fox snake a common, harmless rat snake (Elaphe vulpina), with a yellowish background color and a series of dark blotches on the back

fox squirrel a variously colored tree squirrel (Sciurus niger) of E North America

fox terrier any of a breed of terrier having a long, lean head, a white coat with dark markings, and an erect tail, formerly trained to drive foxes out of hiding: there are two varieties, the smooth, with a flat, hard, dense coat, and the wire (or wirehaired), whose coat has a wiry texture

fox trot 1 a slow gait in which a horse moves its forelegs in a trot and its hind legs in a long-striding pace 2 a) a dance for couples in 4/4 time with a variety of steps, both fast and slow b) the music for such a dance fox´-trot', -trot'ted, -trot'ting, •vi.

Foxe Basin (fäks) arm of the Atlantic Ocean, in NE Canada, west of Baffin Island: c. 3,500 sq. mi. (9,065 sq. km)

foxglove (fäks´glûv') •n. DIGITALIS [ME foxes glove < OE foxes glofa, fox's glove]

foxhole (fäks´houl') •n. a hole dug in the ground as a temporary protection for one or two soldiers against enemy gunfire or tanks

foxhound (-haund') •n. a hound of either of two breeds (American foxhound and English foxhound) with a close, hard coat of black, tan, and white and ears set close to the head: the English breed has a heavier build, but both are noted for their endurance and have been trained to hunt foxes and other game

foxtail (fäks´teil') •n. 1 the bushy tail of a fox 2 any of various grasses (esp. genus Setaria) having cylindrical spikes bearing spikelets interspersed with stiff bristles

foxtail lily EREMURUS

foxtail millet a cultivated annual grass (Setaria italica) with dense, lobed, bristly spikes containing small grains, grown in Eurasia for grain and forage and in America mainly for birdseed

foxy (fäk´si:) fox´i·er, fox´i·est •adj. 1 foxlike; crafty; wily; sly 2 having the reddish-brown color of a fox 3 discolored by brownish or yellowish stains, as the leaves of an old book Æ 4 having the characteristic flavor of fox grapes: said of certain wines Æ 5 [Slang] attractive, stylish, etc.; specif., sexually attractive: used esp. of women SYN. SLY fox´i·ly •adv. fox´i·ness •n.

foy (foi) •n. [Now Chiefly Scot.] 1 a feast, present, etc. given by or to a person departing on a journey 2 a feast at the end of a harvest or fishing season [MDu foy, fooi, voye, prob. < OFr voie < L via, way, journey: see VIA]

foyer (foi´эr; also foi´ei', -yei'; foi ei´, -yei´) •n. an entrance hall or lobby, esp. in a theater, hotel, or apartment house [Fr, lobby, greenroom, lit., hearth < ML focarium < focarius, of the hearth < L focus, hearth: see FOCUS]

fp 1 foot-pound(s): also FP 2 Music fortepiano 3 freezing point

FPC 1 Federal Power Commission (1920-77) 2 fish protein concentrate: see FISH FLOUR

fpm feet per minute

FPO U.S. Navy Fleet Post Office

fps 1 feet per second 2 foot-pound-second (system) 3 Photog. frames per second

fr 1 fragment 2 franc(s) 3 frequent 4 from Fr 1 Brother [L frater] 2 Father 3 Chem. symbol for francium 4 Frau [Ger] 5 French 6 Friar

Fra (frä) •n. brother: title given to an Italian monk or friar [It, abbrev. of frate < L frater, BROTHER]

frabjous (fræb´jэs) •adj. [Colloq.] splendid; magnificent [coined by Lewis CARROLL in Through the Looking-Glass]

fracas (frei´kэs; also fræ´-; Brit fræ´kä') •n. a noisy fight or loud quarrel; brawl [Fr < It fracasso < fracassare, to smash, prob. blend < frangere (< L: see BREAK) + cassare, to quash, break < L quassare: see QUASH²]

fractal (fræk´tªl) •n. Geom. an extremely irregular line or surface formed of an infinite number of similarly irregular sections: fractals have fractional dimension between one and two, or between two and three, dimensions [< L fractus (see FRACTUS) + -AL]

fraction (fræk´shэn) •n. 1 a breaking or dividing, specif., of the Host in the Mass 2 a) a small part broken off; fragment; scrap b) a small part, amount, degree, etc.; portion 3 Chem. a part separated by fractional crystallization, distillation, etc. 4 Math. a) an indicated quotient of two whole numbers, as ¹³/4, ²/5 b) any quantity expressed in terms of a numerator and denominator, as x/y •vt. to separate into fractions [ME < L fractio, a breaking < pp. of frangere, BREAK]

fractional (fræk´shэ nэl) •adj. 1 of or forming a fraction or fractions 2 very small; unimportant; insignificant 3 Chem. designating or of any of various processes for separating the constituents of a mixture by taking advantage of differences in their solubility, boiling points, etc. {fractional distillation} Also frac´tion·ar'y frac´tion·al·ly •adv.

fractional currency small coins or paper money of a denomination less than the standard monetary unit {dimes and pennies are fractional currency}

fractionalize (-nэl aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to divide into fractions, or parts: also frac´tion·ize', -ized', -iz'ing frac'tion·al·i·za´tion or frac'tion·i·za´tion •n.

fractionate (fræk´shэn eit') -at'ed, -at'ing •vt. 1 to separate into fractions, or parts 2 Chem. to separate into fractions by crystallization, distillation, etc. frac'tion·a´tion •n.

fractious (fræk´shэs) •adj. 1 hard to manage; unruly; rebellious; refractory 2 peevish; irritable; cross frac´tious·ly •adv. frac´tious·ness •n. [prob. < FRACTION (in obs. sense discord) + -OUS]

fracture (fræk´chэr) •n. 1 a breaking or being broken 2 a break, crack, or split 3 a break in a body part, esp. in a bone, or a tear in a cartilage: see COMPOUND FRACTURE 4 the texture of the broken surface of a mineral as distinct from its cleavage •vt., vi. -tured, -tur·ing 1 to break, crack, or split 2 to break up; disrupt SYN. BREAK frac´tur·al •adj. [ME < OFr < L fractura, a breaking, breach, cleft < pp. of frangere, BREAK]

fractus (fræk´tэs) •n. a species of cumulus clouds (cumulus fractus) or stratus clouds (stratus fractus) with a ragged, shredded appearance [L, pp. of frangere, BREAK]

frae (frei) •prep. [Scot.] from

fraenum (fri:´nэm) pl. -nums or -na (-nэ) •n. FRENUM

frag (fræg) fragged, frag´ging •vt. [Mil. Slang] to intentionally kill or wound (one's superior officer, etc.), esp. with a hand grenade [< frag(mentation grenade)]

fragile (fræj´эl; chiefly Brit & Cdn, -ail) •adj. 1 easily broken, damaged, or destroyed 2 physically weak; frail; delicate 3 tenuous; flimsy {a fragile hope} fra·gil·i·ty (frэ jil´э ti:) •n. SYN.—fragile implies such delicacy of structure as to be easily broken [a fragile china teacup]; frangible adds to this the connotation of liability to being broken because of the use to which the thing is put [the handle on this ax seems frangible]; brittle implies such inelasticity as to be easily broken or shattered by pressure or a blow [the bones of the body become brittle with age]; crisp suggests a desirable sort of brittleness, as of fresh celery or soda crackers; friable is applied to something that is easily crumbled or crushed into powder [friable rock] —ANT. tough, sturdy [< OFr < L fragilis < frangere, BREAK]

fragment (fræg´mэnt; for v. also fræg´ment', fræg ment´) •n. 1 a part broken away from a whole; broken piece 2 a detached, isolated, or incomplete part {a fragment of a song} 3 the part that exists of a literary or other work left unfinished •vt., vi. to break into fragments; break up SYN. PART frag´ment'ed •adj. [ME < L fragmentum < frangere, BREAK]

fragmental (fræg ment´ªl) •adj. 1 FRAGMENTARY 2 Geol. designating or of rocks formed of the fragments of older rocks; clastic frag·men´tal·ly •adv.

fragmentary (fræg´mэn ter'i:, fræg ment´э ri:) •adj. consisting of fragments; not complete; disconnected frag´men·tar'i·ly •adv. frag´men·tar'i·ness •n.

fragmentate (fræg´mэn teit') -tat'ed, -tat'ing •vt., vi. to break into fragments frag'men·ta´tion •n.

fragmentation bomb a bomb that scatters in broken, jagged pieces over a wide area when it explodes

fragmentize (fræg´mэn taiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt., vi. to break into fragments frag'ment·i·za´tion •n.

Fragonard (fřå gô nåř´), Jean Ho·no·ré (zhäñ ô nô řei´) 1732-1806; Fr. painter

fragrance (frei´grэns) •n. 1 the quality of being fragrant 2 a sweet smell; pleasant odor Also [Now Rare] fra´gran·cy, pl. -cies SYN. SCENT [L fragrantia]

fragrant (frei´grэnt) •adj. having a pleasant odor; sweet-smelling fra´grant·ly •adv. [ME < L fragrans (gen. fragrantis), prp. of fragrare, to emit a (sweet) smell < IE base *bhrag-, to smell > OHG braccho, bloodhound]

fraidy-cat (frei´di: kæt') •n. [Colloq.] a person easily frightened: a child's term [< AFRAID + CAT]

frail¹ (freil) •adj. 1 easily broken, shattered, damaged, or destroyed; fragile; delicate 2 slender and delicate; not robust; weak 3 easily tempted to do wrong; morally weak SYN. WEAK frail´ly •adv. frail´ness •n. [ME frele < OFr < L fragilis, FRAGILE]

frail² (freil) •n. a basket made of rushes, for packing figs, raisins, etc. [ME fraiel < OFr frael, rush basket < ML fraellum < L flagellum, young branch, whip: see FLAGELLUM]

frailty (freil´ti:) •n. 1 the quality or condition of being frail; weakness; esp., moral weakness 2 pl. -ties any fault or failing arising from such weakness [ME frelete < OFr fraileté < L fragilitas, fragility]

fraise (freiz) •n. 1 a ruff or high collar of a kind worn esp. in the 16th cent. 2 Mil. a barrier consisting of an inclined or horizontal fence as of wooden stakes [Fr, orig., a ruff < fraiser, to ruffle]

fraises des bois (fřez dei bwå´) wild strawberries [Fr]

fraktur (fräk tur´) •n. [often F-] a style of German black-letter type, often reproduced in Pennsylvania Dutch art [Ger < L fractura (see FRACTURE): so named from its angular, broken lines]

frambesia or framboesia (fræm bi:´zhэ, -zhi: э) •n. YAWS [ModL < Fr framboise, raspberry, altered (after fraise, strawberry) < Frank *brambasi, akin to Ger brombeere: see BRAMBLE & BERRY]

framboise (fřäñ bwåz´) •n. raspberry liqueur [Fr: see FRAMBOESIA]

frame (freim) framed, fram´ing •vt. 1 to shape, fashion, or form, usually according to a pattern; design {to frame a constitution} 2 to put together the parts of; construct 3 to put into words; compose; devise; contrive; conceive {to frame an excuse} 4 to utter {his lips framed the words} 5 to adapt for a particular use; adjust; fit {a law framed to equalize the tax burden} 6 to enclose in a border; provide a border for (a mirror, picture, etc.) 7 to photograph or film (objects or activity) within the limits of the FRAME (n. 13b) Æ 8 [Colloq.] to falsify evidence, testimony, etc. beforehand in order to make (an innocent person) appear guilty 9 [Obs.] to bring about; cause •vi. [Obs.] to proceed or succeed; go •n. [ME: see the vt.] 1 a) [Archaic] anything made of parts fitted together according to a design b) body structure in general; build 2 basic or skeletal structure around which a thing is built and that gives the thing its shape; framework, as of a house 3 a) the skeletal framework supporting the chassis of some automotive vehicles b) COLD FRAME c) the case or border into which a window, door, etc. is set and which serves as a structural support d) a border, often ornamental, surrounding a picture, etc.; also, the picture or other matter inside such a border e) [pl.] the framing of a pair of eyeglasses; rims 4 any of various machines built on or in a framework 5 the way that anything is constructed or put together; organization; form 6 a set of circumstances that serve as background to an event 7 condition; state {a bad frame of mind} 8 an established order or system Æ 9 [Colloq.] Baseball an inning Æ 10 [Colloq.] the act of framing an innocent person: see FRAME (vt. 8) 11 Bowling, etc. any of the ten divisions of a game, in each of which the pins are set up anew 12 Linguis. a syntactic construction with a blank left in it for testing which words will occur there Æ 13 Film a) each of the small exposures composing a strip of film b) the rectangular image on a movie screen, or the particular objects or activity focused on by the camera 14 Pool a) RACK¹ b) the period of play required to pocket all the balls 15 Shipbuilding any of the transverse strengthening members of a ship's hull that extend from the gunwale to the keel 16 TV a single scanning of the field of vision by the electron beam •adj. Æ having a wooden framework, usually covered with boards {a frame house} fram´er •n. [ME framen < frame, a structure, frame, prob. < ON frami, profit, benefit, akin to frama, to further < fram, forward (akin to OE fram, FROM); some senses < OE framian, to be helpful: see FURNISH]

frame of reference 1 Math. the fixed points, lines, or planes from which coordinates are measured 2 the set of ideas, facts, or circumstances within which something exists

frame-up (freim´ûp') •n. [Colloq.] 1 a falsifying of evidence, testimony, etc. to make an innocent person seem guilty 2 a surreptitious, underhanded, prearranged scheme

framework (freim´wørk') •n. 1 a structure, usually rigid, serving to hold the parts of something together or to support something constructed or stretched over or around it {the framework of a house} 2 the basic structure, arrangement, or system 3 FRAME OF REFERENCE (sense 2)

framing (freim´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of a person or thing that frames 2 the way in which something is framed 3 a) a frame or framework b) a system of frames

Framingham (frei´miŋ hæm') suburb of Boston, in E Mass.: pop. 65,000 [prob. after Framlingham, town in England]

franc (fræŋk; Fr fřäñ) •n. 1 the basic monetary unit of: a) Belgium b) France c) Luxembourg d) Switzerland & Liechtenstein: see MONEY, table 2 any of the basic monetary units of various countries formerly ruled by France or Belgium, as Benin, Burundi, Chad, Congo, Gabon, Niger, etc.: see MONEY, table [Fr < L Francorum rex, king of the French, device on the coin in 1360]

France (fræns, fräns), A·na·tole (æn´э toul') (pseud. of Jacques Anatole François Thibault) 1844-1924; Fr. novelist & literary critic France (fræns, fräns) country in W Europe, on the Atlantic & the Mediterranean Sea: 212,821 sq. mi. (551,204 sq. km): pop. 54,335,000; cap. Paris: Fr. name Ré·pub·lique Fran·çaise (řei pü blek´ fřäñ sez´)

Frances (fræn´sis, frän´-) a feminine name: dim. Fran, Fannie, Fanny [OFr fem. form of Franceis: see FRANCIS]

Francesca (fřän ches´kä), Pie·ro del·la (pye´řô del´lä) c. 1420-92; It. painter

Francesca da Rimini (dä ři:´mi: ni:') 13th-cent. It. woman famous for her adulterous love affair with her brother-in-law, Paolo

Franche-Comté (fřäñsh kouñ tei´) historical region of E France, on the border of Switzerland

franchise (fræn´chaiz') •n. 1 orig., freedom from some restriction, servitude, etc. 2 any special right, privilege, or exemption granted by the government, as to be a corporation, operate a public utility, etc. 3 the right to vote; suffrage: usually preceded by the 4 a) the right to market a product or provide a service, often exclusive for a specified area, as granted by a manufacturer or company b) a business granted such a right Æ 5 a) the right to own a member team as granted by a league in certain professional sports b) such a member team •vt. -chised', -chis'ing to grant a franchise to [ME < OFr < franc, free: see FRANK¹]

franchisee (fræn'chai zi:´) •n. a person, business, etc. that has been granted a franchise

franchiser (fræn´chai'zэr) •n. 1 a company or manufacturer that grants franchises: also sp. fran·chi·sor (fræn´chai'zэr, fræn'chai zör´) 2 [Rare] FRANCHISEE

Francis (fræn´sis) 1 a masculine name: dim Frank; equiv. Fr. Francois, Ger. Franz, It. Francesco, Franco, Sp. Francisco; fem. Frances, Francine 2 Francis I 1494-1547; king of France (1515-47) 3 Francis II 1768-1835; last emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (1792-1806) &, as Francis I, first emperor of Austria (1804-35) [OFr Franceis < ML Franciscus < Gmc *Franco: see FRANK]

Francis Ferdinand 1863-1914; archduke of Austria: his assassination led to the outbreak of World War I

Francis Joseph I 1830-1916; emperor of Austria (1848-1916) and king of Hungary (1867-1916): uncle of Francis Ferdinand

Francis of Assisi , Saint (born Giovanni di Bernardone) c. 1181-1226; It. friar: founder of the Franciscan Order: his day is Oct. 4

Francis of Sales (seilz), Saint (1567-1622); Fr. bishop & writer: his day is Jan. 29

Francis Xavier , Saint see XAVIER, Saint Francis

Franciscan (fræn sis´kэn) •adj. 1 of Saint Francis of Assisi 2 designating or of the religious order founded by him in 1209: it is now divided into three branches •n. any member of this order [< ML Franciscus: see FRANCIS]

francium (fræn´si: эm) •n. a radioactive chemical element of the alkali metals, existing in very minute amounts in nature as a decay product of actinium: symbol, Fr; at. wt., (223); at. no., 87; melt. pt., 27°C; boil. pt., 677°C [ModL < FRANCE + -IUM]

Franck (fřäñk), Cé·sar (Auguste) (sei zåř´) 1822-90; Fr. composer & organist, born in Belgium

Franco (fræŋ´kou; Sp fräŋ´kô), Fran·cis·co (fræn sis´kou; Sp fřän θi:s´kô) (born Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco Bahamonde 1892-1975; Sp. general: dictator of Spain (1939-75)

Franco- (fræŋ´kou) combining form 1 Frankish 2 French, French and {Francophobe, Franco-Prussian War} [ML < LL Francus, a Frank]

francolin (fræŋ´kou lin) •n. any of a genus (Francolinus, family Phasianidae) of African and Asiatic partridges [Fr < It francolino]

Franconia (fræŋ kou´ni: э) region of central Germany, a duchy in the Middle Ages Fran·co´ni·an •adj., n.

Francophile (fræŋ´kou fail', -kэ-) •n. a person who admires or is extremely fond of France, its people, customs, etc. Also Fran´co·phil (-fil) [FRANCO- + -PHILE]

Francophobe (-foub') •n. a person who hates or fears France, its people, customs, etc. [FRANCO- + -PHOBE]

Francophone (fræŋ´kou foun', -kэ-) •adj. of or having to do with speakers of French •n. a person who speaks French Fran'co·phon´ic (-fän´ik) •adj. [FRANCO- + Gr phōnē, a voice]

Franco-Prussian War (fræŋ´kou prûsh´эn) a war (1870-71) in which Prussia defeated France

franc-tireur (fřäñ ti: řëř´) pl. francs-ti·reurs (fřäñ ti: řëř´) •n. a French irregular soldier, specif. one who is a guerrilla or sniper [Fr < franc, free + tireur, a gunner < tirer, to shoot]

frangible (fræn´jэ bэl) •adj. breakable; fragile SYN. FRAGILE fran'gi·bil´i·ty •n. [ME < OFr < ML frangibilis < L frangere, BREAK]

frangipani (fræn'ji pæn´i:, -pän´-) pl. -pan´i or -pan´is •n. 1 any of several tropical American shrubs and trees (genus Plumeria) of the dogbane family, with large, fragrant flowers 2 a perfume obtained from this flower or like it in scent 3 a custard dessert or a custard filling for cakes and tarts, usually flavored with ground almonds Also fran´gi·pane' (-pein') [It, after Marquis Frangipani (16th-c. It nobleman), said to have invented the perfume]

Franglais (fřäñ gle´) •n. French mixed with many English words and phrases: a mildly contemptuous term [Fr, coined (1964) by René Êtiemble, Fr writer < Fran(çais), French + (An)glais, English]

Frank abbrev. Frankish Frank (fræŋk) 1 a masculine name: dim. Frankie: see FRANCIS 2 Robert 1924- ; U.S. photographer, born in Switzerland •n. a member of the Germanic tribes that established the Frankish Empire, which, at its height (beginning of the 9th cent. A.D.), extended over what is now France, Germany, and Italy [ME < OE Franca & < OFr Franc < LL Francus: see FRANK¹]

frank¹ (fræŋk) •adj. 1 [Archaic] free in giving; generous 2 open and honest in expressing what one thinks or feels; straightforward; candid 3 free from reserve, disguise, or guile; clearly evident; plain {showing frank distaste} •vt. 1 a) to send (mail) free of postage, as by virtue of an official position b) to mark (mail) as with one's signature so that it can be sent free c) to put a stamp on or meter (mail) to prepay postage 2 to make easy the passage of (a person); allow to pass freely •n. 1 the privilege of sending mail free 2 a mark, signature, or stamp on mail for, or in place of, postage 3 an envelope, etc. that has been franked frank´ness •n. SYN.—frank applies to a person, remark, etc. that is free or blunt in expressing the truth or an opinion, unhampered by conventional reticence [a frank criticism]; candid implies a basic honesty that makes deceit or evasion impossible, sometimes to the embarrassment of the listener [a candid opinion]; open implies a lack of concealment and often connotes an ingenuous quality [her open admiration for him]; outspoken suggests a lack of restraint or reserve in speech, esp. when reticence might be preferable [ME < OFr franc, free, frank < ML francus < LL Francus, a Frank, hence free man (i.e., member of the ruling race in Gaul) < Gmc *Frank (> OHG Franco) < ? or akin to *franco, a spear, javelin > OE franca, ON frakka]

frank² (fræŋk) •n. [Colloq.] a frankfurter

Frankenstein (fræŋk´эn stain') 1 the title character in a novel (1818) by Mary Wollstonecraft SHELLEY: he is a young medical student who creates a monster that destroys him 2 popularly, Frankenstein's monster •n. 1 any person destroyed by his or her own creation 2 anything that becomes dangerous to its creator

Frankfort (fræŋk´fэrt) 1 capital of Ky., in the NC part: pop. 26,000 [orig. Frank's Ford, after Stephen Frank, a pioneer killed there] 2 FRANKFURT

Frankfurt (fræŋk´fэrt; Ger fřäŋk´fuřt) 1 city in W Germany, on the Main River, in the state of Hesse: pop. 604,000: also Frankfurt am Main 2 city in E Germany, on the Oder River, in the state of Brandenburg: pop. 70,000: also Frankfurt an der Oder

Frankfurter (fræŋk´fэr tэr), Felix 1882-1965; associate justice, U.S. Supreme Court (1939-62), born in Austria

frankfurter or frankforter (fræŋk´ført'эr; also, -fэrt эr) •n. a smoked sausage of beef or beef and pork, etc., made in cylindrical links a few inches long; wiener: any casing is now usually removed before packaging Also frank´furt or frank´fort (-fэrt) [Ger, after FRANKFURT (AM MAIN)]

frankincense (fræŋk´in sens') •n. a gum resin obtained from various Arabian and African trees (genus Boswellia) of the bursera family and used in perfumes and as incense; olibanum [ME < OFr franc encens (in sense pure, high-grade incense): see FRANK¹ & INCENSE¹]

Frankish (fræŋk´ish) •n. the West Germanic language of the Franks •adj. designating or of the Franks or their language or culture

Franklin (fræŋk´lin) former district of the Northwest Territories, Canada [see FRANKLIN] Franklin (fræŋk´lin) 1 a masculine name 2 Benjamin 1706-90; Am. statesman, scientist, inventor, & writer 3 Sir John 1786-1847; Eng. arctic explorer [see FRANKLIN] franklin (fræŋk´lin) •n. a freeholder; specif., in England in the 14th and 15th cent., a landowner of free but not noble birth, ranking just below the gentry [ME frankelein < Anglo-Fr fraunkelain < ML francelengus < francus (see FRANK¹) + Gmc *-ling (see -LING¹)]

Franklin stove a cast-iron heating stove resembling an open fireplace [after Benjamin FRANKLIN, who invented it]

franklinite (fræŋk´lin ait') •n. an oxide of iron, manganese, and zinc [after Franklin, N.J., where found]

frankly (fræŋk´li:) •adv. 1 in a frank manner 2 to be frank; in truth {frankly, he's a bore}

frankpledge (fræŋk´plej') •n. 1 the system in old English law which made each man in a tithing responsible for the actions of other members 2 a member under this system 3 the tithing [ME frank-plege < Anglo-Fr fraunc plege (see FRANK¹ & PLEDGE): prob. orig. a mistransl. of OE frith-borh, lit., peace pledge]

franseria (fræn sir´i: э) •n. Æ any of a genus (Franseria) of W American plants of the composite family [ModL, after A. Franseri, 18th-c. Sp. botanist]

frantic (frænt´ik) •adj. 1 wild with anger, pain, worry, etc.; frenzied 2 marked by frenzy; resulting from wild emotion 3 [Archaic] insane fran´ti·cal·ly or [Rare] fran´tic·ly •adv. [ME frantik, frenetik: see PHRENETIC]

Franz Josef I (fřänts you´zef; E fränts jou´zэf) Ger. name of FRANCIS JOSEPH I

Franz Josef Land group of islands of Russia, in the Arctic Ocean, north of Novaya Zemlya: c. 8,000 sq. mi. (20,720 sq. km)

frap (fræp) frapped, frap´ping •vt. Naut. to pass ropes, cables, etc. around in order to strengthen, support, steady, etc. [ME frapen < OFr fraper, to strike]

frappé (fræ pei´) •adj. partly frozen; iced; cooled •n. 1 a dessert made of partly frozen beverages, fruit juices, etc. 2 a drink made of some beverage poured over shaved ice 3 [New England] a milkshake Also, esp. for n. 3, frappe (fræp) [Fr, pp. of frapper, to strike]

Fraser (frei´zэr) river in British Columbia, Canada, flowing southward into the Strait of Georgia: 850 mi. (1,368 km)

frat (fræt) •n. [Colloq.] a fraternity, as at a college

frater¹ (freit´эr) •n. [Obs.] the eating room, or refectory, in a monastery [ME freitour < Anglo-Fr fraitur, aphetic for OFr refreitor, refeitor < ML refectorium]

frater² (frät´эr; also freit´-) •n. 1 a brother or comrade, esp. as in a fraternity 2 [Obs.] a friar [L, lit., BROTHER]

fraternal (frэ tørn´эl) •adj. 1 of or characteristic of a brother or brothers; brotherly 2 of or like a fraternal order or a fraternity 3 designating twins, of either the same or different sexes, developed from separately fertilized ova and thus having hereditary characteristics not necessarily the same: cf. IDENTICAL (sense 3) fra·ter´nal·ism' •n. fra·ter´nal·ly •adv. [ME < ML fraternalis < L fraternus, brotherly < frater, BROTHER]

fraternal order (or society or association) a society, often secret, of members banded together for mutual benefit or for work toward a common goal

fraternity (frэ tørn´эt i:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the state or quality of being brothers; fraternal relationship or spirit; brotherliness 2 a group of men (or, sometimes, men and women) joined together by common interests, for fellowship, etc.; specif., a Greek-letter college organization 3 a group of people with the same beliefs, interests, work, etc. {the medical fraternity} [ME fraternite < OFr fraternité < L fraternitas < fraternus: see FRATERNAL]

fraternize (fræt´эr naiz') -nized', -niz'ing •vi. 1 to associate in a brotherly manner; be on friendly terms 2 to have intimate or friendly relations with any of the enemy: said of soldiers occupying enemy territory frat'er·ni·za´tion •n. frat´er·niz'er •n. [Fr fraterniser < L fraternus: see FRATERNAL]

fratricide (fræ´trэ said') •n. 1 a) the act of killing one's own brother or sister b) the act of killing relatives or fellow-countrymen, as in a civil war 2 a person who kills his or her own brother or sister [ME < OFr < L fratricida] frat'ri·ci´dal (-said´ªl) •adj. [Fr < LL(Ec) fratricidium < L fratricida, one who kills a brother < frater, BROTHER + caedere, to kill (see -CIDE)]

Frau (fřau) pl. Frau´en (-эn) •n. a married woman; wife: used in Germany as a title corresponding to Mrs. [Ger < OHG frouwa, mistress < IE *prōwo- < base *per-, beyond > FAR, FIRST, FORE]

fraud (fröd; also fräd) •n. 1 a) deceit; trickery; cheating b) Law intentional deception to cause a person to give up property or some lawful right 2 something said or done to deceive; trick; artifice 3 a person who deceives or is not what he pretends to be; impostor; cheat SYN. DECEPTION [ME fraude < OFr < L fraus (gen. fraudis) < IE base *dhwer-, to trick > Sans dhvárati, (he) injures]

fraudulent (frö´jэ lэnt; fröd´yu lэnt, -yэ-) •adj. 1 acting with fraud; deceitful 2 based on or characterized by fraud {a fraudulent scheme} 3 done or obtained by fraud {their fraudulent wealth} fraud´u·lence or fraud´u·len·cy •n. fraud´u·lent·ly •adv. [ME < OFr < L fraudulentus < fraus, prec.]

fraught (fröt) •adj. 1 filled, charged, or loaded (with) {a life fraught with hardship} 2 emotional, tense, anxious, distressing, etc. [ME fraught, pp. of fraughten, to freight < MDu vrachten < vracht, a load < Gmc *fraaichtiz < *fra- (akin to FOR) + *aig-, to have > Goth aigan, OWE]

Fräulein (fřoi´lain'; E froi´-, frau´-) pl. -lein' •n.or Eng. -leins' an unmarried woman: used in Germany as a title corresponding to Miss [Ger < frau (see FRAU) + dim. suffix -lein]

Fraunhofer lines (fraun´hou'fэr) the dark lines visible in the spectrum of the sun or a star [after Joseph von Fraunhofer (1787-1826), Bavarian optician, who first mapped them accurately]

fraxinella (fræks'i nel´э) •n. GAS PLANT [ModL, dim. of L fraxinus, ash tree (the leaves resemble those of the ash): for IE base see BIRCH]

fray¹ (frei) •n. a noisy quarrel or fight; brawl •vt. [Archaic] to frighten [ME fraien] [ME frai, aphetic < affrai, AFFRAY]

fray² (frei) •vt., vi. 1 to make or become worn, ragged, or raveled by rubbing 2 to make or become weakened or strained •n. a frayed place, as in cloth [ME fraien < OFr freier < L fricare, to rub: see FRICTION]

Frazer (frei´zэr), Sir James (George) 1854-1941; Scot. anthropologist

frazil (ice) (freiz´il, frэ zil´) tiny, round or pointed ice crystals formed in supercooled waters and prevented from coagulating by turbulence [CdnFr frasil < Fr fraisil, charcoal cinders, altered (prob. after fraiser, to ruffle) < OFr faisil < VL *facīlis < L fax (gen. facis), a torch < IE base *Ghwok-, to gleam, glow]

frazzle (fræz´эl) -zled, -zling •vt., vi. [Colloq.] 1 to wear or become worn to rags or tatters; fray 2 to make or become physically or emotionally exhausted Æ n. [Colloq.] the state of being frazzled [Brit (E Anglian) dial. & U.S., prob. altered (after FRAY²) < dial. fazle < ME faselen, to fray < fasel, frayed edge < fas < OE fæs, a fringe]

freak show an exhibit of freaks, as in a carnival sideshow

freak¹ (fri:k) •n. 1 a) a sudden fancy; odd notion; whim b) an odd or unusual happening 2 any abnormal animal, person, or plant; monstrosity Æ 3 [Slang] a) a user of a specified narcotic, hallucinogen, etc. {an acid freak} b) a devotee or buff {a rock freak} c) HIPPIE 4 [Archaic] capriciousness 5 Philately a postage stamp with an error that occurred in the printing or perforation process that is unique to the one stamp •adj. oddly different from what is usual or normal; queer; abnormal {freak weather} •vt., vi. [Slang] FREAK OUT (see phrase) freak out [Slang] 1 to experience, esp. in an extreme way, the mental reactions, hallucinations, etc. induced by a psychedelic drug 2 to make or become very excited, distressed, disorganized, etc. [Early ModE < ? OE frician, to dance (> ME freking, whim, capricious conduct)]

freak² (fri:k) •vt. [Rare] to streak or fleck [ult. < IE (s)p(h)ereg- > FRECKLE]

freakish (fri:k´ish) •adj. 1 full of or characterized by freaks; whimsical; capricious 2 having the nature of a freak; odd; queer Also freak´y freak´ish·ly •adv. freak´ish·ness •n.

freakout (fri:k´aut') •n. [Slang] the act or an instance of freaking out

freckle (frek´эl) •n. a small, brownish spot on the skin, esp. as a result of exposure to the sun •vt. -led, -ling to cause freckles to appear on •vi. to become spotted with freckles freck´led or freck´ly •adj. [ME frekel, altered < frakene < Scand, as in Norw dial. frokle, freckle & Norw frekna, Dan fregne, Swed fräkne, ON freknōttr, freckled < IE base *(s)p(h)ereg-, to strew: see SPARK¹]

Freda (fri:´dэ) a feminine name: see FRIEDA

Freddie Mac (fred´i:) 1 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation: a corporation sponsored by the Federal government which buys pools of mortgages from lenders and sells securities which are backed by these pools 2 any of the securities sold by this corporation: usually used in pl.

Frederica (fred'эr i:´kэ) a feminine name [see FREDERICK]

Frederick (fred´rik, -эr ik) 1 a masculine name: dim. Fred, Freddy, Freddie; equiv. Fr. Frédéric, Ger. Friedrich, Fritz, It. & Sp. Federico; fem. Frederica: also Frederic, Fredric, or Fredrick 2 Frederick I c. 1123-90; king of Germany (1152-90) & emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (1155-90): called Frederick Barbarossa 3 Frederick I 1657-1713; 1st king of Prussia (1701-13) &, as Frederick III, elector of Brandenburg (1688-1701): son of Frederick William, the Great Elector 4 Frederick II 1194-1250; emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (1215-50): king of Sicily (1197-1250) 5 Frederick II FREDERICK THE GREAT 6 Frederick III 1463-1525; elector of Saxony (1486-1525): protector of Luther after the diet at Worms 7 Frederick IX 1899-1972; king of Denmark (1947-72) [Fr Frédéric < Ger Friedrich < OHG Fridurih < Gmc *frithu-, peace (< fri-, to love, protect + -thu-, substantive particle) + *rik-, king, ruler (akin to L rex, Ger reich): see RIGHT]

Frederick the Great 1712-86; king of Prussia (1740-86): son of Frederick William I

Frederick William 1 1620-88; elector of Brandenburg (1640-88): called the Great Elector 2 Frederick William I 1688-1740; king of Prussia (1713-40) 3 Frederick William II 1744-97; king of Prussia (1786-97) 4 Frederick William III 1770-1840; king of Prussia (1797-1840)

Fredericksburg (fred´riks bûrg') city in NE Va., on the Rappahannock: scene of a Civil War battle (Dec., 1862) in which Confederate forces were victorious: pop. 19,000 [after Frederick Louis (1707-51), father of GEORGE III]

Fredericton (fred´э rik tэn) capital of New Brunswick, Canada, on the St. John River: pop. 45,000

Frederiksburg (fred´э riks børg'; Dan fřeð´э ři:ks beřkh') borough on Zealand island, Denmark: suburb of Copenhagen: pop. 114,000

free (fri:) fre´er, fre´est •adj. 1 a) not under the control of some other person or some arbitrary power; able to act or think without compulsion or arbitrary restriction; having liberty; independent b) characterized by or resulting from liberty 2 a) having, or existing under, a government that does not impose arbitrary restrictions on the right to speak, assemble, petition, vote, etc.; having civil and political liberty {a free people} b) not under control of a foreign government 3 able to move in any direction; not held, as in chains, etc.; not kept from motion; loose 4 not held or confined by a court, the police, etc.; acquitted 5 not held or burdened by obligations, debts, discomforts, etc.; unhindered; unhampered {free from pain} 6 at liberty; allowed {free to leave at any time} 7 not confined to the usual rules or patterns; not limited by convention or tradition {free verse} 8 not literal; not exact {a free translation} 9 not held or confined by prejudice or bias 10 not restricted by anything except its own limitations or nature {free will} 11 not busy or not in use; available for other work, use, etc. 12 readily done or made; spontaneous {a free offer} 13 not constrained or stilted; easy and graceful {a free gait} 14 a) generous; liberal; lavish {a free spender} b) profuse; copious 15 frank; straightforward 16 too frank or familiar in speech, action, etc.; forward; indecorous 17 with no charge or cost; gratis {a free ticket} 18 not liable to (trade restrictions, etc.); exempt from certain impositions, as taxes or duties 19 clear of obstructions; open and unimpeded {a free road ahead} 20 open to all; esp., without restrictions as to trade {a free market, free port} 21 not in contact or connection; not fastened {the free end of a rope} 22 not united; not combined {free oxygen} 23 not opposed; favorable: said of a wind blowing from a direction more than six points from straight ahead 24 Jazz designating or of improvisation unrestricted by set harmonic structure, rhythmic patterns, tempo, etc. 25 Linguis. designating a minimum form, or morpheme, that may occur alone as an independent word {in boys, boy is a free form, but -s is not}: opposed to BOUND² (adj. 8) •adv. 1 without cost or payment 2 in a free manner; without obstruction, burden, obligation, etc. 3 Naut. with a favorable wind •vt. freed, free´ing to make free; specif., a) to release from bondage or arbitrary power, authority, obligation, etc. b) to clear of obstruction, entanglement, etc.; disengage c) to release, or make available, for use {to free up funds} Æ for free [Colloq.] without cost or payments; gratis free and easy not constrained by formality or conventionality; informal; unceremonious free from (or of) 1 lacking; without 2 released or removed from 3 beyond; outside of give (or have) a free hand to give (or have) liberty to act according to one's judgment make free with 1 to use or treat as if one owned; use freely 2 to take liberties with set free to cause to be free; release; liberate with a free hand with generosity; lavishly free´ly •adv. free´ness •n. SYN.—free is the general term meaning to set loose from any sort of restraint, entanglement, burden, etc. [to free a convict, one's conscience, etc.]; release, more or less interchangeable with free, stresses a setting loose from confinement, literally or figuratively [release me from my promise]; liberate emphasizes the state of liberty into which the freed person or thing is brought [to liberate prisoners of war]; emancipate refers to a freeing from the bondage of slavery or of social institutions or conventions regarded as equivalent to slavery [emancipated from medieval superstition]; discharge, in this connection, implies a being permitted to leave that which confines or restrains [discharged at last from the army] —ANT. restrain, bind, confine [ME fre < OE freo, not in bondage, noble, glad, illustrious, akin to Ger frei, Du vrij < IE base *prei-, to be fond of, hold dear > FRIEND, Sans priyá-, dear, desired]

-free (fri:) combining form free of or from, exempt from, without: used in hyphenated compounds {tax-free income}

free agent Æ an athlete eligible to play a professional sport who is free to sign a contract with any team free agency

free alongside ship (or vessel) delivered to the dock with freight charges paid by the shipper

free association 1 Psychoanalysis the technique of having the patient talk spontaneously, expressing without inhibition whatever ideas, memories, etc. come to mind: used to discover and make available for analysis repressed material in the unconscious 2 any process of mental association in which spontaneous or nonlogical linking takes place

free central placentation Bot. a type of placenta structure in an ovary, in which the ovules cluster freely around a columnlike central placenta which is attached at the base of the ovary: cf. AXILE PLACENTATION, PARIETAL (sense 3)

free city a semi-autonomous city under international control, as Danzig between World Wars I and II

free coinage the system by which a government is legally required to coin for a person, either free or at cost, any gold, silver, etc. that the person brings to the mint

free enterprise the economic doctrine or practice of permitting private industry to operate under freely competitive conditions with a minimum of governmental control

free fall the unchecked fall of anything through the air; specif., the part of a parachutist's jump before the parachute is opened

free flight any flight or part of a flight, as of a rocket, occurring without propulsion free´-flight' •adj.

free lance 1 a medieval soldier who sold his services to any state or military leader 2 an independent, as in political adherence

free list Æ a list of goods not subject to tariff duties

free love the principle or practice of sexual relations unrestricted by marriage or other legal obligations

free lunch [Colloq.] something that costs nothing: often used in negative constructions [no such thing as a free lunch], suggesting hidden obligations or the shifting of liability to another or others [from the former practice in some saloons of offering free lunches to purchasers of drinks]

free market any market where buying and selling can be carried on without restrictions as to price, etc.: often used figuratively {the free market of ideas}

free on board delivered (by the seller) aboard the train, ship, etc. at the point of shipment, without charge to the buyer

free port 1 a port open equally to ships of all countries 2 a port or zone where goods may be unloaded, stored, and reshipped without payment of customs or duties, if they are not imported: also free zone

free radical an atom or molecule having at least one unpaired electron: free radicals are usually reactive and unstable

free ride [Colloq.] the use, enjoyment, etc. of something without the usual expenditure of money or effort

free safety Football the safety who is usually freed from an assignment to cover a particular player on the other team

free silver the free coinage of silver, esp. at a fixed ratio to the gold coined in the same period

free soil territory in which there is no slavery; esp., any territory in the U.S. where slavery was prohibited before the Civil War

Free State Æ any State of the U.S. in which slavery was forbidden before the Civil War

free throw Basketball a free, or unhindered, shot at the basket from a designated line, allowed to a player as a penalty imposed on the opponents for some rule infraction: each successful shot counts for one point

free trade trade between countries carried on without quotas on imports or exports, without protective tariffs, etc.

free university a loosely organized forum for the study in nontraditional ways of subject matter not generally offered in regular university courses

free verse poetry without regular meter, rhyme, or stanzaic forms

free will 1 freedom of decision or of choice between alternatives 2 a) the freedom of the will to choose a course of action without external coercion but in accordance with the ideals or moral outlook of the individual b) the doctrine that people have such freedom (opposed to DETERMINISM)

free-associate (-э sou´shi: eit', -si:-) -at'ed, -at'ing •vi. to engage in free association

freebase (fri:´beis') •n. a concentrated form of cocaine for smoking, prepared by extracting, or freeing, the alkaloid, or base, from a salt of the drug •vt., vi. -based', -bas'ing to prepare or use such a form of (cocaine) Also free´-base' or free base

freebie or freebee (fri:´bi:) •n. [Slang] something given or gotten free of charge, as a complimentary theater ticket [arbitrary extension of FREE]

freeboard (fri:´börd') •n. the distance from the main deck or gunwale to the waterline of a ship

freeboot (fri:´bu:t') •vi. to act as a freebooter [back-form. < fol.]

freebooter (-bu:t'эr) •n. a plunderer; specif., a pirate [Du vrijbuiter < vrijbuiten, to plunder < vrij, free + buit, plunder]

freeborn (fri:´börn') •adj. 1 born free, not in slavery or serfdom 2 of or fit for a person so born

freedman (fri:d´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. a man legally freed from slavery or bondage freed´wom'an (-wum'эn), pl. -wom'en, •n.fem.

freedom (fri:´dэm) •n. 1 the state or quality of being free; esp., a) exemption or liberation from the control of some other person or some arbitrary power; liberty; independence b) exemption from arbitrary restrictions on a specified civil right; civil or political liberty {freedom of speech} c) exemption or immunity from a specified obligation, discomfort, etc. {freedom from want} d) exemption or release from imprisonment e) a being able to act, move, use, etc. without hindrance or restraint {to have the freedom of the house} f) a being able of itself to choose or determine action freely {freedom of the will} g) ease of movement or performance; facility h) a being free from the usual rules, patterns, etc. i) frankness or easiness of manner; sometimes, an excessive frankness or familiarity 2 a right or privilege SYN.—freedom, the broadest in scope of these words, implies the absence of hindrance, restraint, confinement, or repression [freedom of speech]; liberty, often interchangeable with freedom, strictly connotes past or potential restriction, repression, etc. [civil liberties]; license implies freedom that consists in violating the usual rules, laws, or practices, either by consent [poetic license] or as an abuse of liberty [slander is license of the tongue] —ANT. repression, constraint [ME fredom < OE freodom: see FREE & -DOM]

freedom of the press freedom to publish newspapers, magazines, books, etc. without government interference or prior censorship, but subject, after publication, to laws prohibiting sedition, libel, and obscenity

freedom of the seas the principle that all merchant ships may freely travel the open seas at any time

free-fire zone (fri:´fair´) 1 a military area in which no restrictions are imposed on rifle or artillery fire, bombing, etc. 2 [Colloq.] a situation, activity, debate, etc. with no set rules or limits

free-floating (fri:´flout´iŋ) •adj. [Colloq.] 1 undecided, uncommitted, or without a definite focus 2 likely to be experienced although without an evident cause {free-floating fear}

free-for-all (fri:´fэr öl') •n. 1 a contest, race, etc. that anyone may enter 2 a disorganized fight in which many take part; brawl •adj. open to anyone

free-form (fri:´förm') •adj. 1 having an irregular, usually curvilinear form or outline 2 not conforming to the conventional rules of composition, form, etc.; spontaneous, unrestrained, etc.

freehand (fri:´hænd') •adj. drawn or done by hand without the use of instruments, measurements, etc.

freehanded (-hæn'did) •adj. generous; openhanded

freehearted (-härt'id) •adj. frank, open, generous, impulsive, etc. [ME frehertet]

freehold (fri:´hould') •n. 1 an estate in land held for life or with the right to pass it on through inheritance: distinguished from LEASEHOLD 2 the holding of an estate, office, etc., in this way •adj. of or held by freehold free´hold'er •n. [ME fre holde, after Anglo-Fr franc tenement]

freelance or free-lance (fri:´læns') •n. a writer, musician, artist, etc. who is not under contract for regular work but whose writings or services are sold to individual buyers Also free´lanc'er or free´-lanc'er •adj. of or working as a freelance •vi. -lanced', -lanc'ing to work as a freelance

free-living (fri:´liv'iŋ) •adj. 1 indulging freely in eating, drinking, and similar pleasures 2 Biol. living independently of any other organism: not parasitic or symbiotic

freeloader (fri:´loud'эr) •n. [Colloq.] a person who habitually imposes on others for free food, lodging, etc.; sponger free´load' •vi. free´load'ing •adj.

freeman (fri:´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. 1 a person not in slavery or bondage 2 a person who has full civil and political rights; citizen [ME fre man < OE freomon]

freemartin (fri:´märt'ªn) •n. an imperfectly developed female calf, usually sterile, born as the twin of a male [< ? FREE + Gael mart, cow]

Freemason (fri:´mei'sэn) •n. a member of an international secret society having as its principles brotherliness, charity, and mutual aid Also Free and Accepted Mason [< obs. freemason, a skilled itinerant mason, free to move from town to town without restraint by local guilds]

Freemasonry (-ri:) •n. 1 the principles, rituals, etc. of Freemasons 2 the Freemasons 3 [f-] a natural sympathy and understanding among persons with like experiences

freer (fri:´эr) •adj. compar. of FREE •n. a person or thing that frees

free-range (fri:´reinj') •adj. designating or produced by chickens that are allowed to range for food, as in a field, rather than being enclosed

freesia (fri:´zhэ, -zhi: э; fri:´si: э, -zi: э) •n. any of a genus (Freesia) of South African bulbous plants of the iris family, with fragrant, usually white or yellow, funnel-shaped flowers [ModL, after F. H. T. Freese, 19th-c. Ger physician]

Free-Soil (fri:´soil') •adj. [also f- s-] opposed to the extension of slavery; specif., designating or of a former (1848-54) political party (Free-Soil Party) that opposed the spread of slavery into the Territories Free´-Soil´er •n.

free-spoken (fri:´spouk´эn) •adj. free in expressing opinions; frank; outspoken

freest (fri:´ist) •adj. superl. of FREE

free-standing (fri:´stænd'iŋ) •adj. resting on its own support, without attachment or added support

freestone (fri:´stoun') •n. 1 a stone, esp. sandstone or limestone, that can be cut easily without splitting [ME fre ston, after OFr fraunche piere] 2 a) a peach, plum, etc. in which the pit does not cling to the pulp of the ripened fruit b) such a pit [FREE + STONE] •adj. having such a pit

freestyle (fri:´stail') •adj. Sports not limited to a specified style, pattern of movement, etc. •n. 1 a) a freestyle competition b) Swimming a race in which contestants may use any stroke but most use the crawl 2 a style of wrestling in which any hold or throw is allowed

free-swimming (-swim'iŋ) •adj. capable of swimming about freely, as certain protozoans

freethinker (-θiŋk'эr) •n. a person who forms opinions about religion independently of tradition, authority, or established belief SYN. ATHEIST free´think´ing •n., adj. free thought

Freetown (fri:´taun') seaport & capital of Sierra Leone, on the Atlantic: pop. 470,000

freeway (fri:´wei') •n. 1 a multiple-lane divided highway with fully controlled access, as by cloverleafs 2 a highway without toll charges

freewheel (fri:´hwi:l', -wi:l') •n. 1 in a bicycle, a device in the rear hub that permits the rear wheel to go on turning when the pedals are stopped 2 in some automobiles, helicopters, etc. a device that permits the speed of the drive shaft or rotor to exceed that of the engine shaft, thus producing greater speeds with no increase in power

freewheeling (-iŋ) •adj. 1 of or having a freewheel 2 [Colloq.] unrestrained in manner, actions, etc.; uninhibited

freewill (fri:´wil´) •adj. freely given or done; voluntary

freeze (fri:z) froze, fro´zen, freez´ing •vi. 1 to be formed into ice; be hardened or solidified by cold 2 to become covered or clogged with ice 3 to be or become very cold 4 to become attached by freezing {wheels frozen to the ground} 5 to die or be damaged by exposure to cold Æ 6 to become motionless or fixed 7 to be made momentarily speechless or unable to move or act by a strong, sudden emotion {to freeze with terror} 8 to become formal, haughty, or unfriendly 9 Mech. to stick or become tight as a result of expansion of parts caused by overheating, increased friction due to inadequate lubrication or corrosion, etc. •vt. 1 to cause to form into ice; harden or solidify by cold 2 to cover or clog with ice 3 to make very cold; chill 4 to remove sensation from, as with a local anesthetic 5 to preserve (food) by solidifying it through rapid refrigeration 6 to make fixed or attached by freezing 7 to kill or damage by exposure to cold 8 to make or keep motionless or stiff Æ 9 to frighten or discourage by cool behavior, unfriendliness, etc. 10 to make formal, haughty, or unfriendly Æ 11 a) to fix (prices, employment, an employee, etc.) at a given level or place by authoritative regulation b) to stop consumer production or use of (a critical material), as in wartime c) to make (funds, assets, etc.) unavailable to the owners d) to suspend the production of (weapons, esp. nuclear weapons) •n. 1 a freezing or being frozen 2 a period of cold, freezing weather; a frost Æ freeze (on) to [Colloq.] to cling to; hold fast to freeze out Æ 1 to die out through freezing, as plants Æ 2 [Colloq.] to keep out or force out by a cold manner, competition, etc. freez´a·ble •adj. [ME fresen < OE freosan, akin to OHG friosan (Ger frieren) < IE base *preus-, to freeze, burn like cold > L pruina, hoarfrost, pruna, glowing coals]

freeze frame a single frame of a motion picture repeated a number of times so as to stop motion and create the effect of a still photograph for dramatic emphasis Also freeze´-frame' (-freim') •n. freeze´-frame', -framed', -fram´ing, •vt.

freeze-dry (fri:z´drai') -dried', -dry'ing •vt. to subject (food, vaccines, etc.) to quick-freezing followed by drying under high vacuum at a low temperature: a freeze-dried product, as food, will keep for long periods at room temperature

freezer (fri:´zэr) •n. Æ 1 a refrigerator, compartment, or room that can maintain freezing or subfreezing temperatures, for freezing and storing perishable foods 2 a hand-cranked or electrically operated device for making ice cream and sherbet

freezing point the temperature at which a liquid freezes or becomes solid: the freezing point of water is 32°F or 0°C: cf. MELTING POINT

Frege (fřei´gэ), Gott·lob (gôt´lôp) 1848-1925; Ger. philosopher & mathematician

Freiburg (fřai´buřk) 1 city in SW Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg: pop. 182,000: also Freiburg im Breis·gau (im břais´gau) 2 Ger. name of FRIBOURG

freight (freit) •n. 1 a method or service for transporting goods, esp. bulky goods, by water, land, or air: freight is usually cheaper but slower than express 2 the cost for such transportation 3 the goods transported; lading; cargo Æ 4 FREIGHT TRAIN 5 any load or burden •vt. 1 to load with freight 2 to load; burden 3 to transport as or send by freight [ME freit, fraught < MDu vracht: see FRAUGHT]

freight car a railroad car for transporting freight

freight house a depot where freight is received and stored

freight ton TON (sense 5)

freight train a railroad train made up of freight cars

freightage (-ij) •n. 1 the charge for transporting goods 2 freight; cargo 3 the transportation of goods

freighter (-эr) •n. 1 a person who sends goods by freight 2 a ship or aircraft for carrying freight

Fremantle (fri:´mæn tªl) seaport in Western Australia: suburb of Perth: pop. 22,000

fremitus (frem´i tэs) •n. Med. a vibration, esp. one felt in palpation of the chest [ModL < L, a roaring < fremere, to roar < IE base *bherem-, to murmur > Welsh brefu, to bray, Ger brummen, to grumble]

Fremont (fri:´mänt) city in W Calif., on San Francisco Bay: suburb of Oakland: pop. 173,000 [after prec.]

Frémont (fri:´mänt), John Charles 1813-90; U.S. politician, general, & explorer, esp. in the West

French (french), Daniel Chester 1850-1931; U.S. sculptor French (french) •n. 1 the Romance language spoken chiefly in France, Switzerland, French Canada, and Francophone Africa 2 [often f-] [Brit.] dry vermouth •adj. designating or of France or its people or culture, or the language French •vt. [often f-] Æ 1 to trim the meat from the end of the bone of (a lamb or veal chop) Æ 2 to cut (string beans) into long, thin slices before cooking the French the people of France [ME Frensh < OE Frencisc < Franca, a FRANK]

French and Indian War the American phase (1754-63) of the SEVEN YEARS' WAR

French bread a bread made with white flour in a long, slender loaf with a hard, crisp crust

French bulldog any of a breed of small, short-haired dog, probably descended from the English bulldog, with a square head, mouselike ears, and short legs

French Canadian 1 a Canadian of French ancestry 2 CANADIAN FRENCH

French chalk a very soft soapstone chalk used for marking lines on cloth or removing grease spots

French Community political union (formed in 1958) comprising France & several of its former territories, the countries of Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, & Senegal: since 1962 the member countries have maintained bilateral agreements with France

French cuff a double cuff, as on the sleeve of a shirt, that is turned back on itself and fastened with a cuff link

French curve a template for drawing curved lines

French doors two adjoining doors that have glass panes from top to bottom and are hinged at opposite sides of a doorway so that they open in the middle

French dressing 1 a salad dressing made of vinegar, oil, and various seasonings; vinaigrette 2 an orange-colored, creamy salad dressing made commercially

French endive CHICORY (sense 1)

French Equatorial Africa former federation of French colonies in central Africa

French fries [often f- f-] strips of potato that have been French fried

French fry [often f- f-] to fry in very hot deep fat until crisp

French Guiana French overseas department in NE South America, on the Atlantic: 35,135 sq. mi. (91,000 sq. km); pop. 73,000; chief town, Cayenne

French Guinea Guinea when it was under French control

French heel a curved high heel on a woman's shoe

French horn HORN (n. 8b)

French India former French territory in India

French Indochina Indochina when it was under French control

French kiss a passionate kiss with the lips parted and the tongues touching French-kiss (french´kis´) •vt., vi.

French knot an embroidery stitch formed by twisting the thread around the needle, which is then inserted at nearly the same point it came through the material

French leave an unauthorized, unnoticed, or unceremonious departure; act of leaving secretly or in haste [< 18th-c. custom, prevalent in France, of leaving receptions without taking leave of the host or hostess]

French letter [Brit. Slang] CONDOM

French marigold a small, bushy marigold (Tagetes patula) with solitary ray flowers whose yellow petals are blotched with red

French Morocco the former (1912-56) French zone of Morocco, making up most of the country: with Spanish Morocco & Tangier, it became the country of Morocco

French pastry rich pastry, usually filled with preserved fruit, whipped cream, etc.

French polish a preparation, usually shellac dissolved in alcohol, applied to furniture for a glossy finish

French Polynesia French overseas territory in the South Pacific, consisting principally of five archipelagoes: 1,545 sq. mi. (4,000 sq. km); pop. 138,000; cap. Papeete: formerly called French (Settlements in) Oceania

French Provincial [also F- p-] a style of furniture, architecture, etc. of or based on that of the French provinces, esp. in the mid-18th century, based in turn on Parisian style

French Revolution the revolution of the people against the monarchy in France: it began in 1789, resulted in the establishment of a republic, and ended in 1799 with the Consulate under Napoleon

French Revolutionary calendar the official calendar (1793-1805) of the first French republic

French roll FRENCH TWIST

French seam a seam in which the raw edge of the cloth is turned under and sewed in place on the inner side of the material

French Somaliland former French overseas territory in E Africa: called French Territory of the Afars and the Issas from 1967 to 1977, when it became the country of Djibouti

French Sudan former French overseas territory in W Africa: since 1960, the republic of Mali

French telephone an old-fashioned, ornate kind of handset

French toast sliced bread dipped in a batter of egg and milk and then fried

French twist a woman's hairstyle in which the hair is pulled back and twisted into a vertical coil running down the back of the head

French Union former political union (1946-58) of France, its overseas departments & territories, & its protectorates & associated states: succeeded by the FRENCH COMMUNITY

French West Africa former French overseas territory in W Africa, including the present countries of Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Benin, & Niger

French West Indies two overseas departments of France in the West Indies, including Martinique & Guadeloupe & the dependencies of Guadeloupe

French windows a pair of casement windows designed like French doors and usually extending to the floor

Frenchify (french´i fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt., vi. to make or become French or like the French in customs, ideas, manners, etc. French'i·fi·ca´tion •n.

Frenchman (french´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of France, esp. a man 2 a French ship

Frenchwoman (french´wum'эn) pl. -wom'en (-wim'in) •n. a woman who is a native or inhabitant of France

Frenchy (french´i:) French´i·er, French´i·est •adj. of, characteristic of, or like the French •n. pl. French´ies [Slang] a Frenchman

Freneau (fri nou´), Philip (Morin) 1752-1832; U.S. poet & journalist

frenetic (frэ net´ik) •adj. frantic; frenzied Also fre·net´i·cal fre·net´i·cal·ly •adv. [see PHRENETIC]

frenulum (fren´yu: lэm, -yэ-) pl. -lums or -la (-lэ) •n. 1 a small frenum 2 Zool. a stiff bristle or group of bristles extending from the hind wing of some moths and interlocking with a structure on the front wing, linking the wings together in flight [ModL, dim. of frenum: see FRENUM]

frenum (fri:´nэm) pl. -nums or -na (-nэ) •n. a fold of skin or mucous membrane that checks or controls the movement of an organ or part, as the fold under the tongue [L, lit., a bridle < IE base *dher-, to hold > FIRM¹]

frenzy (fren´zi:) pl. -zies •n. wild or frantic outburst of feeling or action; specif., brief delirium that is almost insanity •vt. -zied, -zy·ing to make frantic; drive mad SYN. MANIA fren´zied •adj. fren´zied·ly •adv. [ME frenesie < OFr < ML phrenesia < L phrenesis < LGr phrenēsis < Gr phrenitis, madness, inflammation of the brain < phrēn, mind: see PHRENETIC]

Freon (fri:´än') trademark for any of a series of gaseous or low-boiling, inert, nonflammable compounds of fluorine, carbon, and often chlorine: used as refrigerants, solvents, and aerosol propellants [F(LUORINE) + RE(FRIGERANT) + -on, as in NEON]

freq 1 frequency 2 frequent 3 frequentative

frequency (fri:´kwэn si:) pl. -cies •n. 1 orig., a) the condition of being crowded b) a crowd 2 the fact of occurring often or repeatedly; frequent occurrence 3 the number of times any action or occurrence is repeated in a given period 4 Math., Statistics a) the number of times an event, value, or characteristic occurs in a given period b) the ratio of the number of times a characteristic occurs to the number of trials in which it can potentially occur (in full relative frequency) 5 Physics the number of periodic oscillations, vibrations, or waves per unit of time: usually expressed in hertz Also fre´quence (-kwэns) [ME < Fr < L frequentia < frequens: see FREQUENT]

frequency distribution a numerical tabulation in which the different observed values of a variable, or the different outcomes of an event, are grouped into classes, and the frequencies for each of these classes are given

frequency modulation 1 the variation of the instantaneous frequency of a carrier wave in accordance with the signal to be transmitted 2 the system of radio broadcasting or transmission that uses such modulation Distinguished from AMPLITUDE MODULATION

frequent (fri:´kwэnt; for v. fri: kwent´, also fri:´kwent', -kwэnt) •adj. 1 orig., crowded; filled 2 occurring often; happening repeatedly at brief intervals 3 constant; habitual •vt. to go to constantly; be at often {to frequent the theater} fre·quent´er •n. [ME < OFr < L frequens (gen. frequentis), ? akin to farcire, to stuff: see FARCE]

frequentation (fri:'kwэn tei´shэn) •n. the act or practice of frequenting [ME frequentacioun < L frequentatio < pp. of frequentare]

frequentative (fri: kwen´tэ tiv) •adj. Gram. expressing frequent and repeated action •n. Gram. a frequentative verb {sparkle is a frequentative of spark} [L frequentativus < frequentare, to frequent]

frequently (fri:´kwэnt li:) •adv. at frequent or brief intervals; often

frère (fřeř) •n. 1 a brother 2 a friar [Fr]

fresco (fres´kou) pl. -coes or -cos •n. 1 the art or technique of painting with watercolors on wet plaster 2 a painting or design so made •vt. to paint in fresco [It, fresh < OHG frisc: see FRESH1]

fresh breeze a wind whose speed is 19 to 24 miles per hour: see BEAUFORT SCALE

fresh gale a wind whose speed is 39 to 46 miles per hour: see BEAUFORT SCALE

fresh¹ (fresh) •adj. 1 a) recently produced, obtained, or arrived b) newly made {fresh coffee} 2 having original strength, vigor, quality, taste, etc.; esp., a) not preserved by being salted, pickled, canned, or frozen {fresh meat, fresh vegetables} b) not spoiled, rotten, or stale c) not tired; vigorous; lively {to feel fresh after a nap} d) not worn, soiled, faded, etc.; vivid; bright; clean e) youthful or healthy in appearance {a fresh complexion} 3 not known before; new; recent {fresh information} 4 additional; further {a fresh start} 5 a) inexperienced; unaccustomed b) having just arrived 6 original, spontaneous, and stimulating {fresh ideas} 7 cool and refreshing; invigorating {a fresh spring day} 8 brisk; strong: said of the wind 9 not salt: said of water 10 designating or of a cow that has just begun to give milk, as after having borne a calf •n. 1 the fresh part 2 a freshet 3 a pool or stream of fresh water •adv. in a fresh manner •vi., vt. to make or become fresh SYN. NEW fresh out (of) [Colloq.] having just sold or used up the last one or part (of) fresh´ness •n. [ME < OE fersc, but altered under infl. of OFr fres, fresche < Gmc *friska (> Ger frisch & OE fersc)]

fresh² (fresh) •adj. [Slang] bold; saucy; impertinent; impudent fresh´ly •adv. fresh´ness •n. [< Ger frech, bold, impudent (akin to OE fræc < IE base *preg-, bold, greedy): confused with prec.]

freshen (fresh´эn) •vt. to make fresh, or vigorous, clean, etc. •vi. 1 to become fresh 2 to increase in strength: said of the wind Æ 3 to begin to give milk, as a cow after having a calf freshen up to bathe oneself, change into fresh clothes, etc.

freshener (fresh´эn эr) •n. anything that freshens or refreshes {an air freshener}

freshet (fresh´it) •n. 1 a stream or rush of fresh water flowing into the sea Æ 2 a sudden overflowing of a stream because of melting snow or heavy rain [see FRESH¹ & -ET]

freshly (fresh´li:) •adv. 1 in a fresh manner 2 just now; recently: followed by a past participle {bread freshly baked} [ME freschli]

freshman (fresh´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. 1 a beginner; novice 2 a student in the first year of college or the ninth grade in high school Æ 3 a person in the first year at any enterprise {a freshman in Congress} •adj. of or for first-year students {the freshman English course} [FRESH¹ + MAN]

freshwater (fresh´wöt'эr) •adj. 1 of or living in water that is not salty 2 a) accustomed to sailing only on inland waters, not on the sea {a freshwater sailor} b) unskilled 3 a) in or of the hinterland; inland Æ b) somewhat provincial or obscure {a freshwater college}

freshwater eel any of a family (Anguillidae) of eels that live in streams, lakes, etc. and migrate to the sea to spawn

Fresnel (frei nel´), Au·gus·tin Jean (ou güs tæñ´zhäñ) 1788-1827; Fr. physicist

Fresnel lens a thin optical lens of many concentric rings, having the properties of a much thicker and heavier lens: used in cameras, lighthouse beacons, etc.

Fresnel mirrors Optics two plane mirrors linked together at an angle a little less than 180° so that a beam of light falling on them is reflected by these mirrors in slightly different directions, thus producing interference fringes in the area where this reflected light overlaps

Fresno (frez´nou) city in central Calif.: pop. 354,000 (met. area 667,000) [< Sp fresno, ash tree < L fraxinus: see FRAXINELLA]

fret saw a saw with a narrow, fine-toothed blade in a U-shaped frame, for cutting curved patterns in thin boards or metal plates

fret¹ (fret) fret´ted, fret´ting •vt. 1 to eat away; gnaw 2 to wear away by gnawing, rubbing, corroding, etc. 3 to make or form by wearing away 4 to make rough; disturb {wind fretting the water} 5 to irritate; vex; annoy; worry •vi. 1 to gnaw (into, on, or upon) 2 to become eaten, corroded, worn, frayed, etc. 3 to become rough or disturbed 4 to be irritated, annoyed, or querulous; worry •n. 1 a wearing away 2 a worn place 3 irritation; worry fret´ter •n. [ME freten < OE fretan, to devour, akin to Ger fressen, Goth fra-itan < Gmc prefix *fra- (OE for-: see FOR-) + *itan, to eat (OE etan: see EAT)]

fret² (fret) •n. 1 an ornamental net or network, esp. one formerly worn by women as a headdress 2 an ornamental pattern of small, straight bars intersecting or joining one another, usually at right angles, to form a regular design, as for a border or in an architectural relief •vt. fret´ted, fret´ting to ornament with a fret [ME frette, prob. merging of OFr frete (Fr frette), interlaced work, with OE frætwa, ornament (> ? OFr frete)]

fret³ (fret) •n. any of several narrow, lateral ridges fixed across the fingerboard of a banjo, guitar, mandolin, etc. to regulate the fingering •vt. fret´ted, fret´ting 1 to furnish with frets 2 to press the strings (of a banjo, etc.) against the frets fret´less •adj. [OFr frette, a band, ferrule]

fretful (fret´fэl) •adj. tending to fret; irritable and discontented; peevish fret´ful·ly •adv. fret´ful·ness •n.

fretwork (-wørk') •n. work ornamented with frets; decorative carving or openwork, as of interlacing lines

Freud (froid), Sigmund 1856-1939; Austrian physician & neurologist: founder of psychoanalysis

Freudian (froid´i: эn) •adj. of or according to Freud or his theories and practice •n. a person who believes in Freud's theories or uses Freud's methods in psychoanalysis Freud´i·an·ism' •n.

Freudian slip a mistake made in speaking by which, it is thought, the speaker inadvertently reveals unconscious motives, desires, etc.

Frey (frei) Norse Myth. the god of crops, fruitfulness, love, peace, and prosperity Also Freyr (freir)

Freya (frei´э, -ä') Norse Myth. the goddess of love and beauty, sister of Frey Also Frey´ja' (-yä')

FRG Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)

Fri Friday

friable (frai´э bэl) •adj. easily crumbled or crushed into powder SYN. FRAGILE fri'a·bil´i·ty or fri´a·ble·ness •n. [Fr < L friabilis < friare, to rub, crumble < IE base *bhrēi-, to cut, scrape > Russ briti, to shave, L fricare, to rub]

friar (frai´эr) •n. a member of any of various mendicant orders, as a Franciscan or Dominican fri´ar·ly •adj. [ME frer, frier < OFr frere < L frater, BROTHER]

Friar Minor pl. Friars Minor a member of the branch of the Franciscan order that follows the original rule: see CAPUCHIN, CONVENTUAL

friarbird (-børd') •n. any of a genus (Philemon) of honeyeaters of the SW Pacific and Australia that have a naked, featherless head

friar's lantern IGNIS FATUUS

friary (frai´эr i:) pl. -ar·ies •n. 1 a house of friars 2 a brotherhood of friars

fribble (frib´эl) •adj. of little importance; trifling •n. 1 a person who wastes time 2 any trifling act or thought •vi. frib´bled, frib´bling to waste time; trifle fribble away to use wastefully [< ?]

Fribourg (fři: buř´) canton of WC Switzerland: 645 sq. mi. (1,670 sq. km); pop. 185,000

fricandeau (frik'эn dou´, frik´эn dou') pl. -deaux´ (-douz´) •n. meat, esp. veal, larded and roasted or braised [Fr, irreg. < ? fol.]

fricassee (frik'э si:´, frik´э si:') •n. a dish consisting of meat cut into pieces, stewed or fried, and served in a sauce of its own gravy •vt. -seed´, -see´ing to prepare (meat) by this method [Fr fricassée, fem. pp. of fricasser, to cut up and fry < frire, FRY¹ + casser, to break: see CASHIER²]

fricative (frik´э tiv) Phonet. articulated by means of breath forced through a narrow slit formed at some point in the mouth, producing friction, as in (f, v, θ, z, h) •adj. •n. a fricative consonant [< L fricatus, pp. of fricare (see FRIABLE) + -IVE]

Frick (frik), Henry Clay 1849-1919; U.S. industrialist & philanthropist

friction (frik´shэn) •n. 1 a rubbing, esp. of one object against another 2 disagreement or conflict because of differences of opinion, temperament, etc. 3 Mech. the resistance to motion of two moving objects or surfaces that touch fric´tion·less •adj. [Fr < L frictio < pp. of fricare, to rub: see FRIABLE]

friction clutch a mechanical clutch in which the rotating coaxial shafts are engaged through frictional contact of their surfaces

friction match a match that lights by friction: includes all modern matches

friction tape a moisture-resistant adhesive tape, esp. for insulating exposed electrical wires

frictional (frik´shэ nэl) •adj. of or caused by friction

frictionally (-nэl i:) •adv. by or with friction

Friday (frai´dei; also, -di:) •n. 1 the sixth day of the week: abbrev. Fri or F 2 a faithful follower or efficient helper: usually man (or girl) Friday [after the devoted servant of ROBINSON CRUSOE] [ME fridai < OE frigedæg, lit., day of the goddess FRIGG, akin to Ger Freitag, Du Vrijdag, Swed Fredag: transl. of LL Veneris dies (Fr vendredi), Venus' day]

Fridays (-deiz; also, -di:z) •adv. during every Friday or most Fridays

fridge (frij) •n. [Colloq.] a refrigerator

fried (fraid) •vt., vi. pt. & pp. of FRY¹ •adj. Æ [Slang] drunk; intoxicated [ME ifrid, pp. of frien, FRY¹]

Frieda (fri:´dэ) a feminine name: var. Freda [Ger < OHG fridu, peace: see FREDERICK]

friedcake (fraid´keik') •n. a small cake fried in deep fat; doughnut or cruller

Friedman (fri:d´mэn), Milton 1912- ; U.S. economist

Friedrich (fři:´dřiH), Caspar David (käs´päř' dä´vi:t') 1774-1840; Ger. painter

friend (frend) •n. 1 a person whom one knows well and is fond of; intimate associate; close acquaintance 2 a person on the same side in a struggle; one who is not an enemy or foe; ally 3 a supporter or sympathizer {a friend of labor} 4 something thought of as like a friend in being helpful, reliable, etc. 5 [F-] any member of the Society of Friends; Quaker •vt. [Archaic] to act as a friend to; befriend make (or be) friends with to become (or be) a friend of friend´less •adj. friend´less·ness •n. [ME frend < OE freond, friend, lover, akin to Ger freund, prp. of Gmc *frijon, to love (> OE freon): for IE base see FREE]

friend at court a person in an influential position who is friendly toward and able to help one

friend of the court AMICUS CURIAE

friendly (frend´li:) -li·er, -li·est •adj. 1 like, characteristic of, or suitable for a friend, friends, or friendship; kindly 2 not hostile; amicable 3 supporting; helping; favorable {a friendly wind} 4 showing friendly feelings; ready to be a friend •adv. in a friendly manner; as a friend friend´li·ly •adv. friend´li·ness •n. [ME frendli < OE freondlice]

Friendly Islands TONGA

friendship (frend´ship') •n. 1 the state of being friends 2 attachment between friends 3 friendly feeling or attitude; friendliness [ME frendship < OE freondscipe]

frier (frai´эr) •n. alt. sp. of FRYER

fries (fraiz) •n.pl. [Colloq.] short for FRENCH FRIES

Friesian (fri:´zhэn) •adj., n. alt. sp. of FRISIAN

Friesland (fri:z´lэnd, -lænd'; Du fři:s´länt') province of the N Netherlands, on the North Sea: 1,310 sq. mi. (3,391 sq. km); pop. 598,000; cap. Leeuwarden

frieze¹ (fri:z) •n. 1 a decoration or series of decorations forming an ornamental band around a room, mantel, etc. 2 Archit. a horizontal band, often decorated with sculpture, between the architrave and cornice of a building: see ENTABLATURE, illus. [Fr frise < ML frisium < ? Frank *frisi, a curl, akin to OE fris, crisped, curled; ? confused in folk-etym. by assoc. with ML frigium < L Phrygium, Phrygian: Phrygia was noted for embroidery in gold]

frieze² (fri:z) •n. a heavy wool cloth with a shaggy, uncut nap on one side [ME frise < OFr < MDu, prob. akin to prec.]

frig¹ (frig) frigged, frig´ging •vt. [Vulgar Slang] 1 to engage in sexual intercourse with 2 to cheat, trick, etc. •vi. [Vulgar Slang] to spend time idly, foolishly, etc.: usually with around

frig² (frij) •n. [Colloq., Chiefly Brit.] FRIDGE

frigate (frig´it) •n. 1 a fast, medium-sized sailing warship of the 18th and early 19th cent., which carried from 24 to 60 guns 2 a Brit. warship between a corvette and a destroyer 3 a) until 1975, a U.S. warship larger than a destroyer and smaller than a light cruiser b) since 1975, a U.S. warship smaller than a destroyer, used chiefly for escort duty [Fr frégate < It fregata]

frigate bird any of a family (Fregatidae) of large, tropical pelecaniform birds with extremely long wings and tail and a hooked beak: it commonly robs other birds of their prey

Frigg (frig) the wife of Odin and goddess of the skies, presiding over marriage and the home Also Frig·ga (frig´э) [ON, akin to OHG Fria & Sans priyā, beloved: for IE base see FREE]

frigging (frig´iŋ) •adj., adv. [Slang] darned; damned: a vulgar, generalized intensive [prp. of vulgar frig, to copulate, orig. to rub, prob. ult. < L fricare, to rub: see FRIABLE]

fright (frait) •n. 1 sudden fear or terror; alarm 2 an ugly, ridiculous, startling, or unusual person or thing •vt. [Rare] to frighten; terrify [ME frighten < OE fyrhtan] SYN. FEAR [ME < OE fyrhto, fryhto, fear, akin to Ger furcht, fear, Goth faúrhts < IE base *perg-, fear, to be afraid]

fright wig [Slang] a wig, made of synthetic, often brightly colored fibers that stick out from the head

frighten (frait´ªn) •vt. 1 to cause to feel fright; make suddenly afraid; scare; terrify 2 to force (away, out, or off) or bring (into a specified condition) by making afraid {to frighten someone into confessing} •vi. to become suddenly afraid fright´en·ing·ly •adv. SYN.—frighten is the broadest of these terms and implies, usually, a sudden, temporary feeling of fear [frightened by a mouse] but sometimes, a state of continued dread [she's frightened when she's alone]; scare, often equivalent to frighten, in stricter use implies a fear that causes one to flee or to stop doing something [I scared him from the room]; alarm suggests a sudden fear or apprehension at the realization of an approaching danger [alarmed by his warning]; to terrify is to cause to feel an overwhelming, often paralyzing fear [terrified at the thought of war]; terrorize implies deliberate intention to terrify by threat or intimidation [the gangsters terrorized the city]

frightened (-ªnd) •adj. filled with fright; terrified SYN. AFRAID

frightful (frait´fэl) •adj. 1 causing fright; terrifying; alarming 2 shocking; terrible 3 [Colloq.] a) unpleasant; annoying b) great {in a frightful hurry} fright´ful·ly •adv. fright´ful·ness •n.

frigid (frij´id) •adj. 1 extremely cold; without heat or warmth 2 without warmth of feeling or manner; stiff and formal 3 habitually failing to become sexually aroused, or abnormally repelled by sexual activity: said of a woman fri·gid·i·ty (fri jid´э ti:) or frig´id·ness •n. frig´id·ly •adv. [ME < L frigidus < frigere, to be cold < frigus, coldness, frost < IE base *srīg-, coldness > Gr rhigos, frost]

Frigid Zone either of two zones of the earth (North Frigid Zone & South Frigid Zone) between the polar circles and the poles

Frigidaire (frij´i der´) trademark for an electric refrigerator •n. [f-] an electric refrigerator [arbitrary coinage < prec. + AIR]

frigorific (frig'э rif´ik) •adj. making cold; freezing or cooling [Fr frigorifique < L frigorificus < frigus (see FRIGID) + facere, to make (see DO¹)]

frijol (fri:´houl'; also fri: houl´) pl. fri·jo·les (fri: hou´li:z', -leiz', -leis'; also fri:´hou'li:z', -houlz') •n. 1 any of various beans used for food, esp. any of certain kidney beans so used in Mexico and the SW U.S.: also fri·jo·le (fri: hou´li:; fri: hou', fri: houl´) 2 [pl.] REFRIED BEANS [Sp fríjol, fréjol < L faseolus, earlier phaselus < Gr phasēlos, kind of bean]

frill (fril) •n. 1 a fold or fringe of hair or feathers around the neck of a bird or animal 2 any unnecessary ornament; superfluous thing added for show 3 an edging or trimming of lace, etc., gathered or pleated and attached along one edge but free at the other; ruffle 4 Photog. a wrinkling of the edge of a film, plate, etc. •vt. 1 to make a ruffle of; crimp 2 to decorate with a frill •vi. Photog. to become wrinkled, as a film, due to a separation of the emulsion from the base frill´y, frill´i·er, frill´i·est, •adj. [< ?]

Friml (frim´ªl), (Charles) Rudolf 1897-1972; U.S. composer, born in Bohemia

fringe (frinj) •n. 1 a border or trimming of cords or threads, hanging loose or tied in bunches 2 a) anything like this {a fringe of hair} b) an outer edge; border; margin {at the fringes of the slums} 3 a part considered to be peripheral, extreme, or minor in relation to the main part {the lunatic fringe of a political party} Æ 4 FRINGE BENEFIT 5 Optics any of the light or dark bands resulting from the interference or diffraction of light •vt. fringed, fring´ing 1 to decorate with or as with fringe 2 to be a fringe for; line {trees fringed the lawn} •adj. 1 at the outer edge or border {a fringe area of television reception} Æ 2 additional {fringe costs} Æ 3 less important; minor {fringe industries} [ME frenge < OFr frenge, fringe < VL *frimbia, metathesis of LL fimbria, a fringe, border < L fimbriae, shreds, fibers]

fringe benefit an employee's benefit other than wages or salary, as in the form of a pension, vacation, insurance, etc.

fringe tree any of a genus (Chionanthus) of the olive family; esp., a small tree (C. virginicus) native to the SE U.S., having large clusters of drooping white flowers

fringed gentian any of several gentians having blue flowers with fringed petals and native to N U.S. and Canada

fringed polygala a trailing perennial milkwort (Polygala paucifolia) with rosy-lavender flowers having a fringed lower lip, growing in the woods of E North America

fringing reef a coral reef growing outward from the shore with no open water between it and the shore: cf. BARRIER REEF

fringy (frin´ji:) fring´i·er, fring´i·est •adj. 1 like a fringe 2 having a fringe or fringes

frippery (frip´эr i:) pl. -per·ies •n. 1 cheap, gaudy clothes; tawdry finery 2 showy display in dress, manners, speech, etc.; affectation of elegance [orig., castoff clothes < Fr friperie < OFr freperie < frepe, a rag < ? ML faluppa, a shaving, straw]

Fris Frisian

Frisbee (friz´bi:) trademark for a plastic, saucer-shaped disk sailed back and forth between players in a simple game •n. [also f-] 1 such a disk 2 the game played with it [altered < Frisbie: tins from Mother Frisbie's pies were orig. used for the game by students at Yale University]

Frisco (fris´kou) name for SAN FRANCISCO: not a local usage

frisé (fri: zei´, fri-) •n. a type of upholstery fabric having a thick pile consisting of uncut loops, or, sometimes, of some loops cut to form a design [Fr < friser, to curl, prob. < Frank *frisi: see FRIEZE¹]

frisette (fri: zet´, fri-) •n. [Rare] a fringe of curls or fluffy bangs, often artificial, worn on the forehead by women [Fr, dim. < friser, to curl: see FRISÉ]

friseur (fři: zëř´) •n. a hairdresser [Fr < friser: see FRISÉ]

Frisian (frizh´эn, fri:´zhэn) •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Friesland or the Frisian Islands 2 a member of an ancient Germanic tribe of N Holland 3 the West Germanic language of the Frisians, closely related to Dutch and Old English •adj. designating or of Friesland, the Frisian Islands, their people, or their language or culture [< L Frisii, the Frisians < OFris Frisa < Gmc *frisi, curl: so named from their hair style]

Frisian Islands island chain in the North Sea, extending along the coast of NW Europe: it is divided into three groups, one belonging to the Netherlands (West Frisian Islands), one belonging to Germany (East Frisian Islands), & one divided between Germany & Denmark (North Frisian Islands)

frisk (frisk) •adj. [Obs.] lively; frisky •n. 1 a lively, playful movement; frolic; gambol 2 [Slang] the act of frisking a person •vt. 1 to move in a playful, lively manner {the puppy frisked its tail} 2 [Slang] to search quickly; esp., to search (a person) as for concealed weapons or stolen articles by passing the hands quickly over the person's clothing •vi. to dance or move about in a playful, lively manner; frolic [ME < OFr frisque < OHG frisc, new, cheerful, lively: see FRESH¹]

frisky (fris´ki:) frisk´i·er, frisk´i·est •adj. inclined to frisk about; lively; playful; frolicsome; merry frisk´i·ly •adv. frisk´i·ness •n.

frisson (fři: souñ´) pl. -sons´ (-souñ´) •n. a shudder or shiver, as of excitement, fear, or pleasure [Fr]

frit (frit) •n. 1 the partly fused mixture of sand and fluxes of which glass is made 2 a partly fused vitreous substance, ground and used as a basis for glazes and enamels •vt., vi. frit´ted, frit´ting to prepare (materials for glass) by heating; make into frit [Fr fritte < It fritta, fried, pp. of friggere < L frigere, FRY¹]

frit fly any of a family (Chloropidae) of tiny dipterous flies whose larvae destroy grain, esp. a black species (Oscinella frit) [< ? prec., from the glazed, shining appearance of the fly's body]

frith (friθ) •n. a narrow inlet or arm of the sea; estuary; firth [var. of FIRTH]

fritillary (frit´ªl er'i:; Brit fri til´э ri) pl. -lar'ies •n. 1 any of a genus (Fritillaria) of perennial, bulbous plants of the lily family, with nodding, bell-shaped flowers 2 any of certain medium-sized nymphalid butterflies, usually having brownish wings with silver spots on the undersides [< ModL Fritillaria < L fritillus, dice box: from markings on the petals or wings]

frittata (fri: tä´tэ) •n. an omelet with pieces of vegetables, meat, etc. in the egg mixture, cooked slowly until fluffy and served without folding [It, omelet]

fritter¹ (frit´эr) •n. [Rare] a small piece; shred •vt. [< the n.] 1 [Rare] to break or tear into small pieces 2 to waste (money, time, etc.) bit by bit on petty things: usually with away frit´ter·er •n. [< ? OFr fraiture < L fractura: see FRACTURE]

fritter² (frit´эr) •n. a small cake of fried batter, usually containing corn, fruit, or other filling [ME friture < OFr < VL *frictura < pp. of L frigere, FRY¹]

fritz (frits) •n. Æ [Slang] a broken or nonfunctioning state: only in the phrase on the fritz, not in working order [< Ger, nickname for Friedrich: orig. meant a German; current sense in allusion to cheap German goods exported to U.S. before World War I]

Friuli-Venezia Giulia (fři: u:´li: ve ne´tsyä ju:´lyä) region of NE Italy, on the Adriatic: 3,030 sq. mi. (7,848 sq. km); pop. 1,233,000; cap. Trieste

frivol (friv´эl) -oled or -olled, -ol·ing or -ol·ling •vi., vt. [Colloq.] to waste (time) on frivolous or trifling things [back-form. < FRIVOLOUS]

frivolity (fri väl´э ti:) •n. 1 the quality or condition of being frivolous 2 pl. -ties a frivolous act or thing [Fr frivolité]

frivolous (friv´э lэs) •adj. 1 of little value or importance; trifling; trivial 2 not properly serious or sensible; silly and light-minded; giddy {a frivolous remark, a frivolous youth} friv´o·lous·ly •adv. friv´o·lous·ness •n. [ME < frivol (< OFr frivole < L frivolus, fragile, silly, akin to friare: see FRIABLE) + -OUS]

frizette (fri: zet´, fri-) •n. FRISETTE

frizz¹ or friz (friz) frizzed, friz´zing •vt., vi. to form into small, tight curls •n. hair, etc. that is frizzed [Fr friser, to curl: see FRIEZE¹]

frizz² (friz) •vt., vi. to fry with a sputtering, hissing noise; sizzle [echoic alteration of FRY¹]

frizzle¹ (friz´эl) -zled, -zling •vi., vt. 1 to make or cause to make a sputtering, hissing noise, as in frying; sizzle 2 to become or make crisp by broiling or frying thoroughly [echoic alteration of FRY¹, after SIZZLE]

frizzle² (friz´эl) -zled, -zling •vt., vi. to form into small, tight curls; frizz; crimp •n. a small, tight curl [prob. akin to Fris frislen, to plait (the hair)]

frizzly (friz´li:) -zli·er, -zli·est •adj. FRIZZY [< prec. + -Y³]

frizzy (friz´i:) -zi·er, -zi·est •adj. full of or covered with small, tight curls friz´zi·ly •adv. friz´zi·ness •n.

fro (frou) •adv. away; backward; back: now only in TO AND FRO (at TO) [ME fra, fro < ON frā, akin to OE fram, FROM]

Frobisher (frou´bi shэr), Sir Martin c. 1535-94; Eng. navigator & explorer

frock (fräk) •n. 1 a robe worn by friars, monks, etc. 2 any of various other garments; specif., a) a tunic, mantle, or long coat formerly worn by men b) a smock or smock frock c) a girl's or woman's dress d) FROCK COAT •vt. to clothe in a frock [ME frok < OFr froc, monk's habit (or ML froccus) < Frank *hrokk, cloak]

frock coat a man's double-breasted dress coat with a full skirt reaching to the knees both in front and in back, worn chiefly in the 19th cent.

froe (frou) •n. a cleaving tool with the handle set into the blade at right angles to the cutting edge [also frow (frower): ? contr. of FROWARD, in sense handle turned away]

Froebel or Fröbel (fřö´bэl; E frei´bªl), Frie·drich (Wilhelm August) (fři:´dřiH) 1782-1852; Ger. educator: originated the kindergarten system

frog (frög, fräg) •n. 1 a) any of various families of tailless, leaping anuran amphibians with long, powerful hind legs, short forelegs, a smooth skin, and webbed feet: it develops from a tadpole, and most species, when grown, are able to live either in water or on land b) a toad 2 a triangular, horny pad in the posterior half of the sole of a horse's foot 3 a fastening on a belt for carrying a sword, bayonet, etc. 4 a corded or braided loop used as a fastener or decoration on clothing Æ 5 a device on railroad tracks for keeping cars on the proper rails at intersections or switches 6 a device placed in a bowl or vase to hold the stems of flowers 7 that part of the bow of a stringed instrument, including the nut, by which the bow is held 8 [sometimes F-] [Slang] a French person: term of contempt or derision frog in the throat a hoarseness due to throat irritation [ME frogge < OE frogga, akin to Ger frosch, ON froskr < IE base *preu-, to jump > Sans právatē, (he) hops]

frog kick a kick used in swimming in which the legs are drawn up and spread outward at the knees and then extended and brought together with a snap

frog spit (or spittle) 1 CUCKOO SPIT 2 mats of filamentous algae floating on the surface of ponds and containing bubbles of oxygen

frogfish (frög´fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' •n.or -fish'es any of a family (Antennariidae) of tropical angler fishes with a globular, scaleless body bearing many fleshy appendages

froggy (frö´gi:) -gi·er, -gi·est •adj. 1 of or characteristic of a frog 2 full of frogs

froghopper (frög´häp'эr) •n. SPITTLEBUG

frogman (frög´mæn') pl. -men' (-men') •n. a person trained and equipped, as with a rubber suit and scuba apparatus, for underwater demolition, exploration, etc.

frog-march (-märch) •vt. [Colloq., Chiefly Brit.] to grasp by the arm and force to walk along

frog's-bit (frögz´bit') •adj. designating a family (Hydrocharitaceae, order Hydrocharitales) of submerged, monocotyledonous aquatic plants, including elodea and tape grass

Frohman (frou´mэn), Charles 1860-1915; U.S. theatrical manager & producer

Froissart (fřwå såř´; E froi´särt), Jean (zhäñ) 1337-c. 1410; Fr. chronicler & poet

frolic (fräl´ik) •adj. [Archaic] full of fun and pranks; merry •n. 1 a playful trick; prank 2 a lively party or game 3 merriment; gaiety; fun •vi. -icked, -ick·ing 1 to make merry; have fun 2 to play or romp about in a happy, carefree way frol´ick·er •n. [Du vroolijk < MDu vrō, merry, akin to Ger froh, prob. < IE base *preu-, to leap > FROG]

frolicsome (-sэm) •adj. full of gaiety or high spirits; playful; merry Also frol´ick·y [prec. + -SOME¹]

from (frûm; unstressed frэm; also främ) •prep. a particle used with verbs or other words to indicate I. a point of departure for motion, duration, distance, action, etc.; source or beginning of ideas, action, etc. 1 beginning at {to leave from the station} 2 starting with (the first of two named limits) {from noon to midnight} 3 out of; derived or coming out of {to take a comb from the pocket} 4 with (a person or thing) as the maker, sender, speaker, teacher, etc. {a letter from Mary, facts learned from reading} II. distance, absence, removal, separation, exclusion, prevention, freedom, etc. 1 at a place not near to; out of contact with {away from danger, far from home} 2 out of the whole of; out of unity or alliance with {take two from four} 3 out of the possibility or use of {kept from going} 4 out of the possession or control of {released from jail} III. difference, distinction, etc. as not being like {to tell one from another} IV. reason, cause, motive, etc. by reason of; caused by; because of {to tremble from fear} [ME < OE from, fram, akin to Goth fram, forward, away, ON frā < IE base *pro-, var. of *per-, beyond, ahead > FOR, FORE, FIRST]

Fromm (främ), Erich 1900-80; U.S. psychoanalyst, born in Germany

frond (fränd) •n. 1 a leaf; specif., a) the leaf of a fern b) the leaf of a palm 2 the leaflike part, or shoot, of a lichen, seaweed, duckweed, etc. frond´ed •adj. [L frons (gen. frondis), leafy branch, foliage]

Fronde (fřouñd) •n. a French political movement organized during the minority of Louis XIV to oppose the court and Cardinal Mazarin; also, the rebellions (1648-53) fomented by it [Fr, lit., a sling]

frondescence (frän des´эns) •n. 1 the process, state, or period of putting forth leaves 2 leaves; foliage fron·des´cent •adj. [< ModL frondescentia < L frondescens, prp. of frondescere, to become leafy < frondere, to put forth leaves < frons: see FROND]

frons (fränz) pl. fron·tes (frän´ti:z) •n. the upper front portion of the head of an insect, human, etc.; forehead [L: see FRONT]

front abbrev. frontispiece front (frûnt) •n. 1 a) the forehead b) the face; countenance 2 a) attitude or appearance, as of the face, indicating state of mind; external behavior when facing a problem, etc. {to put on a bold front} b) [Colloq.] an appearance, usually pretended or assumed, of social standing, wealth, etc. 3 [Rare] impudence; effrontery 4 the part of something that faces forward or is regarded as facing forward; most important side; forepart 5 the first part; beginning {toward the front of the book} 6 the place or position directly before a person or thing 7 a forward or leading position or situation Æ 8 the first available bellhop or page, as in a hotel: generally used as a call 9 the land bordering a lake, ocean, street, etc. 10 [Brit.] a promenade along a body of water 11 the advanced line, or the whole area, of contact between opposing sides in warfare; combat zone 12 a specified area of activity {the home front, the political front} 13 a broad movement in which different groups are united for the achievement of certain common political or social aims Æ 14 a person who serves as a public representative of a business, group, etc., usually because of his or her prestige Æ 15 a person or group used to cover or obscure the activity or objectives of another, controlling person or group 16 a stiff bosom, worn with formal clothes 17 Archit. a face of a building; esp., the face with the principal entrance 18 Meteorol. the boundary between two air masses of different density and temperature •adj. 1 at, to, in, on, or of the front 2 Phonet. articulated with the tongue toward the front of the mouth: said of certain vowels, as (i) in bid •vt. 1 to face; be opposite to 2 to be before in place 3 to meet; confront 4 to defy; oppose 5 to supply or serve as a front, or facing, of •vi. 1 to face in a certain direction {a castle fronting on the sea} Æ 2 to act as a FRONT (senses 14 & 15): with for in front of before; in a position ahead of [ME < OFr < L frons (gen. frontis), forehead, front < IE *bhren-, to project > OE brant, steep, high]

front burner a state of high priority or importance, leading consideration, etc.: usually in the phrase on the front burner, in or into such a state

front court Basketball 1 the half of the court which contains the basket toward which the ball is shot in attempting to score 2 the center and forwards on a team

front money money paid in advance, as in a front-end contract

front office the management or administration, as of a company

Front Range range on the E edge of the Rockies, in SE Wyo. & NC Colo.: highest peak, 14,274 ft. (4,350 m)

front room a room in the front of a house, esp. a living room

frontage (frûnt´ij) •n. 1 the front part of a building 2 the direction toward which this faces; exposure 3 the land between the front edge of a building and the street 4 a) the front boundary line of a lot facing a street b) the length of this line 5 land bordering a street, river, lake, etc.

frontal bone the bone comprising the front part of the skull and forming the forehead in humans: see SKULL, illus.

frontal lobe the part of the cerebrum covered by the frontal bone

frontal¹ (frûnt´ªl) •adj. 1 of the front; in, on, at, or against the front 2 of or for the forehead •n. FRONTAL BONE fron´tal·ly •adv. [ModL frontalis]

frontal² (frûnt´ªl) •n. 1 an ornamental band worn on the forehead 2 an ornamental cloth hung over the front of an altar 3 a) a façade b) a small pediment over a door, window, etc. [ME frountel < OFr frontel < ML frontellum, dim. for frontale < L frontalia, frontlet < frons: see FRONT & -AL]

frontbencher (frûnt´ben´chэr) •n. a member of the British house of Commons, who is a leader in a party and occupies a seat near the speaker

Frontenac (fřouñt nåk´; E frän´tэ næk'), Comte de (Frontenac et de Palluau) (born Louis de Buade) 1620-98; Fr. colonial governor in North America (1672-82; 1689-98)

front-end (frûnt´end´) •adj. designating, of, or having to do with a contract, financial arrangement, etc. in which specified payments, costs, etc. are payable in advance

frontier (frûn tir´; also frän-) •n. 1 the border between two countries Æ 2 a) that part of a settled, civilized country which lies next to an unexplored or undeveloped region b) the developing, often still uncivilized or lawless, region of a country 3 any new field of learning, thought, etc. or any part of a field that is still incompletely investigated: often used in plural {the frontiers of medicine} •adj. of, on, or near a frontier [ME frontere < OFr frontier < front: see FRONT]

frontiersman (-tirz´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. a man who lives in a frontier region

frontispiece (frûnt´is pi:s') •n. 1 orig., the first page, esp. the title page, of a book 2 an illustration facing the title page of a book 3 Archit. a) the main façade b) a pediment over a door, window, etc. [OFr < LL frontispicium, front of a church, front view < L frons, FRONT + specere, to look: see SPY]

frontlet (frûnt´lit) •n. 1 a frontal or a phylactery worn on the forehead 2 the forehead of an animal 3 the forehead of a bird, when distinguishable by the color or texture of the plumage 4 an ornamental border for an altar frontal [OFr frontelet, dim. of frontel, FRONTAL²]

fronto- (frän´tou, frûn´-) combining form 1 of the frontal bone or region and {frontoparietal} 2 of or connected with a meteorological front {frontogenesis} [< L frons: see FRONT]

frontogenesis (frän'tou jen´э sis; also frûn'-) •n. the formation of a weather front as a result of contact between two different air masses, usually with resultant in clouds and precipitation [ModL < FRONTO- + GENESIS]

frontolysis (frûn täl´э sis; also frän-) •n. the process that tends to destroy a weather front, as by mixture of the frontal air [ModL < FRONTO- + -LYSIS]

fronton (frän´tän'; Sp fřôn tôn´) •n. 1 a building containing a jai alai court or courts 2 the Mexican name for JAI ALAI [Sp frontón, orig., wall of a handball court, orig., a pediment < It frontone, aug. deriv. < fronte, forehead < L frons: see FRONT]

frontopalatal (frûn'tou pæl´э tэl, -эtªl) Phonet. articulated with the portion of the tongue that is just behind the tip touching or near the alveolar ridge and hard palate, as (sh) and (zh) •adj. •n. a frontopalatal consonant

frontoparietal (frûn'tou pэ rai´э tэl) •adj. of the frontal and parietal bones of the skull

front-page (frûnt´peij´) •adj. printed or fit to be printed on the front page of a newspaper; important or sensational •vt. -paged´, -pag´ing to print on the front page of a newspaper

front-runner (frûnt´rûn'эr) •n. 1 one who is leading in a race or competition 2 a contestant or entry that runs best when in the lead

frontward (frûnt´wэrd) •adv. 1 toward the front; ahead 2 with the front or face foremost •adj. turned or directed toward the front [FRONT + -WARD]

frontwards (-wэrdz) •adv. FRONTWARD

front-wheel drive an automotive design in which only the front wheels receive driving power from the front-mounted engine

frore (frour) •adj. [Archaic] very cold; frosty; frozen [ME frore(n), frozen, pp. of fresen, FREEZE]

frosh (fräsh) pl. frosh •n. [Colloq.] a high-school or college freshman [altered < FRESHMAN]

Frost (fröst, fräst), Robert (Lee) 1874-1963; U.S. poet frost (fröst, fräst) •n. 1 a freezing or state of being frozen 2 a temperature low enough to cause freezing 3 the icy crystals that form directly on a freezing surface as moist air contacts it; rime; hoarfrost 4 coolness of action, feeling, manner, etc. 5 [Colloq.] a book, play, etc. that is poorly received by the public; failure •vt. 1 to cover with frost 2 to damage, wither, or kill by freezing 3 to cover with frosting, or icing 4 to give a frostlike, opaque surface to (glass or metal) 5 to apply lighter coloring to selected strands of (hair) using a chemical dye 6 [Slang] to make angry, annoy, irritate, etc. [ME < OE forst, frost (akin to Ger frost) < pp. base of freosan (see FREEZE) + -t (Gmc *-ta), nominal suffix]

frost line the limit of penetration of soil by frost

Frostbelt (fröst´belt') SNOWBELT Also Frost Belt

frostbite (fröst´bait') -bit', -bit'ten, -bit'ing •vt. to injure the tissues of (a part of the body) by exposing to, or numbing with, intense cold •n. tissue damage caused by such exposure

frostfish (-fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' or -fish'es •n. 1 TOMCOD 2 any of various fishes that appear in the early fall

frostflower (-flau'эr) •n. any of various asters

frosting (frös´tiŋ) •n. 1 a mixture variously of sugar, butter, flavoring, water or other liquid, egg whites, etc. for covering a cake or pastries; icing 2 a dull, frostlike finish on glass, metal, etc. 3 a mixture of ground glass, varnish, etc. used in ornamental work

frostwork (fröst´wørk') •n. 1 the tracery formed by frost on glass, etc. 2 ornamentation like this, as on silver

frosty (frös´ti:) frost´i·er, frost´i·est •adj. 1 producing frost or cold enough to produce frost; freezing 2 covered with or as with frost; hoary, glistening, etc. 3 cold in manner or feeling; austere; unfriendly frost´i·ly •adv. frost´i·ness •n.

froth (fröθ, fräθ; also, esp. in n.pl., & for v., fröð, fräð) •n. 1 a whitish mass of bubbles; foam 2 foaming saliva caused by disease or great excitement 3 light, trifling, or worthless talk, ideas, etc. •vt. [< the n.] 1 to cause to foam 2 to cover with foam 3 to spill forth like foam •vi. to produce froth; foam [ME frothen] [ME frothe < ON frotha, akin to OE (a)-freothan, to froth up < IE *preu-th, a snorting, slavering < base *per-, to sprinkle, scatter > Gr prēmainein, to blow hard]

frothy (fröθ´i:, fröð´i:) froth´i·er, froth´i·est •adj. 1 of, like, or covered with froth; foamy 2 light; trifling; worthless froth´i·ly •adv. froth´i·ness •n.

frottage (frэ täzh´) •n. 1 sexual gratification from rubbing against the body of another person 2 an artistic rubbing or tracing from a surface that is textured, raised, etc.

Froude (fru:d), James Anthony 1818-94; Eng. historian

froufrou (fru:´fru:') •n. 1 a rustling or swishing, as of a silk skirt Æ 2 [Colloq.] excessive ornateness or affected elegance [Fr; echoic]

frounce (frauns) frounced, frounc´ing •vt., vi. [Obs.] to curl, crease, or wrinkle [ME frouncen < OFr froncir, to wrinkle < Frank *hrunkja, a wrinkle, akin to ON hrukka]

frow (frou) •n. FROE

froward (frou´wэrd; also frou´эrd) •adj. 1 not easily controlled; stubbornly willful; contrary 2 [Obs.] adverse fro´ward·ly •adv. fro´ward·ness •n. [ME, turned away, unruly: see FRO & -WARD]

frown (fraun) •vi. 1 to contract the brows, as in displeasure or concentrated thought 2 to look with displeasure or disapproval (on or upon) •vt. 1 [Now Rare] to silence, subdue, etc. with a disapproving look 2 to express (disapproval, disgust, etc.) by frowning •n. 1 a contracting of the brows in sternness, thought, etc. 2 any expression of displeasure or disapproval frown´er •n. frown´ing·ly •adv. [ME frounen < OFr frognier < froigne, sullen face < Gaul *frogna, nostrils, akin to OIr srón, nose]

frowst (fraust) •n. [Brit. Colloq.] stale, musty air •vi. [Brit. Colloq.] to lounge about in a hot, stuffy room [back-form. < fol.]

frowsty (fraus´ti:) frowst´i·er, frowst´i·est •adj. [Brit.] musty or stuffy frowst´i·ness •n. [prob. altered < fol.]

frowzy (frau´zi:) -zi·er, -zi·est •adj. 1 [Rare] bad-smelling; musty 2 dirty and untidy; slovenly; unkempt Also sp. frow´sy frow´zi·ly •adv. frow´zi·ness •n. [< ?]