English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

fa

noun

In solfège (do-re-mi singing), the syllable representing the fourth note of a major scale.

faa

noun

The letter ف in the Arabic script.

fab

adjective

Wonderful; excellent; fantastic.

Faber

name

A German and English surname, an occupational name for a smith or craftsman.

Fabian

adj

Favoring gradual, cautious reform over sudden or drastic change, especially in politics.

Fabio

name

A masculine given name of Italian and Latin origin, related to the Roman family name Fabius.

fable

noun

A short story, often with animal characters, written to teach a moral lesson.

fabled

adj

Existing only in stories or legend; not proven to be real.

fabric

noun

Cloth made by weaving or knitting fibres together.

fabricate

verb

To manufacture or build something, especially by assembling parts.

fabricated

adj

Made up or invented, especially in order to deceive.

fabrication

noun

The process of manufacturing or constructing something.

Fabrizio

name

A masculine given name, the Italian form of Fabricius, from a Roman family name.

fabulous

adj

Wonderful, impressive, or excellent.

fabulously

adv

To an extraordinary or impressively great degree.

facade

noun

The front exterior wall of a building.

face

noun

The front of the head, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.

facebook

noun

A major social-networking website and app where users connect with friends, share updates, and send messages.

faced

adj

Having a particular kind or number of faces or surfaces.

faceless

adj

Lacking any personal identity or individual character; anonymous.

facelift

noun

Cosmetic surgery that tightens the skin of the face to reduce wrinkles and signs of ageing.

facet

noun

One of the flat, polished surfaces cut into a gemstone.

FaceTime

noun

A video-calling app made by Apple for iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

facetious

adj

Joking about something in a flippant way, especially when the topic deserves to be taken seriously.

facial

adj

Relating to or affecting the face.

facilitate

verb

To make a process easier or help it happen more smoothly.

facilitated

adj

Made easier or helped along.

facilitator

noun

A person who guides a group discussion or meeting, helping participants reach agreement without pushing their own opinion.

facilities

noun

Buildings, equipment, or services provided for a particular purpose.

facing

adj

Positioned so as to point or look toward something.

facsimile

noun

An exact copy or reproduction of something, especially a document or work of art.

fact

noun

Something known to be true, based on evidence rather than opinion or invention.

faction

noun

A smaller group within a larger organisation that holds a distinct set of views or interests, often at odds with the rest.

factor

noun

One of several things that contributes to or influences a result.

factory

noun

A building where goods are manufactured, usually on a large scale using machinery.

facts

intj

Used to express agreement with what someone just said.

factual

adj

Based on facts rather than opinion or invention.

faculty

noun

The teaching staff of a school, college or university.

fad

noun

Something that becomes suddenly popular but only for a short while.

fade

verb

To gradually lose colour, brightness, strength, or intensity.

faded

adj

Having lost its original brightness or colour.

fading

noun

The gradual process of losing colour, strength, or clarity.

fado

noun

A style of melancholic Portuguese folk song, typically sung solo with guitar accompaniment.

fae

pron

A gender-neutral pronoun used instead of "he" or "she," similar to singular "they."

fag

noun

British informal: a cigarette.

Fagan

name

An Irish surname, an anglicized form of a Gaelic name.

faggot

noun

A bundle of sticks or twigs tied together, traditionally used as fuel.

faggy

adj

Slang, offensive: perceived as effeminate.

Fagin

noun

A person who recruits and trains children to commit crimes, profiting from what they steal.

fagot

verb

To tie or bundle things together, as with sticks.

Fahrenheit

adj

Relating to the temperature scale where water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees.

fail

verb

To be unsuccessful in achieving something.

failed

adj

Not successful; having ended in failure.

failing

noun

A weakness or flaw in someone's character or ability.

failure

noun

The state of not achieving a desired or intended result.

fain

adj

Archaic or literary: glad or willing, especially to do something for lack of a better choice.

faint

adj

Barely perceptible; weak in intensity.

fainting

noun

The act of briefly losing consciousness.

faintly

adv

In a barely noticeable or weak manner.

fair

adj

Treating people equally and reasonably; just.

Fairbanks

name

An English surname and place name, also a city in Alaska, USA.

Fairchild

name

An English surname, originally a nickname for a handsome or fair-haired child.

Fairfax

name

An English surname and place name, also a county in Virginia, USA.

Fairfield

name

An English place name meaning "beautiful field," used as the name of several towns in the United States.

fairground

noun

An outdoor area used for fairs, with rides, stalls, and other attractions.

fairly

adv

To a moderate or reasonable extent; quite.

Fairmont

name

A place name meaning "beautiful mountain," used for towns and a well-known hotel chain.

fairness

noun

The quality of being just, equitable, and free from bias.

Fairplay

name

A place name, notably a small town in Colorado, USA.

fairs

intj

Used to accept a point or agree that something is reasonable; short for "fair enough" or "fair's fair."

Fairview

name

A common American place name, meaning "view of the beautiful landscape," used for many towns and neighborhoods.

fairway

noun

In golf, the mown strip of grass between the tee and the green.

fairy

noun

A small, magical being of human shape, often shown with wings in folklore and fiction.

fairyland

noun

The imagined home of fairies; also, any place that seems magical or unreal.

Faisal

name

A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "decisive" or "resolute."

Fait

name

A surname of French origin, and part of the phrase "fait accompli," meaning an accomplished fact.

faith

noun

Confidence or trust in someone or something, based on past experience or evidence.

faithful

adjective

Loyal and devoted to a person, cause, or duty.

faithfully

adverb

In a loyal, devoted, or dependable manner.

faithfulness

noun

Loyalty and steady commitment to a person, promise, or duty.

faithless

adjective

Disloyal; breaking a promise, vow, or trust.

fake

adjective

Not genuine; made to look real in order to deceive.

faker

noun

A person who pretends to be something they are not, or who fakes something.

faking

noun

The act of pretending something is real or true when it is not.

fakir

noun

A Muslim or Hindu religious ascetic who lives by begging and owns little or no property.

falafel

noun

A Middle Eastern dish of deep-fried balls or patties made from ground chickpeas or fava beans.

Falco

name

A stage name and surname of Latin origin meaning "falcon," notably used by an Austrian pop singer.

falcon

noun

A fast-flying bird of prey with long pointed wings, often trained for hunting.

Falcone

noun

An Italian surname, sometimes used in fiction for characters (as with the Marvel superhero Falcon).

falconer

noun

A person who trains and flies falcons or other birds of prey, especially for hunting.

Falk

noun

Another name for the razorbill, a black-and-white seabird related to the puffin.

fall

verb

To move downward, especially suddenly and without control.

fallacy

noun

A mistaken belief, especially one based on flawed reasoning.

fallback

noun

A backup plan or option to use if the main one fails.

fallen

adjective

Having dropped down, especially due to gravity.

Fallin

name

An American surname, notably borne by a former governor of Oklahoma.

Fallon

noun

An Irish surname and given name, also the name of towns in the United States.

Fallopian

adjective

Relating to the fallopian tubes, the pair of tubes in the female reproductive system that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus.

fallout

noun

Radioactive dust and debris that settles after a nuclear explosion.

fallow

adjective

Left unplanted for a season or more to let the soil recover.

falls

noun

A waterfall, or a place where water drops steeply over rocks.

Fallujah

name

A city in central Iraq, known for major battles during the Iraq War.

Falmouth

name

A port town in Cornwall, England, and the name of towns in the United States.

false

adjective

Not true; incorrect or contrary to fact.

falsehood

noun

A false statement; a lie.

falsely

adverb

In a manner that is not true or accurate.

falsetto

noun

A high-pitched singing voice produced above a person's normal vocal range, especially in men.

falsified

adjective

Altered or presented dishonestly to make it appear false or misleading.

falsify

verb

To alter information dishonestly, usually to deceive someone.

falsifying

noun

The act of dishonestly altering information or documents.

Falstaff

noun

A jovial, overweight, and boastful character, used allusively — from the Shakespeare character Sir John Falstaff.

falter

verb

To lose strength, confidence, or momentum; to hesitate or waver.

faltering

adjective

Weak, hesitant, or unsteady.

fame

noun

The state of being well known and widely recognized, especially for achievement.

famed

adjective

Well known; famous.

familia

noun

A family or household, especially used to emphasize closeness or a tight-knit group (from Spanish/Latin).

familial

adjective

Relating to a family, or passed down within one.

familiar

adjective

Well known to you, or easy to recognise.

familiarity

noun

Good knowledge of something gained through experience.

familiarize

verb

To make yourself or someone else knowledgeable about something new.

family

noun

A group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption, especially parents and their children.

famine

noun

A severe, widespread shortage of food, often causing mass starvation.

famished

adjective

Extremely hungry.

famous

adjective

Known widely by many people.

famously

adverb

In a way that is widely known; used to flag a well-known fact.

fan

noun

A device, hand-held or powered, that moves air to cool someone or something down.

fanatic

noun

Someone with extreme, unshakeable enthusiasm for a cause, belief, or hobby.

fanatical

adjective

Showing extreme, often unreasonable enthusiasm or devotion.

fanaticism

noun

Extreme, unquestioning devotion to a cause or belief.

fancied

adjective

Existing only in the imagination.

fancier

noun

Someone with a strong interest in or enthusiasm for a particular hobby, especially breeding animals or plants.

fanciful

adjective

Based on imagination rather than fact or reality.

fancy

verb

British informal: to want or feel attracted to something or someone.

fandango

noun

A lively Spanish dance, or the music that accompanies it.

fane

noun

A temple or sacred place (literary or archaic).

fanfare

noun

A short, triumphant burst of trumpets or horns played to announce something.

fang

noun

A long, pointed tooth used for biting, tearing, or injecting venom.

fanned

adjective

Spread out in the shape of a fan.

Fannie

name

A feminine given name, a diminutive of Frances, and part of the nickname for the Federal National Mortgage Association.

fanning

noun

The act of moving air with a fan, or of spreading out in a fan shape.

Fanny

noun

British slang for the female genitals; American slang for the buttocks.

Fanta

noun

A brand of fruit-flavoured fizzy soft drink made by Coca-Cola.

fantasia

noun

A free-form musical piece that doesn't follow strict structure, often blending familiar melodies.

fantasize

verb

To imagine something pleasant or desired, especially something unlikely to happen.

fantasizing

noun

The act of daydreaming or imagining something desired.

fantastic

adjective

Extremely good; wonderful.

fantastical

adjective

Existing only in fantasy or imagination; wildly strange or unreal.

fantastically

adverb

To an extreme or remarkable degree.

fantasy

noun

An imagined scenario, especially a pleasant or unrealistic one.

far

adjective

Distant in space or time.

Faraday

noun

A unit of electric charge used in electrolysis, roughly 96,487 coulombs.

Farage

name

An English surname, notably borne by a British politician known for his role in the Brexit campaign.

Farah

name

A given name of Arabic and Persian origin, meaning "joy" or "happiness."

faraway

adjective

Very distant; remote.

Farber

name

A German and Jewish surname, an occupational name for a dyer.

farce

noun

A comedy built on exaggerated, improbable situations.

fare

noun

The money a passenger pays for a bus, train, taxi, or plane ticket.

Fares

name

An Arabic masculine given name and surname, meaning "knight" or "horseman."

farewell

intj

Goodbye — said when parting, especially for a long time or for good.

Fargo

name

A surname and the largest city in North Dakota, USA, also the title of a well-known film and television series.

Farhad

name

A masculine given name of Persian origin, associated with a legendary tragic hero of Persian literature.

Farid

name

A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "unique" or "unparalleled."

Farley

name

An English surname and given name, originally denoting someone from a "fern clearing."

farm

noun

Land, together with its buildings, used for growing crops or raising animals.

farmer

noun

Someone who owns or works land to grow crops or raise livestock.

farmhand

noun

A person hired to do manual work on a farm.

farmhouse

noun

The main house on a farm, traditionally where the farmer and family live.

farming

noun

The business or practice of growing crops and raising animals.

Farmington

name

A common American place name, used for towns and cities across several states.

farmland

noun

Land used or suitable for growing crops or raising livestock.

farmyard

noun

The open area around a farm's buildings, as distinct from the fields.

Farnsworth

name

An English surname, notably borne by the American inventor credited with developing electronic television.

Farnum

name

An English surname, a variant of Farnham, meaning "homestead among ferns."

faro

noun

A gambling card game where players bet on which cards will be turned up next from the deck.

Farr

name

An English surname, originally a nickname for a handsome person.

Farrah

name

A feminine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "joy" or "happiness."

Farrell

name

An Irish surname, derived from a Gaelic name meaning "man of valor."

farrow

noun

A litter of baby pigs born together.

Farsi

noun

The Persian language, especially the modern form spoken in Iran.

fart

verb

To release gas from the bowels through the anus.

farthing

noun

A former British coin worth a quarter of an old penny.

farting

noun

The act of passing gas from the anus.

fascinate

verb

To hold someone's intense interest or attraction.

fascinated

adj

Extremely interested in or captivated by something.

fascinating

adj

Extremely interesting; capable of holding someone's attention completely.

fascination

noun

A strong feeling of interest in or attraction to something.

fascism

noun

A far-right, authoritarian, and intensely nationalist political system marked by centralized dictatorial power and suppression of opposition.

fascist

noun

A supporter or member of a fascist movement or party.

fashion

noun

Popular styles of clothing and appearance at a given time, or the industry built around them.

fashionable

adj

In keeping with current trends and considered stylish.

fashionably

adv

In a fashionable or stylish manner.

fashioned

adj

Made or shaped in a particular style (often as part of the phrase "old-fashioned").

fast

adj

Moving or able to move at high speed; quick.

fastball

noun

A pitch in baseball thrown at high speed, usually with little curve or spin.

fasten

verb

To attach or close something securely.

faster

adj

The comparative form of "fast" — moving with greater speed.

fastidious

adj

Extremely careful about small details, especially cleanliness and order; hard to please.

fasting

noun

Going without food, often for religious, spiritual, or health reasons.

fat

noun

A soft, greasy substance stored in the body (or found in food) that provides energy.

Fatah

name

A major Palestinian political and nationalist movement.

fatal

adj

Causing death.

fatality

noun

A death caused by an accident, disaster, or violence.

fatally

adv

In a way that causes death.

fate

noun

The power thought to control everything that happens, seen as unavoidable; also, the eventual outcome awaiting someone or something.

fated

adj

Destined to happen; determined in advance as if by fate.

fateful

adj

Having major, often life-changing, consequences.

Fateh

name

A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "conqueror" or "victor."

Fates

name

In Greek mythology, the three goddesses (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos) said to control human destiny.

fathead

noun

(informal) A stupid or foolish person.

father

noun

A male parent.

fatherhood

noun

The state or experience of being a father.

fatherland

noun

One's native country, especially spoken of with strong patriotic feeling.

fatherless

adj

Without a father, whether through death, absence, or separation.

fatherly

adj

Kind, protective, and caring in the way typically associated with a good father.

fathom

noun

A unit of length equal to six feet (about 1.8 metres), traditionally used to measure the depth of water.

fatigue

noun

Extreme tiredness, whether physical or mental, from exertion or lack of rest.

fatigued

adj

Very tired; worn out.

fatigues

noun

Loose, practical clothing worn by soldiers for everyday duties or combat.

Fatima

name

A feminine given name of Arabic origin, borne by the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad.

fatso

noun

(offensive, informal) An insulting term for someone who is overweight.

fatten

verb

To make an animal or person fatter, often by feeding them richly.

fattening

adj

Likely to cause weight gain, usually describing food high in calories.

fatty

adj

Containing a lot of fat, or greasy in texture.

faucet

noun

(chiefly US) A fitting that controls the flow of water from a pipe; called a "tap" in British English.

Faulkner

name

A surname, originally denoting someone who worked as a falconer.

fault

noun

Responsibility for a mistake or wrongdoing.

faulty

adj

Not working correctly; having a defect.

faun

noun

A mythological woodland creature with the legs and horns of a goat, known for revelry, similar to a satyr.

fauna

noun

The animals of a particular region, habitat, or time period, considered as a group.

Fauntleroy

name

A surname, best known from the children's novel character Little Lord Fauntleroy.

Faust

name

A legendary German scholar who, according to folklore, traded his soul to the Devil for knowledge and power.

faux

adj

Fake or imitation, especially of a material or style.

fave

noun

(informal) A favourite thing or person.

favela

noun

A densely populated, informal urban settlement, especially in Brazil, often lacking full access to public services.

favor

noun

(US spelling; UK "favour") A kind or helpful act done for someone.

favorably

adv

(US spelling; UK "favourably") In a positive or approving way.

favoring

noun

The act of preferring one thing or person over another.

Favorite

name

A surname derived from the common word "favorite," meaning a person or thing preferred above others.

Favors

noun

American spelling of the plural of favor: acts of kindness or approval given to someone.

favour

noun

British spelling of favor: a kind or helpful act, or approval and support shown toward someone.

favourable

adj

Showing approval, support, or goodwill.

favoured

adj

Given special treatment or preference over others.

favourite

adj

Liked more than any other of its kind.

Fawcett

name

An English surname, notably borne by American actress Farrah Fawcett.

Fawkes

name

An English surname, most famously borne by Guy Fawkes, the conspirator behind the 1605 Gunpowder Plot.

Fawlty

name

A surname invented for the title character of the British sitcom Fawlty Towers, a play on the word "faulty."

fawn

noun

A young deer, usually under a year old.

fawning

adj

Excessively flattering or servile in trying to win approval.

fax

noun

A document sent electronically over a phone line to be printed at the other end, or the machine that sends and receives such documents.

faxed

verb

Past tense of fax: sent a document electronically over a phone line.

faxing

noun

The act of sending a document by fax machine.

fay

noun

A fairy or fairy-like being (a somewhat old-fashioned literary word).

Faye

name

A feminine given name of French origin, meaning "fairy" or possibly derived from "faith."

Fayed

name

An Arabic surname, notably borne by the Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed.

faze

verb

To disturb, unsettle, or worry someone (usually used in the negative, "not fazed").

Fazio

name

An Italian surname, derived from a medieval given name.

FBI

noun

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States' main domestic intelligence and federal law enforcement agency.

Fe

noun

A librarians' size code for a book roughly 7.5 to 10 cm tall — one forty-eighth of a standard printing sheet.

fealty

noun

Loyalty and formal obedience owed by a vassal to a feudal lord; more broadly, sworn faithfulness or allegiance.

fear

noun

A strong, unpleasant feeling caused by the sense of danger or threat.

feared

adj

Regarded with fear or dread by others.

fearful

adj

Feeling afraid or anxious.

fearfully

adv

In a way that shows fear.

fearing

verb

Present participle of fear: feeling afraid of or worried about something.

fearless

adj

Showing no fear; brave.

fearlessly

adv

In a brave manner, without showing fear.

Fears

noun

Plural of fear: feelings of being afraid, or things that worry someone.

fearsome

adj

Frightening, especially in appearance or reputation.

feasible

adj

Able to be done or carried out in practice.

feast

noun

A large, often celebratory meal.

feasting

noun

The act of eating a large, celebratory meal.

feat

noun

An impressive or difficult achievement.

feather

noun

One of the light, branching structures covering a bird's body, used for flight and insulation.

feathered

adj

Covered in feathers.

Featherstone

name

An English surname and place name, likely referring to a rock resembling a feather.

feature

noun

A distinctive or noticeable part or quality of something.

featured

adj

Given special or prominent placement or treatment.

featuring

noun

A guest appearance or performance by one artist on another artist's track.

February

noun

The second month of the year, coming between January and March, and the shortest month, with an extra day added in leap years.

fecal

adj

Relating to feces or bodily waste.

feces

noun

Solid bodily waste passed out of the digestive system.

feck

noun

(Scots) Effectiveness, value, or vigor.

feckless

adj

Lacking direction, competence, or effectiveness; irresponsible and ineffective.

fed

noun

A federal law-enforcement agent, especially in the US.

Fede

name

A masculine given name, commonly used in Italian and Spanish as a short form of Federico or Federica.

federal

adj

Relating to a system where a central government shares power with state or regional governments.

federation

noun

A group of states, organizations, or groups joined together under one central governing body while keeping some independence.

Federico

name

A masculine given name, the Italian and Spanish form of Frederick, meaning "peaceful ruler."

FedEx

name

FedEx, a major courier and package delivery company.

Fedor

name

A masculine given name, the Russian form of Theodore, meaning "gift of God."

fedora

noun

A soft felt hat with a creased crown and a brim that can be turned up or down.

Fedya

name

A Russian diminutive form of the given name Fedor (Theodore).

fee

noun

A charge or payment required for a service, privilege, or right.

feeble

adj

Physically weak, lacking strength.

feed

verb

To give food to a person or animal.

feedback

noun

Comments or reactions about how well something worked, used to guide improvement.

feeding

noun

The act of giving food, or an instance of a baby or animal being fed.

feel

verb

To become aware of something through the sense of touch.

feeling

noun

An emotion or emotional state.

feels

noun

(informal, plural) Strong or tender emotions.