English dictionary — definitions & meanings

forlorn

adj

Sad and lonely, especially from feeling abandoned.

forlornness

noun

The state or characteristic of being forlorn; sadness; loneliness.

form

noun

The shape or visible structure of something.

formal

adj

Following official or established rules and conventions.

formaldehyde

noun

A colorless gas with a strong smell, used in embalming fluid, disinfectants, and manufacturing.

formalist

noun

An overly formal person, especially one who adheres to current forms; a stickler

formality

noun

A required official procedure, often just a routine step.

formalize

verb

To give something a definite form; to shape.

formally

adv

In an official or proper way.

Forman

name

A surname, a variant spelling of Foreman, historically denoting an overseer of workers.

format

noun

The way something is laid out or presented — its structure, style, or arrangement.

formation

noun

The process of coming together or taking shape.

formative

adj

Having a strong influence on how someone or something develops.

formed

verb

Past tense and past participle of form: brought into existence, made, or arranged into a particular shape or structure.

former

adj

Existing or happening before now; previous.

formerly

adv

At an earlier time; previously.

formica

noun

A hard, heat-resistant laminate used to cover kitchen counters and furniture surfaces.

formicary

noun

An ant colony, a pile of earth built by ants in which they nest.

formidability

noun

The state of being formidable.

formidable

adj

Impressively strong, capable, or intimidating.

forming

noun

The process of taking shape or being created.

formless

adj

Without form; shapeless.

formosa

name

Synonym of Taiwan: an island of East Asia.

formula

noun

Any mathematical rule expressed symbolically.

formulate

verb

To develop and express an idea, plan, or statement clearly and precisely.

formulation

noun

The act, process, or result of formulating or reducing to a formula.

formulative

adj

Serving to formulate something.

fornicate

verb

To have sexual intercourse, especially outside marriage.

fornicating

verb

Present participle of "fornicate" — having sexual intercourse, typically outside marriage; also used loosely and crudely as a generic intensifier in place of a stronger swear word.

fornication

noun

Sexual intercourse between people who are not married to each other.

fornicator

noun

An unmarried person who engages in sexual intercourse, especially when considered to be of an illicit or illegal nature.

fornicatress

noun

A female fornicator; a fornicatrix.

forpass

verb

To go by; pass, go past; pass unnoticed; cross.

forrader

adv

Pronunciation spelling of forwarder.

Forrest

name

A masculine given name and surname, a variant spelling of Forest.

Forrester

name

An English surname, an occupational name for a forest keeper or gamekeeper.

forsake

verb

To abandon or give up someone or something, often permanently.

forsaken

adj

Left alone and abandoned; deserted.

forsaking

noun

The act of abandoning or giving up someone or something.

forsay

verb

to forbid; to renounce

forshape

verb

To metamorphose; change the shape of; transform.

forslow

verb

To be dilatory about; put off; postpone; neglect; omit.

forsooth

adv

Used as an intensifier, often ironic: indeed, really, truthfully.

forspeak

verb

To injure or cause bad luck through immoderate praise or flattery; to affect with the curse of an evil tongue, which brings ill luck upon all objects of its praise.

Forster

name

An English surname, a variant spelling of Forrester or Foster.

forswart

verb

To blacken; make or become swart or swarthy; sunburn.

forswear

verb

To renounce or deny something, especially under oath.

Forsyte

name

A surname, notably the fictional family name in John Galsworthy's "The Forsyte Saga."

Forsyth

name

A Scottish surname and place name.

Forsythe

name

A surname, a variant spelling of Forsyth.

fort

noun

A strong structure built to defend a place, usually staffed with troops.

forte

noun

Something a person is especially good at; a strong point.

Fortescue

name

An English surname of Norman origin, meaning "strong shield."

forth

adv

Forward, onward, or into view.

forthbring

verb

To bring forth; bring out; produce.

forthcoming

adj

About to happen or be released soon.

forthink

verb

To cause distress or regret to; cause to regret or repent; to vex.

forthputting

noun

The act of putting or bringing forth; output; production.

forthright

adj

Direct and honest in speech; not evasive.

forthrightness

noun

The characteristic or quality of being forthright

forthwith

adv

Immediately, without any delay.

forthy

adv

For this, for this reason; on this account.

forties

noun

The years of a decade numbered in the 40s, such as the 1940s.

fortification

noun

A wall, tower, ditch or other structure built to defend a place against attack.

fortified

adj

Made stronger against attack, especially with walls or defenses.

fortify

verb

To strengthen a place against attack, usually with walls or defenses.

fortifying

noun

The process by which something is fortified.

fortissimo

adv

Indicating that the piece is to be played very loudly.

fortitude

noun

Mental strength that helps someone face hardship or danger with courage.

fortitudinous

adj

Having fortitude; courageous.

fortnight

noun

A period of two weeks.

fortnightly

adj

Occurring once in a fortnight; once every two weeks.

fortress

noun

A large, heavily defended building or town built to withstand attack.

fortuitous

adj

Happening by chance, especially in a lucky or fortunate way.

fortuitously

adv

In a fortuitous manner; in a manner of happening by chance; coincidentally; accidentally.

fortuity

noun

The state of being fortuitous.

Fortuna

name

The Roman goddess of fortune and luck; also used as a given name and place name.

fortunate

adj

Having good luck; favored by fortunate circumstances.

fortunately

adv

Used to introduce a piece of good luck.

fortune

noun

A very large amount of money or wealth.

fortuneless

adj

Destitute of a fortune or portion; without money.

forty

num

The number after thirty-nine and before forty-one; 40.

forum

noun

A place, meeting, or event set up for open discussion of a topic.

forward

adj

Located at or moving toward the front.

forwarding

noun

The act of sending mail, messages, or goods on to their next destination.

forwardness

noun

The quality of being forward.

forwards

adv

Toward the front, or ahead in time or progress — used the same way as "forward".

forwhy

conj

Because; for the reason that.

forwork

verb

To forfeit (a possession, privilege, etc.); ruin (oneself) by one's own conduct.

foss

noun

A waterfall (used especially in place names and dialect, particularly in northern England).

Fosse

name

A surname, notably that of choreographer and director Bob Fosse.

fossil

noun

The preserved remains or traces of an ancient plant or animal, usually turned to stone over time.

fossilized

adj

Turned into a fossil; preserved in rock over a very long time.

foster

verb

To raise or care for a child who is not biologically one's own.

fosterage

noun

The act of fostering another's child as if it were one's own.

fostering

noun

The practice of raising a child who is not one's biological offspring.

fou

adj

Drunk (a Scots dialect word).

Foucault

name

A French surname, notably borne by the physicist Léon Foucault and the philosopher Michel Foucault.

Fought

verb

Past tense and past participle of "fight."

foul

adj

Dirty, disgusting, or unpleasant, especially in smell or taste.

fouling

noun

The adhesion of a foreign material onto a surface, especially so as to reduce its functionality.

foulness

name

An island on the east coast of Essex where the Thames estuary joins the North Sea.

foumart

noun

A European polecat; a member of the Mustelidae family.

found

verb

Past tense and past participle of "find."

found out

verb

Past tense and past participle of find out: learned or discovered something previously unknown.

foundation

noun

The solid base that supports a building or structure.

foundational

adj

Of or relating to a foundation or foundations.

founded

adj

Having a solid basis or justification.

founder

noun

A person who establishes an organization, company, or institution.

founding

noun

The act of establishing something, such as an organization or nation.

foundling

noun

An abandoned baby or child found and cared for by someone other than its parents.

foundry

noun

A factory where metal is melted and poured into molds to make products.

fount

noun

Synonym of fountain (“a natural source of water”); a spring.

fountain

noun

A structure that shoots or sprays water, often as a decoration in a public space.

four

num

The number 4, one more than three.

Fournier

name

A French surname.

fourpence

noun

A monetary amount of four pence.

fours

noun

A group or set of four things, or a position on hands and knees.

foursome

noun

A group of four people, especially as a team or in a game like golf.

foursquare

adj

Having four equal sides; square.

fourteen

num

The number 14, one more than thirteen.

fourteenth

adj

Coming after the thirteenth in a sequence; the ordinal form of fourteen.

fourth

adj

Coming after the third in a sequence; the ordinal form of four.

Foust

name

A surname.

fouthy

adj

Ample; plentiful; free in giving; generous; hospitable.

fowl

noun

A bird, especially one raised or hunted for food, such as chickens, ducks, or geese.

fowler

noun

A person who hunts wild birds.

fox

noun

A small, wild, dog-like mammal known for its pointed snout, bushy tail, and cunning reputation.

foxglove

noun

Any member of the genus Digitalis of about twenty species of herbaceous biennials native to the Old World, certain of which are prized for their showy flowers. The drug digitalis or digoxin was first isolated from the plant.

foxhole

noun

A small pit dug in the ground for a soldier to shelter in during combat.

foxiness

noun

The characteristic or quality of being foxy.

foxship

noun

The character or qualities of a fox; foxiness; craftiness; cunning.

foxtrot

noun

A ballroom dance performed to slow or medium-tempo music, combining slow and quick steps.

Foxx

name

A surname, notably used by entertainers such as Jamie Foxx and Redd Foxx.

foxy

adj

Cunning or sly, like a fox.

foy

noun

A farewell feast given by someone about to leave a place (archaic).

foyer

noun

The entrance hall or lobby of a building such as a hotel or theater.

Foyle

name

A river in Ireland that flows through Derry (Londonderry) and forms part of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

FP

noun

A false positive: a test, filter or detector result that wrongly indicates something is present when it is not.

fr

interjection

Short for 'for real', used to insist that what you have just said is true or to agree emphatically with someone.

fra

noun

A title placed before the name of a Roman Catholic friar or monk, similar to "Brother."

frabjous

adj

Fabulous, joyous; great, wonderful.

fracas

noun

A loud, chaotic argument, fight, or disturbance.

Frack

verb

To extract oil or gas from rock by injecting high-pressure fluid to crack it open (hydraulic fracturing).

fracking

noun

A drilling method that cracks open underground rock with pressurized fluid to release trapped oil or gas.

fractal

noun

A complex geometric shape whose pattern repeats at every scale, so zooming in reveals the same kind of structure again and again.

fraction

noun

A part of a whole, especially a small one.

fractional

adj

Pertaining to a fraction.

fractious

adj

Given to troublemaking.

fracture

noun

A break, crack, or split — especially in a bone, but also in rock or other hard material.