fa |ther fig|ure (father figures ) also father-figure N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a father figure , you mean that you feel able to turn to that person for advice and support in the same way that you might turn to your father. □ She believed her daughter needed a father-figure. □ He became a father figure to the whole company.
father|hood /fɑː ðə r hʊd/ N‑UNCOUNT Fatherhood is the state of being a father. □ …the joys of fatherhood.
fa ther-in-law (fathers-in-law ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Someone's father-in-law is the father of their husband or wife.
father|land /fɑː ðə r lænd/ (fatherlands ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If someone is very proud of the country where they or their ancestors were born, they sometimes refer to it as the fatherland . The word fatherland is particularly associated with Germany. □ They were willing to serve the fatherland in its hour of need.
fa|ther|less /fɑː ðə r ləs/ ADJ You describe children as fatherless when their father has died or does not live with them. □ …widows and fatherless children. □ They were left fatherless.
fa|ther|ly /fɑː ðə r li/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Fatherly feelings or actions are like those of a kind father. □ His voice filled with fatherly concern.
Fa |ther's Day N‑UNCOUNT Father's Day is the third Sunday in June, when children give cards and presents to their fathers to show that they love them.
fath|om /fæ ðəm/ (fathoms , fathoming , fathomed )
1 N‑COUNT A fathom is a measurement of 1.8 metres or 6 feet, used when referring to the depth of water. □ We sailed into the bay and dropped anchor in five fathoms of water.
2 VERB [no cont] If you cannot fathom something, you are unable to understand it, although you think carefully about it. □ [V wh] I really couldn't fathom what Steiner was talking about. □ [V n] Jeremy's passive attitude was hard to fathom. ● PHRASAL VERB Fathom out means the same as fathom . □ [V P wh] We're trying to fathom out what's going on. □ [V P n] I'm having difficulty using my new camera and can't fathom out all its functions. [Also V n P ]
fath|om|less /fæ ðəmləs/ ADJ Something that is fathomless cannot be measured or understood because it gives the impression of being very deep, mysterious, or complicated. □ …the fathomless space of the universe. □ The silence was fathomless and overwhelming.
fa|tigue /fətiː g/ (fatigues )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Fatigue is a feeling of extreme physical or mental tiredness. □ She continued to have severe stomach cramps, aches, fatigue, and depression. □ His team lasted another 15 days before fatigue began to take its toll.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu n N ] You can say that people are suffering from a particular kind of fatigue when they have been doing something for a long time and feel they can no longer continue to do it. □ …compassion fatigue caused by endless TV and celebrity appeals. □ …the result of four months of battle fatigue.
3 N‑PLURAL Fatigues are clothes that soldiers wear when they are fighting or when they are doing routine jobs. □ He never expected to return home wearing U.S. combat fatigues.
4 N‑UNCOUNT [usu n N ] Fatigue in metal or wood is a weakness in it that is caused by repeated stress. Fatigue can cause the metal or wood to break. □ The problem turned out to be metal fatigue in the fuselage.
fa|tigued /fətiː gd/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are feeling fatigued , you are suffering from extreme physical or mental tiredness.
fa|tigu|ing /fətiː g I ŋ/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Something that is fatiguing makes you feel extremely physically or mentally tired. □ Jet travel is undeniably fatiguing.
fat|ten /fæ t ə n/ (fattens , fattening , fattened )
1 VERB If an animal is fattened , or if it fattens , it becomes fatter as a result of eating more. □ [be V -ed] The cattle are being fattened for slaughter. □ [V ] The creature continued to grow and fatten. [Also V n]
2 VERB If you say that someone is fattening something such as a business or its profits, you mean that they are increasing the value of the business or its profits, in a way that you disapprove of. [BUSINESS , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] They have kept the price of sugar artificially high and so fattened the company's profits. ● PHRASAL VERB Fatten up means the same as fatten . □ [V P n] The Government is making the taxpayer pay to fatten up a public sector business for private sale. [Also V n P ]
▸ fatten up
1 PHRASAL VERB To fatten up an animal or person means to make them fatter, by forcing or encouraging them to eat more food. □ [V P n] They fattened up ducks and geese. □ [V n P ] You're too skinny–we'll have to fatten you up.
2 → see also fatten 2
fat|ten|ing /fæ tən I ŋ/ ADJ Food that is fattening is considered to make people fat easily. □ Some foods are more fattening than others.
fat|ty /fæ ti/ (fattier , fattiest )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Fatty food contains a lot of fat. □ Don't eat fatty food or chocolates. □ Stephen swapped his fatty diet for cereal, pasta and vegetables.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Fatty acids or fatty tissues, for example, contain or consist of fat. □ …fatty acids. □ The woman lost about 1.8kg of fatty tissue during the week's fast.
fatu|ous /fæ tʃuəs/ ADJ If you describe a person, action, or remark as fatuous , you think that they are extremely silly, showing a lack of intelligence or thought. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ The Chief was left speechless by this fatuous remark.