English dictionary — definitions & meanings

fib

noun

A small, usually harmless lie.

fibbing

noun

The act of telling small, harmless lies.

fiber

noun

A thin, thread-like strand of material, often twisted together with others to make thread or cloth.

Fibonacci

adj

Relating to the Fibonacci sequence, in which each number is the sum of the two before it.

fibre

noun

A thin, thread-like strand of material, often twisted together with others to make thread or cloth.

fibril

noun

A fine fibre or filament.

fibrosis

noun

The buildup of excess fibrous tissue in an organ, often as a result of injury or disease.

fibrous

adj

Of or pertaining to fibre.

fibula

noun

The thinner of the two bones in the lower leg, running alongside the shin bone.

fickle

adj

Changing opinions, loyalties, or feelings often and without warning.

fico

noun

a fig; an insignificant trifle

fiction

noun

Writing about imaginary people and events, rather than real ones.

fictional

adj

Existing only in a story; invented rather than real.

fictitious

adj

Invented or false, especially in order to deceive.

ficus

noun

Any plant of the fig genus, including the common houseplant known as the rubber plant.

fiddle

noun

A violin, especially as played in folk, country, or bluegrass music.

fiddler

noun

A person who plays the fiddle.

fiddlestick

noun

One of a pair of sticks, similar to drumsticks, used by a second player to percuss the strings of a fiddle while the main player plays via bow.

fiddlesticks

intj

An old-fashioned exclamation of dismissal, meaning "nonsense."

fiddling

noun

The act of playing the fiddle, or of fidgeting and tinkering with something.

FIDE

name

The International Chess Federation, the governing body for competitive chess worldwide.

Fidel

name

A Spanish male given name, meaning "faithful."

fidelity

noun

Faithfulness or loyalty, especially to a spouse or partner.

fidget

verb

To move restlessly or make small nervous movements.

fidgetiness

noun

The state or condition of being fidgety.

fidgeting

noun

Small, restless movements made without really meaning to, usually from boredom or nervousness.

fidgets

noun

A state of nervous restlessness, causing a person to fidget.

fidgety

adj

Unable to sit or stay still; restless, often from nerves, boredom, or impatience.

fido

noun

In coin collecting: a coin that was struck incorrectly at the mint, making it unusual and often more valuable to collectors.

fiduciary

noun

A person or organisation legally required to manage money or property in someone else's best interests rather than their own, such as a trustee, executor or certain financial advisers.

fie

intj

An old-fashioned exclamation of disapproval, disgust, or mock outrage, sometimes followed by "on" or "upon."

fief

noun

Historically, land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service.

field

noun

An open area of land, especially one used for growing crops, grazing animals, or playing sports.

fieldable

adj

Able to be fielded.

fielder

noun

In cricket or baseball, a player positioned to catch or stop the ball rather than bat.

fielding

noun

The act or skill of catching and returning the ball in cricket, baseball, and similar sports.

fiend

noun

An evil or demonic being; by extension, a cruel or wicked person.

fiendish

adj

Extremely cruel or wicked, as if inspired by a demon.

fiendship

noun

The state, quality, or condition of being a fiend.

fierce

adj

Aggressively powerful, intense, or savage.

fiercely

adv

In an intense, aggressive, or forceful manner.

fierceness

noun

The state of being fierce.

Fierro

name

A Spanish and Italian surname meaning "iron."

fiery

adj

Consisting of, resembling, or full of fire; burning or glowing.

fiesta

noun

A festive celebration or party, especially one with cultural or religious roots in Spanish-speaking traditions.

FIFA

name

The International Federation of Association Football, the governing body of world soccer; also the name of a long-running football video game series.

fife

noun

A small, high-pitched flute-like instrument traditionally played alongside drums in military music.

fifi

name

A common female pet or given name, often used affectionately or as a stereotype of a pampered small dog.

fifteen

num

The number after fourteen and before sixteen; 15.

fifteenth

adj

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

fifth

adj

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

fifties

noun

The decade from 50 to 59 in a century, most often referring to the 1950s.

fifty

num

The number after forty-nine and before fifty-one; 50.

fig

noun

A soft, sweet fruit full of tiny seeds, grown on trees or shrubs of the genus Ficus.

Figaro

noun

A clever, resourceful person, especially one skilled at getting out of tricky situations.

fight

verb

To engage in physical combat or violence with someone.

fighter

noun

A person who fights, especially a soldier, boxer, or martial artist.

fighting

noun

The act of engaging in combat or conflict.

figment

noun

Something invented or imagined that has no basis in reality.

Figueroa

name

A Spanish surname, originally derived from a place name meaning "fig tree."

figurative

adj

Using words in a non-literal, symbolic way, such as through metaphor or simile, rather than their exact meaning.

figurative language

noun

Words and phrases used in a way that departs from their literal meaning in order to create an image, comparison or effect, as in metaphor, simile, personification and hyperbole.

figuratively

adv

In a symbolic or metaphorical way, rather than exactly as the words state.

figure

noun

A number or numerical value.

figured

adj

Decorated with a pattern or design.

figurehead

noun

A carved decorative figure mounted on the bow of an old sailing ship.

figures

phrase

Used to say that something is exactly what you expected, often with a hint of resignation or irritation.

figurine

noun

A small statue or carved figure, often decorative.

figuring

noun

The process of calculating or working something out.

Fiji

name

An island country in the South Pacific Ocean, made up of more than 300 islands.

fil

noun

A traditional Nordic soured-milk product similar to yogurt, made using a different bacterial culture that gives it its own tang and texture.

filament

noun

A very thin thread or wire-like strand.

filamentous

adj

Thin and elongated; wirelike.

filbert

noun

The hazelnut.

filch

verb

To illegally take possession of (something, especially items of low value); to pilfer, to steal.

filcher

noun

One who filches; a thief.

filching

noun

The act of one who filches; theft.

file

noun

A collection of related documents or data stored together, whether on paper or on a computer.

files

name

Ellipsis of Epstein files

filial

adj

Relating to, or fitting for, a son or daughter's relationship with a parent.

filiation

noun

The condition of being a child of a specified parent.

filibuster

noun

A tactic used in a legislature — typically extended, often irrelevant speeches — to stall a vote or block a decision.

filibusterer

noun

A person who filibusters.

filing

noun

A tiny shaving or particle scraped off by a file or similar tool.

filipina

noun

A female citizen or local inhabitant of the Philippines, or descendant of such.

Filipino

noun

A person from the Philippines, or someone descended from Philippine ancestry.

fill

verb

To add enough of something to a container or space so that nothing more can fit.

fillan

name

A river, the River Fillan in Stirling council area, Scotland, which forms an upper section of the River Tay above Loch Dochart, through Strath Fillan and Crianlarich.

filled

adj

Made completely full.

filler

noun

A substance used to fill a gap, crack, or hole.

fillet

noun

A boneless strip or piece of meat or fish.

filleted

adj

Gutted; very disappointed or let down.

filling

noun

The material used to fill a cavity in a tooth, or the substance itself.

fillip

noun

Something that gives a sudden boost, lift or stimulus to an activity, mood or market.

Fillmore

name

An English surname, also notable as the name of the 13th U.S. President, Millard Fillmore.

filly

noun

A young female horse.

film

noun

A movie; a sequence of moving images meant to be watched as a narrative or artistic work.

filmdom

noun

The film (movie) industry; the people who work in that industry.

filmed

adj

Covered with a thin coating or layer.

filmic

adj

Of or relating to movies; cinematic.

filming

noun

The process of recording a movie, show, or other footage.

filmmaker

noun

Someone who directs or produces movies.

filmmaking

noun

The craft or business of producing movies.

filmy

adj

Resembling or made of a thin film; gauzy.

filter

noun

A device or material that removes unwanted particles, substances, or signals from something passing through it.

filtered

adj

Having passed through a filter, or fitted with one.

filtering

noun

The process of passing something through a filter to remove unwanted parts.

filth

noun

Disgusting dirt or grime.

filthiness

noun

The property of being filthy.

filthy

adj

Extremely dirty.

filtrate

noun

The liquid or solution that has passed through a filter, and which has been separated from other fractions of the original material.

filtration

noun

The process of separating solid particles from a liquid or gas by passing it through a filter.

filum

noun

a filamentous anatomical structure

fin

noun

One of the flat, wing-like parts on a fish or marine animal used for swimming and steering.

fina

contraction

An African American Vernacular English form of "finna," meaning "about to" or "going to" — used to talk about something you intend to do very soon.

finagle

verb

To obtain, arrange, or achieve by indirect, complicated and/or intensive efforts.

final

adj

Coming at the end; last.

finale

noun

The grand concluding part of a performance, event, or series.

finalist

noun

A competitor who has reached the final round of a contest.

finalize

verb

To complete or settle something so it becomes fixed and final.

finally

adv

At last, after a long wait or delay.

finance

noun

The management of money, investments, and other assets.

finances

noun

A person's or organization's overall money and financial resources.

financial

adj

Relating to money or finance.

financially

adv

In a way related to money or finances.

financials

noun

A company's financial statements, such as its income statement and balance sheet.

financier

noun

Someone who works professionally in large-scale finance or investment.

financing

noun

Money provided to fund a business, project, or purchase.

finch

noun

A small seed-eating songbird with a short, conical beak.

Fincher

name

An English surname, an occupational name for someone who worked with finches or caught birds.

Finchley

name

A suburban area in north London, England.

find

verb

To come across or discover something, whether by chance or by searching for it.

find out

phrasal verb

To learn something you did not previously know, either by asking, checking or discovering it by chance.

finder

noun

A person or device that locates something.

finding

noun

A conclusion reached after research or investigation.

findings

noun

Results or conclusions from an investigation or study.

findlay

name

A male given name

fine

adj

Of high quality; excellent.

finely

adv

Into small, thin, or delicate pieces.

fineness

noun

The quality or degree of being fine.

finer

noun

A person or thing that refines or purifies something, especially metal.

finery

noun

Elaborate or showy clothing and decoration.

fines

noun

Fine particles, whether or not airborne.

finesse

noun

Skilful and delicate handling of a difficult or sensitive situation.

finest

noun

A slang term for the police, or occasionally the military.

finfish

noun

Any fish, but especially fish other than flatfish

finger

noun

One of the five slender parts extending from the hand, used for touching, holding, and grasping.

fingerbreadth

noun

A (usually approximate and informal) unit of measurement based upon the radial width of the human finger.

fingered

adj

Having fingers, especially of a described type or number.

fingerer

noun

One who fingers, especially in the sense of sexual stimulation.