French–English dictionary

firme

(countable) A specific commercial enterprise or establishment.

firmware

(computing, software) Software that is intended for such embedded computer applications.

fissa

(informal) Rapid and without delay.

fissible

Able to be split.

fission

(biology) The process by which a bacterium splits to form two daughter cells.

fissionner

(transitive) To cause to undergo fission.

fissure

An opening, fissure, or V-shaped indentation made by or as if by splitting.

fiston

(dated) A familiar form of address for a boy. [1833]

fistule

(medicine) An abnormal connection or passageway between organs or vessels that normally do not connect.

fitter

(transitive, with to) To make conform in size and shape.

fixateur

(perfumery) The heavily volatile and thus most-lasting parts of a perfume, often of ligneous, resinous or animalic nature.

fixation

Any of several fastenings.

fixe

Fixed in position.

fixer

(transitive, legal) To fix the disposition of (property) by designating someone to take use of (it).

fixette

(idiomatic) Something of particular interest or concern; an obsession.

fixture

(computing, programming) A state that can be recreated, used as a baseline for running software tests.

fjord

A long, narrow, deep inlet between cliffs.

flaccide

Flaccid; flabby, resembling flesh.

flache

(woodworking) A rounded corner caused by lack of wood, often showing bark.

flacon

A container used to discreetly carry a small amount of a hard alcoholic beverage; a pocket flask.

flag

(computer science) A variable or memory location that stores a Boolean true-or-false, yes-or-no value, typically either recording the fact that a certain event has occurred or requesting that a certain optional action take place.

flagellation

Infliction of punishment by dealing blows or whipping.

flageller

(transitive) To whip or scourge as punishment.

flageoler

An unsteady movement of the body in walking or standing as if one were about to fall; a reeling motion.

flagornerie

The fawning behavior of a sycophant; servile flattery; fawningness.

flagorneur

One who uses obsequious compliments to gain self-serving favour or advantage from another; a servile flatterer.

flagrant

Conspicuous, exceptional, outstanding; usually in a negative sense.

flairer

(transitive) To sense a smell or smells.

Flamand

A native or inhabitant of Flanders in Belgium.

Flamande

A native or inhabitant of Flanders in Belgium.

flamant

(countable) A wading bird of the family Phoenicopteridae of the order Phoenicopteriformes.

flambage

The action of giving in (slightly) to pressure or stress by developing a bulge, bending or kinking (with the eventual risk of collapsing).

flambant

On fire with visible flames.

flambeau

A burning torch, especially one carried in procession.

flambée

A fire, especially a fast-burning fire producing a lot of flames and light.

flamber

(intransitive) To be on fire, especially producing bright flames.

flamboyant

Having the colour of fire.

flamenco

(uncountable) A genre of folk music and dance native to Andalusia, in Spain.

flamme

On fire; in a blaze. [Early 19th century.]

flamme postale

(philately) A cancellation combining a numerical cancellation with a second mark showing time, date, and place of posting.

flammèche

A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire, resulting from an electrical surge or excessive heat created by friction.

flanc

(nautical) One side of a ship above the water line; all the guns on one side of a warship; their simultaneous firing.

flanc de coteau

The side of a hill.

flanchet

(cooking) A cut of meat from the flank of an animal.

flanelle

(uncountable) A soft cloth material originally woven from wool, today often combined with cotton or synthetic fibers.

flâner

(intransitive, idiom) To engage in frivolous behaviour; to monkey around.

flânerie

A leisurely walk or stroll.

flâneur

One who wanders aimlessly, who roams, who travels at a lounging pace. One who walks to observe and enjoy rather than to get somewhere.

flapjack

(British) A bar made with rolled oats, butter, golden syrup, and brown sugar, baked in a tray.

flaque

A small and rather deep area of (usually) fresh water, as one supplied by a spring, or occurring in the course of a stream or river; a reservoir for water.

flaque d'eau

A small, often temporary, pool of water, usually on a path or road. [from 14th c.]

Flash

(DC Comics) Any of various DC Comics superheroes who have the power of superspeed, derived from an energy called the Speed Force.

flashback

(authorship) A dramatic device in which an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronological flow of a narrative.

flasque

Yielding to the touch, and easily moved or shaken; hanging loose by its own weight; lacking firmness; flaccid.

flatté

In a positive mood because of a comment or action which causes one to feel proud of oneself.

flatterie

(countable) An instance of excessive praise.

flatteur

In the nature of a compliment.

flatteuse

One who flatters.

flatulence

The state of having gas, often smelly, trapped (and when released, frequently with noise) in the digestive system of a human and some other animals; wind; and when released, a flatus, a fart.

flatulent

Affected by gas in the intestine; likely to break wind.

Flaubert

A surname from French.

fléau

(countable) A cause of misery or ruin.

fléau d'armes

A weapon which has the (usually spherical) striking part attached to the handle with a flexible joint such as a chain.

fléau d’armes

A weapon which has the (usually spherical) striking part attached to the handle with a flexible joint such as a chain.

fléchage

(uncountable) Signs, particularly those imparting commercial, directional, or road traffic information, taken collectively.

flèche

(colloquial, idiomatic, often, ironic) A person who is intelligent, clever or quick-witted.

fléchette

A small object with a pointed tip at one end and feathers at the other, which is thrown at a target in the game of darts.

fléchettes

A small object with a pointed tip at one end and feathers at the other, which is thrown at a target in the game of darts.

fléchir

(transitive, figurative) To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline.

flegme

(historical) One of the four humors making up the body in ancient and mediaeval medicine; said to be cold and moist, and often identified with mucus. [from 13th c.]

flemmard

(chiefly, Britain, Ireland, Commonwealth, idiomatic) Utterly lazy.

flemme

(now, literary) Sloth, slothfulness, especially as inducing general listlessness and apathy. [from 13th c.]

fléole

Other species of genus Phleum.

flet

A European species of flatfish having dull brown colouring with reddish-brown blotches; fluke, European flounder (Platichthys flesus).

flétan

A large flatfish of the genus Hippoglossus, which sometimes leaves the ocean floor and swims vertically.

flétri

That has lost some of its former vividness and colour.

flétrir

(transitive) To burn the flesh with a hot iron, either as a marker (for criminals, slaves etc.) or to cauterise a wound.

flétrissement

The act of wilting or the state of being wilted.

fleur

(countable) The person (or persons; or thing or things) that is (are) most excellent.

fleur bleue

Overly sappy, corny, or cheesy; maudlin.

fleur de l'impatience

Any of many herbs, of the genus Ranunculus, having yellow flowers; the crowfoot.

fleurer

(intransitive, copulative) Followed by like or of if descriptive: to have a particular smell, whether good or bad.

fleuret

(authorship, figuratively) In literature, theatre/theater, etc., a character who helps emphasize the traits of the main character and who usually acts as an opponent or antagonist, but can also serve as the sidekick of the protagonist.

fleurir

(intransitive) To have, or open into, blossoms; to bloom.

fleurissement

The act by which something blooms.

fleuriste

A person who sells flowers.

fleuron

(architectural element) Especially in Gothic architecture: an ornament, often in the form of a bunch or knot of foliage, on the peak of the gable of a roof, a pediment, a pinnacle, etc.

fleuve

A large and often winding stream which drains a land mass, carrying water down from higher areas to a lower point, oftentimes ending in another body of water, such as an ocean or in an inland sea.

fleuve Bleu

(archaic) The Yangtze river in China.

flexibiliser

(transitive) To make flexible/more flexible.

flexibilité

The quality of being flexible, whether physically or metaphorically.

flexible

Returning quickly to original shape after force is applied; elastic. (of objects or substances)

flexion

Capable of being bent without breaking; able to be turned or twisted without breaking.

flibustier

(historical) A mercenary soldier; a freebooter; specifically, a mercenary who travelled illegally in an organized group from the United States to a country in Central America or the Spanish West Indies in the mid-19th century seeking economic and political benefits through armed force.

flic

(informal) A police officer or prison guard.

flicaille

(US, slang, with "the") The police, or any law enforcement agency.

flics

(US, slang, with "the") The police, or any law enforcement agency.

flingue

A personal weapon that uses explosive powder to propel a projectile often made of lead.

flippant

(informal) Producing an uneasy fearful sensation, as of things crawling over one's skin.

flipper

(informal, intransitive) To react with extreme anger or fear, to the extent that one loses one's composure or behaves irrationally.

flirt

Playful flirtation; amorous play. [from 14th c.]

flirter

(ambitransitive) To caress, especially of a sexual nature; to fondle or pet

flo

(colloquial) An inexperienced person or one in a junior position.

floche

(poker) A hand consisting of all cards with the same suit.

flocon

A loose filmy mass or a thin chiplike layer of anything

flocon d'avoine

Seeds of an oat plant, especially prepared as food.

flocons d'avoine

Meal made from rolled or round oats.

flocons de maïs

A breakfast cereal made from toasted flakes of maize.

flooder

(Internet, ambitransitive) To paste numerous lines of text to (a chat system) in order to disrupt the conversation.

flop

An object, person or endeavour in a state of failure, has failed at something or incapable of success.

flopée

(figuratively) Any large, excessive, or overwhelming amount of anything.

Flora

A en given name.

floraison

(uncountable) The opening of flowers in general; the state of blossoming or of having the flowers open.

floral

Of, pertaining to, or connected with flowers.

Flore

(Roman god) the goddess of flowers, nature and spring; she is also the wife of Favonius and the mother of Karpos. She is the Roman counterpart of Chloris.

flore intestinale

The microorganisms that inhabit some part of the body.

florentin

Of, from or relating to the city of Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

Florentine

A native or inhabitant of the city of Florence, Tuscany, Italy.

florilège

A collection of literary works, such as poems or short stories, especially a collection from various authors.

florin

The current currency unit in the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands, divided into 100 cents.

florissant

Thriving in health, beauty, and vigor, vigour; indicating the freshness and beauties of youth or health.

florissante

Thriving in health, beauty, and vigor, vigour; indicating the freshness and beauties of youth or health.

flot

A large wave, swell, surge, or undulating mass of something, such as water, smoke, fabric or sound

flottable

Having buoyancy; able to float.

flottant

Having buoyancy; able to float.

flotte

(slang) Water.

flotter

(intransitive) To extend; to stretch out with a wavy motion; to float in the wind.

flotteur

(nautical) A float moored in water to mark a location, warn of danger, indicate a navigational channel or for other purposes

flottille

(nautical) A small fleet of warships (usually of the same class), or a fleet of small ships.

flou

Something that appears hazy or indistinct.

flouter

(printing, dated) To blur or double, as an impression from type; to mackle.

flouze

(uncountable, slang) Money.

flow

A particular way in which one grooms, adorns, dresses, or carries oneself; (specifically) a way thought to be attractive or fashionable.

fluage

(materials science) An increase in strain with time; the gradual flow or deformation of a material under stress.

fluctuer

(intransitive) To vary irregularly; to swing.

fluide

(not comparable) Of or relating to fluid.

fluide caloporteur

A medium, usually fluid, used to draw heat from an object.

flume

An open channel or trough used to direct or divert liquids, especially to carry materials (logs, mined material, etc) or people (as a water slide), especially (but not always) one where the walls are raised above the surrounding terrain rather than recessed like a ditch.

fluorescent

Of or relating to fluorescence.

fluorophore

(biochemistry) A molecule or functional group which is capable of fluorescence.

fluorure

(chemistry) The anionic form of a fluorine atom.

flush

(poker) A hand consisting of all cards with the same suit.

flute

(euphemistic, now sometimes specifically interpreted as a euphemism for 'fuck') Darn! Expresses mild dismay or annoyance.

flûte à bec

(musical instrument) A musical instrument of the woodwind family; a type of fipple flute, a simple internal duct flute.

flûte à champagne

A glass with a long, narrow bowl and a long stem, used for drinking wine, especially champagne.

flûter

(intransitive) To play on a flute.

flux

The period between low tide and the next high tide of the sea as the water flows toward the shore

foc

(nautical, usually with a modifier) Any of a variety of specialty triangular staysails set forward of the foremast.

focaliser

(transitive) To cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point.

foehn

A warm dry wind blowing down the north sides of the Alps, especially in Switzerland.