fat|wa /fæ twɑː/ (fatwas ) also fatwah N‑COUNT A fatwa is a religious order issued by a Muslim leader.
fau|cet /fɔː s I t/ (faucets ) N‑COUNT A faucet is a device that controls the flow of a liquid or gas from a pipe or container. Sinks and baths have faucets attached to them. [AM ] □ She turned off the faucet and dried her hands. in BRIT, usually use tap
fault ◆◇◇ /fɔː lt/ (faults , faulting , faulted )
1 N‑SING [with poss] If a bad or undesirable situation is your fault , you caused it or are responsible for it. □ There was no escaping the fact: it was all his fault. □ A few borrowers will be in trouble with their repayments through no fault of their own.
2 N‑COUNT A fault is a mistake in what someone is doing or in what they have done. □ It is a big fault to think that you can learn how to manage people in business school.
3 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] A fault in someone or something is a weakness in them or something that is not perfect. □ His manners had always made her blind to his faults. □ …a short delay due to a minor technical fault.
4 VERB If you cannot fault someone, you cannot find any reason for criticizing them or the things that they are doing. □ [V n + for ] You can't fault them for lack of invention. □ [V n] It is hard to fault the way he runs his own operation.
5 N‑COUNT A fault is a large crack in the surface of the earth. □ …the San Andreas Fault.
6 N‑COUNT A fault in tennis is a service that is wrong according to the rules.
7 PHRASE If someone or something is at fault , they are to blame or are responsible for a particular situation that has gone wrong. □ He could never accept that he had been at fault.
8 PHRASE If you find fault with something or someone, you look for mistakes and complain about them. □ I was disappointed whenever the cook found fault with my work.
9 PHRASE If you say that someone has a particular good quality to a fault , you are emphasizing that they have more of this quality than is usual or necessary. [EMPHASIS ] □ Jefferson was generous to a fault. □ Others will tell you that she is modest to a fault, funny, clever and warm.
fault|less /fɔː ltləs/ ADJ Something that is faultless is perfect and has no mistakes at all. □ …Mary Thomson's faultless and impressive performance on the show. □ Hans's English was faultless. ● fault|less|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ Howard was faultlessly dressed in a dark blue suit.
fau lt line (fault lines )
1 N‑COUNT A fault line is a long crack in the surface of the earth. Earthquakes usually occur along fault lines.
2 N‑COUNT A fault line in a system or process is an area of it that seems weak and likely to cause problems or failure. □ These issues have created a stark fault line within the Peace Process.
faulty /fɔː lti/
1 ADJ A faulty piece of equipment has something wrong with it and is not working properly. □ The money will be used to repair faulty equipment.
2 ADJ If you describe someone's argument or reasoning as faulty , you mean that it is wrong or contains mistakes, usually because they have not been thinking in a logical way. □ Their interpretation was faulty–they had misinterpreted things.
faun /fɔː n/ (fauns ) N‑COUNT A faun is an imaginary creature which is like a man with goat's legs and horns.
fau|na /fɔː nə/ (faunas ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] Animals, especially the animals in a particular area, can be referred to as fauna . [TECHNICAL ] □ [+ of ] …the flora and fauna of the African jungle. □ Brackish waters generally support only a small range of faunas.
faux pas /foʊ pɑː / (faux pas ) N‑COUNT A faux pas is a socially embarrassing action or mistake. [FORMAL ] □ It was not long before I realised the enormity of my faux pas.
fava bean /fɑ və biːn/ (fava beans ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Fava beans are flat round beans that are light green in colour and are eaten as a vegetable. [AM ] in BRIT, use broad beans
fave /fe I v/ (faves )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Your fave thing or person of a particular type is the one you like the most. [JOURNALISM , BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ Vote for your fave song by dialing 0906 474 8000.
2 N‑COUNT A fave is a thing or person of a particular type that you like the most. [JOURNALISM , BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …old faves like 'Summer Babe' and 'Debris Slide'.
fa|vour ◆◆◇ /fe I və r / (favours , favouring , favoured ) in AM, use favor 1 N‑UNCOUNT If you regard something or someone with favour , you like or support them. □ Will the show still find favour with a modern audience? □ No one would look with favour on the continuing military rule. □ He has won favour with a wide range of interest groups.
2 N‑COUNT If you do someone a favour , you do something for them even though you do not have to. □ I've come to ask you to do me a favour.
3 VERB If you favour something, you prefer it to the other choices available. □ [V n] The French say they favour a transition to democracy. □ [V v-ing] He favours bringing the U.N. into touch with 'modern realities'.
4 VERB If you favour someone, you treat them better or in a kinder way than you treat other people. □ [V n] Unpaid internships are criticised for favouring children of the rich who can work for nothing.
5 PHRASE If you are in favour of something, you support it and think that it is a good thing. □ I wouldn't be in favour of income tax cuts. □ Yet this is a Government which proclaims that it is all in favour of openness. □ The vote passed with 111 in favour and 25 against.