. □ [V n] She got quickly into her Mini and fastened the seat-belt. □ [be V -ed prep] Her long fair hair was fastened at the nape of her neck by an elastic band. □ [V prep] …the dress, which fastens with a long back zip. [Also V n prep]
2 VERB If you fasten one thing to another, you attach the first thing to the second, for example with a piece of string or tape. □ [V n prep/adv] There were no instructions on how to fasten the carrying strap to the box.
3 → see also fastening
fas|ten|er /fɑː sənə r , fæ s-/ (fasteners ) N‑COUNT A fastener is a device such as a button, zip, or small hook that fastens something, especially clothing.
fas|ten|ing /fɑː sən I ŋ, fæ s-/ (fastenings ) N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A fastening is something such as a clasp or zip that you use to fasten something and keep it shut. □ The sundress has a neat back zip fastening.
fa st foo d N‑UNCOUNT [oft n N ] Fast food is hot food, such as hamburgers and chips, that you obtain from particular types of restaurant, and which is served quickly after you order it. □ James works as assistant chef at a fast food restaurant.
fa st fo r|ward (fast forwards , fast forwarding , fast forwarded ) also fast-forward
1 VERB When you fast forward the tape in a video or tape recorder or when you fast forward , you make the tape go forwards. Compare rewind . □ [V n] Just fast forward the video. □ [V n prep/adv] He fast-forwarded the recording past the explosion. □ [V ] The urge to fast-forward is almost irresistible. [Also V prep/adv]
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft on N ] If you put a video or cassette tape on fast forward , you make the tape go forwards. Compare rewind . □ Before recording onto a new tape, wind it on fast forward, then rewind.
fas|tidi|ous /fæst I diəs/
1 ADJ If you say that someone is fastidious , you mean that they pay great attention to detail because they like everything to be very neat, accurate, and in good order. □ …her fastidious attention to historical detail. □ [+ about ] He was fastidious about his appearance.
2 ADJ If you say that someone is fastidious , you mean that they are concerned about keeping clean to an extent that many people consider to be excessive. □ Be particularly fastidious about washing your hands before touching food. ● fas|tidi|ous|ly ADV □ Ernestine kept her daughters fastidiously clean.
fa st lane (fast lanes )
1 N‑COUNT On a motorway, the fast lane is the part of the road where the vehicles that are travelling fastest go. [mainly BRIT ]
2 N‑SING If someone is living in the fast lane , they have a very busy, exciting life, although they sometimes seem to take a lot of risks. □ …a tale of life in the fast lane.
fast|ness /fɑː stnəs, fæ st-/ (fastnesses ) N‑COUNT A fastness is a place, such as a castle, which is considered safe because it is difficult to reach or easy to defend against attack. [LITERARY ] □ They could have withdrawn into the mountain fastness of Eryri.
fa st track (fast tracks , fast tracking , fast tracked ) also fast-track
1 N‑SING [N n] The fast track to a particular goal, especially in politics or in your career, is the quickest route to achieving it. □ [+ to ] Many saw independence as the fast track to democracy.
2 VERB To fast track something means to make it happen or progress faster or earlier than normal. □ [be V -ed] A Federal Court case had been fast tracked to Wednesday. □ [V n] Woodward has fast-tracked a number of youngsters into the line-up since he became coach.
fat ◆◆◇ /fæ t/ (fatter , fattest , fats )
1 ADJ If you say that a person or animal is fat , you mean that they have a lot of flesh on their body and that they weigh too much. You usually use the word fat when you think that this is a bad thing. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I could eat what I liked without getting fat. □ After five minutes, the fat woman in the seat in front of me was asleep. ● fat|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ No one knows whether a tendency towards fatness is inherited.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Fat is the extra flesh that animals and humans have under their skin, which is used to store energy and to help keep them warm. □ Because you're not burning calories, everything you eat turns to fat.
3 N‑VAR Fat is a solid or liquid substance obtained from animals or vegetables, which is used in cooking. □ When you use oil or fat for cooking, use as little as possible. □ …vegetable fats, such as coconut oil and palm oil.
4 N‑VAR Fat is a substance contained in foods such as meat, cheese, and butter which forms an energy store in your body. □ An easy way to cut the amount of fat in your diet is to avoid eating red meats. □ Most low-fat yogurts are about 40 calories per 100g.
5 ADJ A fat object, especially a book, is very thick or wide. □ …'Europe in Figures', a fat book published on September 22nd.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] A fat profit or fee is a large one. [INFORMAL ] □ They are set to make a big fat profit.
7 PHRASE If you say that there is fat chance of something happening, you mean that you do not believe that it will happen. [INFORMAL , mainly SPOKEN , FEELINGS ] □ 'Would your car be easy to steal?'—'Fat chance. I've got a device that shuts down the ignition.' [Also + of ]
fa|tal /fe I t ə l/
1 ADJ A fatal action has very undesirable effects. □ It would clearly be fatal for Europe to quarrel seriously with America. □ He made the fatal mistake of compromising early. □ It would deal a fatal blow to his fading chances of success. ● fa|tal|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Failure now could fatally damage his chances in the future.
2 ADJ A fatal accident or illness causes someone's death. □ A hospital spokesman said she had suffered a fatal heart attack. ● fa|tal|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ The dead soldier is reported to have been fatally wounded in the chest.
fa|tal|ism /fe I təl I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Fatalism is a feeling that you cannot control events or prevent unpleasant things from happening, especially when this feeling stops you from making decisions or making an effort. □ There's a certain mood of fatalism now among the radicals.
fa|tal|is|tic /fe I təl I st I k/ ADJ If someone is fatalistic about something, especially an unpleasant event or situation, they feel that they cannot change or control it, and therefore that there is no purpose in trying. □ [+ about ] People we spoke to today were really rather fatalistic about what's going to happen.
fa|tal|ity /fətæ l I ti/ (fatalities ) N‑COUNT A fatality is a death caused by an accident or by violence. [FORMAL ] □ Drunk driving fatalities have declined more than 10 percent over the past 10 years.
fa t cat (fat cats ) N‑COUNT If you refer to a businessman or politician as a fat cat , you are indicating that you disapprove of the way they use their wealth and power. [INFORMAL , BUSINESS , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the fat cats who run the bank.
fate ◆◇◇ /fe I t/ (fates )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Fate is a power that some people believe controls and decides everything that happens, in a way that cannot be prevented or changed. You can also refer to the fates . □ I see no use quarrelling with fate. □ …the fickleness of fate. □ It was just one of those times when you wonder whether the fates conspire against you.
2 N‑COUNT [oft with poss] A person's or thing's fate is what happens to them. □ The Russian Parliament will hold a special session later this month to decide his fate. □ [+ of ] He seems for a moment to be again holding the fate of the country in his hands. □ The Casino, where she had often danced, had suffered a similar fate.
3 PHRASE If something seals a person's or thing's fate , it makes it certain that they will fail or that something unpleasant will happen to them. □ The call for a boycott could be enough to seal the fate of next week's general election.
4 to tempt fate → see tempt
fat|ed /fe I t I d/
1 ADJ [oft ADJ to-inf] If you say that a person is fated to do something, or that something is fated , you mean that it seems to have been decided by fate before it happens, and nothing can be done to avoid or change it. □ He was fated not to score. □ …stories of desperation, fated love, treachery and murder.
2 → see also ill-fated
fate|ful /fe I tfʊl/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If an action or a time when something happened is described as fateful , it is considered to have an important, and often very bad, effect on future events. □ It was a fateful decision, one which was to break the Government.
fa|ther ◆◆◆ /fɑː ðə r / (fathers , fathering , fathered )
1 N‑COUNT Your father is your male parent. You can also call someone your father if he brings you up as if he was this man. You can call your father 'Father'. □ His father was a painter. □ He would be a good father to my children. □ …Mr Stoneman, a father of five.
2 VERB When a man fathers a child, he makes a woman pregnant and their child is born. □ [V n] She claims Mark fathered her child. □ [V n + by ] He fathered four children by different women.
3 N‑COUNT The man who invented or started something is sometimes referred to as the father of that thing. □ [+ of ] …Max Dupain, regarded as the father of modern photography.
4 N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE In some Christian churches, priests are addressed or referred to as Father . COLLOCATIONS father NOUN 1
adjective + father : absent, biological, estranged, married; beloved, devoted, loving, proud
verb + father : become
Fa ther Chri st|mas N‑PROPER Father Christmas is the name given to an imaginary old man with a long white beard and a red coat. Traditionally, young children in many countries are told that he brings their Christmas presents. [BRIT ] in AM, use Santa Claus
fa |ther fig|ure (father figures ) also father-figure N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a father figure , you mean that you feel able to turn to that person for advice and support in the same way that you might turn to your father. □ She believed her daughter needed a father-figure. □ He became a father figure to the whole company.
father|hood /fɑː ðə r hʊd/ N‑UNCOUNT Fatherhood is the state of being a father. □ …the joys of fatherhood.
fa ther-in-law (fathers-in-law ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Someone's father-in-law is the father of their husband or wife.
father|land /fɑː ðə r lænd/ (fatherlands ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If someone is very proud of the country where they or their ancestors were born, they sometimes refer to it as the fatherland . The word fatherland is particularly associated with Germany. □ They were willing to serve the fatherland in its hour of need.
fa|ther|less /fɑː ðə r ləs/ ADJ You describe children as fatherless when their father has died or does not live with them. □ …widows and fatherless children. □ They were left fatherless.
fa|ther|ly /fɑː ðə r li/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Fatherly feelings or actions are like those of a kind father. □ His voice filled with fatherly concern.
Fa |ther's Day N‑UNCOUNT Father's Day is the third Sunday in June, when children give cards and presents to their fathers to show that they love them.
fath|om /fæ ðəm/ (fathoms , fathoming , fathomed )
1 N‑COUNT A fathom is a measurement of 1.8 metres or 6 feet, used when referring to the depth of water. □ We sailed into the bay and dropped anchor in five fathoms of water.
2 VERB [no cont] If you cannot fathom something, you are unable to understand it, although you think carefully about it. □ [V wh] I really couldn't fathom what Steiner was talking about. □ [V n] Jeremy's passive attitude was hard to fathom. ● PHRASAL VERB Fathom out means the same as fathom . □ [V P wh] We're trying to fathom out what's going on. □ [V P n] I'm having difficulty using my new camera and can't fathom out all its functions. [Also V n P ]
fath|om|less /fæ ðəmləs/ ADJ Something that is fathomless cannot be measured or understood because it gives the impression of being very deep, mysterious, or complicated. □ …the fathomless space of the universe. □ The silence was fathomless and overwhelming.
fa|tigue /fətiː g/ (fatigues )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Fatigue is a feeling of extreme physical or mental tiredness. □ She continued to have severe stomach cramps, aches, fatigue, and depression. □ His team lasted another 15 days before fatigue began to take its toll.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu n N ] You can say that people are suffering from a particular kind of fatigue when they have been doing something for a long time and feel they can no longer continue to do it. □ …compassion fatigue caused by endless TV and celebrity appeals. □ …the result of four months of battle fatigue.
3 N‑PLURAL Fatigues are clothes that soldiers wear when they are fighting or when they are doing routine jobs. □ He never expected to return home wearing U.S. combat fatigues.
4 N‑UNCOUNT [usu n N ] Fatigue in metal or wood is a weakness in it that is caused by repeated stress. Fatigue can cause the metal or wood to break. □ The problem turned out to be metal fatigue in the fuselage.
fa|tigued /fətiː gd/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are feeling fatigued , you are suffering from extreme physical or mental tiredness.
fa|tigu|ing /fətiː g I ŋ/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Something that is fatiguing makes you feel extremely physically or mentally tired. □ Jet travel is undeniably fatiguing.
fat|ten /fæ t ə n/ (fattens , fattening , fattened )
1 VERB If an animal is fattened , or if it fattens , it becomes fatter as a result of eating more. □ [be V -ed] The cattle are being fattened for slaughter. □ [V ] The creature continued to grow and fatten. [Also V n]
2 VERB If you say that someone is fattening something such as a business or its profits, you mean that they are increasing the value of the business or its profits, in a way that you disapprove of. [BUSINESS , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] They have kept the price of sugar artificially high and so fattened the company's profits. ● PHRASAL VERB Fatten up means the same as fatten . □ [V P n] The Government is making the taxpayer pay to fatten up a public sector business for private sale. [Also V n P ]
▸ fatten up
1 PHRASAL VERB To fatten up an animal or person means to make them fatter, by forcing or encouraging them to eat more food. □ [V P n] They fattened up ducks and geese. □ [V n P ] You're too skinny–we'll have to fatten you up.
2 → see also fatten 2
fat|ten|ing /fæ tən I ŋ/ ADJ Food that is fattening is considered to make people fat easily. □ Some foods are more fattening than others.
fat|ty /fæ ti/ (fattier , fattiest )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Fatty food contains a lot of fat. □ Don't eat fatty food or chocolates. □ Stephen swapped his fatty diet for cereal, pasta and vegetables.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Fatty acids or fatty tissues, for example, contain or consist of fat. □ …fatty acids. □ The woman lost about 1.8kg of fatty tissue during the week's fast.
fatu|ous /fæ tʃuəs/ ADJ If you describe a person, action, or remark as fatuous , you think that they are extremely silly, showing a lack of intelligence or thought. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ The Chief was left speechless by this fatuous remark.
fat|wa /fæ twɑː/ (fatwas ) also fatwah N‑COUNT A fatwa is a religious order issued by a Muslim leader.
fau|cet /fɔː s I t/ (faucets ) N‑COUNT A faucet is a device that controls the flow of a liquid or gas from a pipe or container. Sinks and baths have faucets attached to them. [AM ] □ She turned off the faucet and dried her hands. in BRIT, usually use tap
fault ◆◇◇ /fɔː lt/ (faults , faulting , faulted )
1 N‑SING [with poss] If a bad or undesirable situation is your fault , you caused it or are responsible for it. □ There was no escaping the fact: it was all his fault. □ A few borrowers will be in trouble with their repayments through no fault of their own.
2 N‑COUNT A fault is a mistake in what someone is doing or in what they have done. □ It is a big fault to think that you can learn how to manage people in business school.
3 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] A fault in someone or something is a weakness in them or something that is not perfect. □ His manners had always made her blind to his faults. □ …a short delay due to a minor technical fault.
4 VERB If you cannot fault someone, you cannot find any reason for criticizing them or the things that they are doing. □ [V n + for ] You can't fault them for lack of invention. □ [V n] It is hard to fault the way he runs his own operation.
5 N‑COUNT A fault is a large crack in the surface of the earth. □ …the San Andreas Fault.
6 N‑COUNT A fault in tennis is a service that is wrong according to the rules.
7 PHRASE If someone or something is at fault , they are to blame or are responsible for a particular situation that has gone wrong. □ He could never accept that he had been at fault.
8 PHRASE If you find fault with something or someone, you look for mistakes and complain about them. □ I was disappointed whenever the cook found fault with my work.
9 PHRASE If you say that someone has a particular good quality to a fault , you are emphasizing that they have more of this quality than is usual or necessary. [EMPHASIS ] □ Jefferson was generous to a fault. □ Others will tell you that she is modest to a fault, funny, clever and warm.
fault|less /fɔː ltləs/ ADJ Something that is faultless is perfect and has no mistakes at all. □ …Mary Thomson's faultless and impressive performance on the show. □ Hans's English was faultless. ● fault|less|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ Howard was faultlessly dressed in a dark blue suit.
fau lt line (fault lines )
1 N‑COUNT A fault line is a long crack in the surface of the earth. Earthquakes usually occur along fault lines.
2 N‑COUNT A fault line in a system or process is an area of it that seems weak and likely to cause problems or failure. □ These issues have created a stark fault line within the Peace Process.
faulty /fɔː lti/
1 ADJ A faulty piece of equipment has something wrong with it and is not working properly. □ The money will be used to repair faulty equipment.
2 ADJ If you describe someone's argument or reasoning as faulty , you mean that it is wrong or contains mistakes, usually because they have not been thinking in a logical way. □ Their interpretation was faulty–they had misinterpreted things.
faun /fɔː n/ (fauns ) N‑COUNT A faun is an imaginary creature which is like a man with goat's legs and horns.
fau|na /fɔː nə/ (faunas ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] Animals, especially the animals in a particular area, can be referred to as fauna . [TECHNICAL ] □ [+ of ] …the flora and fauna of the African jungle. □ Brackish waters generally support only a small range of faunas.
faux pas /foʊ pɑː / (faux pas ) N‑COUNT A faux pas is a socially embarrassing action or mistake. [FORMAL ] □ It was not long before I realised the enormity of my faux pas.
fava bean /fɑ və biːn/ (fava beans ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Fava beans are flat round beans that are light green in colour and are eaten as a vegetable. [AM ] in BRIT, use broad beans
fave /fe I v/ (faves )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Your fave thing or person of a particular type is the one you like the most. [JOURNALISM , BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ Vote for your fave song by dialing 0906 474 8000.
2 N‑COUNT A fave is a thing or person of a particular type that you like the most. [JOURNALISM , BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …old faves like 'Summer Babe' and 'Debris Slide'.
fa|vour ◆◆◇ /fe I və r / (favours , favouring , favoured ) in AM, use favor 1 N‑UNCOUNT If you regard something or someone with favour , you like or support them. □ Will the show still find favour with a modern audience? □ No one would look with favour on the continuing military rule. □ He has won favour with a wide range of interest groups.
2 N‑COUNT If you do someone a favour , you do something for them even though you do not have to. □ I've come to ask you to do me a favour.
3 VERB If you favour something, you prefer it to the other choices available. □ [V n] The French say they favour a transition to democracy. □ [V v-ing] He favours bringing the U.N. into touch with 'modern realities'.
4 VERB If you favour someone, you treat them better or in a kinder way than you treat other people. □ [V n] Unpaid internships are criticised for favouring children of the rich who can work for nothing.
5 PHRASE If you are in favour of something, you support it and think that it is a good thing. □ I wouldn't be in favour of income tax cuts. □ Yet this is a Government which proclaims that it is all in favour of openness. □ The vote passed with 111 in favour and 25 against.
6 PHRASE If someone makes a judgment in your favour , they say that you are right about something. □ If the commission rules in Mr Welch's favour the case will go to the European Court of Human Rights.
7 PHRASE If something is in your favour , it helps you or gives you an advantage. □ Firms are trying to shift the balance of power in the labour market back in their favour.
8 PHRASE If one thing is rejected in favour of another, the second thing is done or chosen instead of the first. □ The policy was rejected in favour of a more cautious approach.
9 PHRASE If someone or something is in favour , people like or support them. If they are out of favour , people no longer like or support them.
fa|vour|able /fe I vərəb ə l/ in AM, use favorable 1 ADJ [ADJ n] If your opinion or your reaction is favourable to something, you agree with it and approve of it. □ The portraits attracted favourable comment when exhibited in the Royal Hibernian Academy. □ [+ to ] The commission is cautiously favourable to Austrian membership, foreseeing few economic problems.
2 ADJ If something makes a favourable impression on you or is favourable to you, you like it and approve of it. □ His ability to talk tough made a favourable impression on his supporters. □ [+ to ] These terms were favourable to India.
3 ADJ Favourable conditions make something more likely to succeed or seem more attractive. □ [+ to ] The conditions in which the elections were held were too favourable to the government. □ …favourable weather conditions.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you make a favourable comparison between two things, you say that the first is better than or as good as the second. □ The film bears favourable technical comparison with Hollywood productions costing 10 times as much.
fa|vour|ite ◆◆◇ /fe I vər I t/ (favourites ) in AM, use favorite 1 ADJ [ADJ n] Your favourite thing or person of a particular type is the one you like most. □ …a bottle of his favourite champagne. □ Her favourite writer is Hans Christian Andersen. ● N‑COUNT [usu with poss] Favourite is also a noun. □ The Liverpool Metropole is my favourite. ● PHRASE If you refer to something as an old favourite , you mean that it has been in existence for a long time and everyone knows it or likes it. □ Top destinations for this year include old favourites such as Majorca, Tenerife and the Algarve.
2 N‑COUNT [usu with poss] If you describe one person as the favourite of another, you mean that the second person likes the first person a lot and treats them with special kindness. □ …Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, a favourite of King James I. □ The Prime Minister is no favourite of the tabloids.
3 N‑COUNT The favourite in a race or contest is the competitor that is expected to win. In a team game, the team that is expected to win is referred to as the favourites . □ The FA Cup has been won by the favourites. USAGE favourite
Your favourite
thing or person is the one you like more than all the others. Don’t use ‘most’ with favourite
. Don’t say, for example, ‘
What is is your most favourite film
?’ Say ‘What is your favourite
film?’
COLLOCATIONS
favourite
NOUN
3
noun + favourite : premiership, promotion, race, title
adjective + favourite : clear, firm, hot, overwhelming; equal, joint, odds-on
fa|vour|it|ism /fe I vər I t I zəm/ in AM, use favoritism N‑UNCOUNT If you accuse someone of favouritism , you disapprove of them because they unfairly help or favour one person or group much more than another. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Maria loved both the children. There was never a hint of favouritism.
fawn /fɔː n/ (fawns , fawning , fawned )
1 COLOUR Fawn is a pale yellowish-brown colour. □ …a light fawn coat.
2 N‑COUNT A fawn is a very young deer. □ The fawn ran to the top of the ridge.
3 VERB If you say that someone fawns over a powerful or rich person, you disapprove of them because they flatter that person and like to be with him or her. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V + over/on/around ] People fawn over you when you're famous. □ [V -ing] Nauseatingly fawning journalism that's all it is.
fax /fæ ks/ (faxes , faxing , faxed )
1 N‑COUNT [oft by N ] A fax or a fax machine is a piece of equipment that was used in the past to copy documents by sending information electronically along a telephone line, and to receive copies that were sent in this way. □ …a modern reception desk with telephone and fax. □ These days, cartoonists send in their work by fax.
2 VERB In the past, if you faxed a document to someone, you sent it from one fax machine to another. □ [V n + to ] I faxed a copy of the agreement to each of the investors. □ [V n n] Did you fax him a reply? □ [V n] Pop it in the post, or get your secretary to fax it. □ [V n] I faxed 10 hotels in the area to check room size.
3 N‑COUNT You can refer to a copy of a document that was transmitted by a fax machine as a fax . □ I sent him a long fax, saying I didn't need any help.
faze /fe I z/ (fazes , fazed ) VERB [no cont] If something fazes you, it surprises, shocks, or frightens you, so that you do not know what to do. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] Big concert halls do not faze Melanie.
FBI /e f biː a I / N‑PROPER The FBI is a government agency in the United States that investigates crimes in which a national law is broken or in which the country's security is threatened. FBI is an abbreviation for 'Federal Bureau of Investigation'.
fe|al|ty /fiː əlti/ N‑UNCOUNT In former times, if someone swore fealty to their ruler, they promised to be loyal to him or her.
fear ◆◆◆ /f I ə r / (fears , fearing , feared )
1 N‑VAR Fear is the unpleasant feeling you have when you think that you are in danger. □ I was sitting on the floor shivering with fear. □ [+ of ] …boyhood memories of sickness and fear of the dark.
2 VERB If you fear someone or something, you are frightened because you think that they will harm you. □ [V n] Many people fear change because they do not like the old ways to be disrupted.
3 N‑VAR [N that] A fear is a thought that something unpleasant might happen or might have happened. □ [+ of ] These youngsters are motivated not by a desire to achieve, but by fear of failure. □ Then one day his worst fears were confirmed.
4 VERB If you fear something unpleasant or undesirable, you are worried that it might happen or might have happened. □ [V that] She had feared she was going down with pneumonia or bronchitis. □ [V n] More than two million refugees have fled the area, fearing attack by loyalist forces.
5 N‑VAR [oft N that] If you say that there is a fear that something unpleasant or undesirable will happen, you mean that you think it is possible or likely. □ There is a fear that the freeze on bank accounts could prove a lasting deterrent to investors.
6 VERB If you fear for someone or something, you are very worried because you think that they might be in danger. □ [V + for ] Carla fears for her son. □ [V + for ] He fled on Friday, saying he feared for his life.
7 N‑VAR If you have fears for someone or something, you are very worried because you think that they might be in danger. □ [+ for ] He also spoke of his fears for the future of his country's culture.
8 VERB You say that you fear that a situation is the case when the situation is unpleasant or undesirable, and when you want to express sympathy, sorrow, or regret about it. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] I fear that a land war now looks very probable. □ [V so/not ] 'Is anything left at all?'—'I fear not.'
9 PHRASE If you are in fear of doing or experiencing something unpleasant or undesirable, you are very worried that you might have to do it or experience it. □ The elderly live in fear of assault and murder.
10 PHRASE If you take a particular course of action for fear of something, you take the action in order to prevent that thing happening. □ She was afraid to say anything to them for fear of hurting their feelings.
11 CONVENTION You use ' no fear ' to emphasize that you do not want to do something. [BRIT , INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ When I asked him if he wanted to change his mind, William said 'No fear.' COLLOCATIONS fear NOUN 3
noun + fear : safety, security, terrorism; inflation, recession
adjective + fear : irrational, unfounded; genuine, grave, intense, well-founded; deep, deep-seated
fear + be + adjective : groundless, unjustified
verb + fear : prompt, raise, spark; fuel, stoke; allay, calm, dispel, ease; express, voice
fear|ful /f I ə r fʊl/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ , ADJ that] If you are fearful of something, you are afraid of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Bankers were fearful of a world banking crisis. □ I had often been very fearful, very angry, and very isolated.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use fearful to emphasize how serious or bad a situation is. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ …the fearful consequences which might flow from unilateral military moves.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Fearful is used to emphasize that something is very bad. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED , EMPHASIS ] □ You gave me a fearful shock!
fear|less /f I ə r ləs/ ADJ If you say that someone is fearless , you mean that they are not afraid at all, and you admire them for this. [APPROVAL ] □ …his fearless campaigning for racial justice.
fear|some /f I ə r səm/ ADJ Fearsome is used to describe things that are frightening, for example because of their large size or extreme nature. □ He had developed a fearsome reputation for intimidating people. □ …a fearsome array of weapons.
fea|sible /fiː zəb ə l/ ADJ [oft ADJ to-inf] If something is feasible , it can be done, made, or achieved. □ She questioned whether it was feasible to stimulate investment in these regions. ● fea|sibil|ity /fiː zəb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] The committee will study the feasibility of setting up a national computer network.
feast /fiː st/ (feasts , feasting , feasted )
1 N‑COUNT A feast is a large and special meal. □ [+ of ] Lunch was a feast of meat and vegetables, cheese, yoghurt and fruit, with unlimited wine. □ The fruit was often served at wedding feasts.
2 VERB If you feast on a particular food, you eat a large amount of it with great enjoyment. □ [V + on ] They feasted well into the afternoon on mutton and corn stew.
3 VERB If you feast , you take part in a feast. □ [V ] Only a few feet away, their captors feasted in the castle's banqueting hall. ● feast|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ The feasting, drinking, dancing and revelry continued for several days.
4 N‑COUNT A feast is a day or time of the year when a special religious celebration takes place. □ [+ of ] The Jewish feast of Passover began last night.
5 PHRASE If you feast your eyes on something, you look at it for a long time with great attention because you find it very attractive. □ She stood feasting her eyes on the view.
feat /fiː t/ (feats ) N‑COUNT If you refer to an action, or the result of an action, as a feat , you admire it because it is an impressive and difficult achievement. [APPROVAL ] □ A racing car is an extraordinary feat of engineering.
feath|er /fe ðə r / (feathers )
1 N‑COUNT A bird's feathers are the soft covering on its body. Each feather consists of a lot of smooth hairs on each side of a thin stiff centre. □ …a hat that she had made herself from black ostrich feathers. □ …a feather bed.
2 → see also feathered
3 to ruffle someone's feathers → see ruffle
fea th|er bo a → see boa
fea th|er du st|er (feather dusters ) N‑COUNT A feather duster is a stick with a bunch of real or artificial feathers attached to one end. It is used for dusting and cleaning things.
feath|ered /fe ðə r d/
1 ADJ If you describe something as feathered , you mean that it has feathers on it. □ …the ceremonial feathered hat worn by Hong Kong's governor.
2 PHRASE Birds are sometimes referred to as our feathered friends .
feather|weight /fe ðə r we I t/ (featherweights ) N‑COUNT A featherweight is a professional boxer who weighs between 53.5 and 57 kilograms, which is one of the lowest weight ranges.
feath|ery /fe ðəri/
1 ADJ If something is feathery , it has an edge divided into a lot of thin parts so that it looks soft. □ The foliage was soft and feathery.
2 ADJ Feathery is used to describe things that are soft and light. □ …flurries of small, feathery flakes of snow.
fea|ture ◆◆◇ /fiː tʃə r / (features , featuring , featured )
1 N‑COUNT A feature of something is an interesting or important part or characteristic of it. □ [+ of ] Patriotic songs have long been a feature of Kuwaiti life. □ [+ of ] The spacious gardens are a special feature of this property.
2 N‑PLURAL [usu poss N ] Your features are your eyes, nose, mouth, and other parts of your face. □ His features seemed to change. □ Her features were strongly defined.
3 VERB When something such as a film or exhibition features a particular person or thing, they are an important part of it. □ [V n] It's a great movie and it features a Spanish actor who is going to be a world star within a year. □ [V n] This spectacular event, now in its 5th year, features a stunning catwalk show.
4 VERB If someone or something features in something such as a show, exhibition, or magazine, they are an important part of it. □ [V + in/on ] Jon featured in one of the show's most thrilling episodes.
5 N‑COUNT A feature is a special article in a newspaper or magazine, or a special programme on radio or television. □ [+ on ] …a special feature on the fund-raising project.
6 N‑COUNT [usu N n] A feature or a feature film or movie is a full-length film about a fictional situation, as opposed to a short film or a documentary. □ …the first feature-length cartoon, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
7 N‑COUNT A geographical feature is something noticeable in a particular area of country, for example a hill, river, or valley. COLLOCATIONS feature NOUN 1
noun + feature : design, period; safety
adjective + feature : extra, important, key, special; distinctive, distinguishing, original, striking
verb + feature : add, offer; include, retain VERB 4
feature + adverb : heavily, prominently, regularly, strongly SYNONYMS feature NOUN 1
aspect: He was interested in all aspects of the work here.
characteristic: …their physical characteristics.
point: The most interesting point about the village was its religion.
side: He is in charge of the civilian side of the U.N. mission.
fea|ture|less /fiː tʃə r ləs/ ADJ If you say that something is featureless , you mean that it has no interesting features or characteristics. □ Malone looked out at the grey-green featureless landscape.
Feb. Feb. is a written abbreviation for February .
fe|brile /fiː bra I l/ ADJ Febrile behaviour is intensely and nervously active. [LITERARY ] □ The news plunged the nation into a febrile, agitated state.
Feb|ru|ary /fe bjuəri, [AM ] -jueri/ (Februaries ) N‑VAR February is the second month of the year in the Western calendar. □ He joined the Army in February 1943. □ His exhibition opens on 5 February. □ Last February the tribunal agreed he had been the victim of racial discrimination.
fe|cal /fiː k ə l/ → see faecal
fe|ces /fiː siːz/ → see faeces
feck|less /fe kləs/ ADJ If you describe someone as feckless , you mean that they lack determination or strength, and are unable to do anything properly. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He regarded the young man as feckless and irresponsible.
fe|cund /fiː kənd, fe k-/
1 ADJ Land or soil that is fecund is able to support the growth of a large number of strong healthy plants. [FORMAL ] □ The pampas are still among the most fecund lands in the world.
2 ADJ If you describe something as fecund , you approve of it because it produces a lot of good or useful things. [FORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ It has now become clear how extraordinarily fecund a decade was the 1890s.
fed /fe d/ (feds )
1 Fed is the past tense and past participle of feed . See also fed up .
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The feds are federal agents, for example of the American security agency, the FBI, or of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. [AM , INFORMAL ]
fed|er|al ◆◆◇ /fe dərəl/ (federals )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A federal country or system of government is one in which the different states or provinces of the country have important powers to make their own laws and decisions. □ [+ of ] The provinces are to become autonomous regions in the new federal system.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Some people use federal to describe a system of government which they disapprove of, in which the different states or provinces are controlled by a strong central government. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He does not believe in a federal Europe with centralising powers.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Federal also means belonging or relating to the national government of a federal country rather than to one of the states within it. □ The federal government controls just 6% of the education budget. □ …a federal judge. ● fed|er|al|ly ADV [ADV -ed] □ …residents of public housing and federally subsidized apartments.
4 N‑COUNT Federals are the same as feds .
fed|er|al|ism /fe dərəl I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Federalism is belief in or support for a federal system of government, or this system itself. □ They argue that the amendment undermines Canadian federalism.
fed|er|al|ist /fe dərəl I st/ (federalists ) ADJ Someone or something that is federalist believes in, supports, or follows a federal system of government. □ …the federalist idea of Europe. ● N‑COUNT Federalist is also a noun. □ Many Quebeckers are federalists.
fed|er|at|ed /fe dəre I t I d/ ADJ [ADJ n] Federated states or societies are ones that have joined together for a common purpose. □ Staying in the federated state or becoming independent is for the people to decide.
fed|era|tion ◆◇◇ /fe dəre I ʃ ə n/ (federations )
1 N‑COUNT A federation is a federal country. □ …the Russian Federation.
2 N‑COUNT [oft in names] A federation is a group of societies or other organizations which have joined together, usually because they share a common interest. □ …the British Athletic Federation. □ The organization emerged from a federation of six national agencies. SYNONYMS federation NOUN 2
union: …the question of which countries should join the currency union.
association: …the British Medical Association.
alliance: The two parties were still too much apart to form an alliance.
coalition: It's a coalition of about 50 civil rights, women's and Latino organizations.
fe|do|ra /f I dɔː rə/ (fedoras ) N‑COUNT A fedora is a type of hat which has a brim and is made from a soft material such as velvet.
fe d u p ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are fed up , you are unhappy, bored, or tired of something, especially something that you have been experiencing for a long time. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ with ] He had become fed up with city life. □ I'm just fed up and I don't know what to do.
fee ◆◆◇ /fiː / (fees )
1 N‑COUNT A fee is a sum of money that you pay to be allowed to do something. □ He hadn't paid his television licence fee.
2 N‑COUNT A fee is the amount of money that a person or organization is paid for a particular job or service that they provide. □ Find out how much your surveyor's and solicitor's fees will be. COLLOCATIONS fee NOUN 1
noun + fee : course, school, university; admission, booking, entry, exit, registration
adjective + fee : annual, monthly; hefty, high; fixed, flat
verb + fee : pay; charge SYNONYMS fee NOUN 1
charge: We can arrange this for a small charge.
cost: Badges are also available at a cost of £2.50.
bill: They couldn't afford to pay the bills.
toll: We pay enough in toll charges to use their roads.
fee|ble /fiː b ə l/ (feebler , feeblest )
1 ADJ If you describe someone or something as feeble , you mean that they are weak. □ He told them he was old and feeble and was not able to walk so far. □ The feeble light of a tin lamp. ● fee|bly ADV [ADV with v] □ His left hand moved feebly at his side.
2 ADJ If you describe something that someone says as feeble , you mean that it is not very good or convincing. □ This is a particularly feeble argument. ● fee|bly ADV [ADV with v] □ I said 'Sorry', very feebly, feeling rather embarrassed.
feed ◆◆◇ /fiː d/ (feeds , feeding , fed )
1 VERB If you feed a person or animal, you give them food to eat and sometimes actually put it in their mouths. □ [V n] We brought along pieces of old bread and fed the birds. □ [V n + on/with ] In that part of the world you can feed cattle on almost any green vegetable or fruit. □ [V n + to ] He spooned the ice cream into a cup and fed it to her. [Also V pron-refl] ● N‑COUNT Feed is also a noun. [mainly BRIT ] □ She's had a good feed. ● feed|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ The feeding of dairy cows has undergone a revolution.
2 VERB To feed a family or a community means to supply food for them. □ [V n] Feeding a hungry family can be expensive . □ [V n] We have the technology to feed the population of the planet.
3 VERB When an animal feeds , it eats or drinks something. □ [V ] After a few days the caterpillars stopped feeding. □ [V + on/off ] Slugs feed on decaying plant and animal material.
4 VERB When a baby feeds , or when you feed it, it drinks breast milk or milk from a bottle. □ [V ] When a baby is thirsty, it feeds more often. □ [V n] I knew absolutely nothing about handling or feeding a baby.
5 N‑VAR [usu n N ] Animal feed is food given to animals, especially farm animals. □ The grain just rotted and all they could use it for was animal feed. □ …poultry feed.
6 VERB To feed something to a place, means to supply it to that place in a steady flow. □ [V n prep] …blood vessels that feed blood to the brain. □ [V n prep] …gas fed through pipelines.
7 VERB If you feed something into a container or piece of equipment, you put it into it. □ [V n prep] She was feeding documents into a paper shredder.
8 VERB If someone feeds you false or secret information, they deliberately tell it to you. □ [V n n] He was surrounded by people who fed him ghastly lies. □ [V n + with ] At least one British officer was feeding him with classified information. [Also V n + to ]
9 VERB If you feed a plant, you add substances to it to make it grow well. □ [V n] Feed plants to encourage steady growth.
10 VERB If one thing feeds on another, it becomes stronger as a result of the other thing's existence. □ [V + on ] The drinking and the guilt fed on each other.
11 VERB To feed information into a computer means to gradually put it into it. □ [V n + into/to ] An automatic weather station feeds information on wind direction to the computer.
12 N‑COUNT A feed is a system that tells a user when an item is available to read, for example on Twitter. □ I saw the news on my Twitter feed.
13 to bite the hand that feeds you → see bite
14 mouths to feed → see mouth COLLOCATIONS feed VERB 1
feed + adverb : properly, regularly; intravenously NOUN 13
noun + feed : Instagram, news, satellite, Twitter
adjective + feed : live
feed|back /fiː dbæk/
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you get feedback on your work or progress, someone tells you how well or badly you are doing, and how you could improve. If you get good feedback you have worked or performed well. □ Continue to ask for feedback on your work. □ I was getting great feedback from my boss.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Feedback is the unpleasant high-pitched sound produced by a piece of electrical equipment when part of the signal that comes out goes back into it.
feed|er /fiː də r / (feeders )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A feeder road, railway, or river is a smaller one that leads to a more important one.
2 N‑COUNT [usu N n] Feeder airline and railway services connect major routes and local destinations. □ …a feeder to British Airways's transatlantic destinations.
3 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A feeder school or team provides students or players for a larger or more important one.
4 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A feeder is a container that you fill with food for birds or animals.
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