firm ◆◆◆ /fɜː r m/ (firms firmer , firmest )
1 N‑COUNT A firm is an organization which sells or produces something or which provides a service which people pay for. □ The firm's employees were expecting large bonuses. □ [+ of ] …a firm of heating engineers.
2 ADJ If something is firm , it does not change much in shape when it is pressed but is not completely hard. □ Fruit should be firm and in excellent condition. □ Choose a soft, medium or firm mattress to suit their individual needs.
3 ADJ If something is firm , it does not shake or move when you put weight or pressure on it, because it is strongly made or securely fastened. □ If you have to climb up, use a firm platform or a sturdy ladder. ● firm|ly ADV [ADV -ed, ADV after v] □ The front door is locked and all the windows are firmly shut.
4 ADJ If someone's grip is firm or if they perform a physical action in a firm way, they do it with quite a lot of force or pressure but also in a controlled way. □ The quick handshake was firm and cool. □ He managed to grasp the metal, get a firm grip of it and heave his body upwards. ● firm|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ She held me firmly by the elbow and led me to my aisle seat.
5 ADJ If you describe someone as firm , you mean they behave in a way that shows that they are not going to change their mind, or that they are the person who is in control. □ [+ with ] She had to be firm with him. 'I don't want to see you again.' □ Perhaps they need the guiding hand of a firm father figure. ● firm|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ 'A good night's sleep is what you want,' he said firmly.
6 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A firm decision or opinion is definite and unlikely to change. □ He made a firm decision to leave Fort Multry by boat. □ It is my firm belief that partnership between police and the public is absolutely necessary. ● firm|ly ADV [ADV -ed, ADV after v] □ He is firmly convinced that it is vital to do this.
7 ADJ [ADJ n] Firm evidence or information is based on facts and so is likely to be true. □ There's unlikely to be firm news about the convoy's progress for some time.
8 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use firm to describe control or a basis or position when it is strong and unlikely to be ended or removed. □ A goalkeeping mistake put Dagenham in firm control of the first half. ● firm|ly ADV [ADV -ed, ADV after v] □ This tradition is also firmly rooted in the past.
9 ADJ If a price, value, or currency is firm , it is not decreasing in value or amount. □ Cotton prices remain firm and demand is strong. □ The shares held firm at 280p. ● firm|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the firmness of the dollar against other currencies.
10 PHRASE If someone stands firm , they refuse to change their mind about something. □ The council is standing firm against the barrage of protest.
▸ firm up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you firm up something or if it firms up , it becomes firmer and more solid. □ [V P n] This treatment helps tone the body, firm up muscles and tighten the skin. □ [V n P ] I now go swimming five times a week, which helps firm me up. □ [V P ] The mixture will seem too wet at this stage, but it will firm up when chilled.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you firm something up or if it firms up , it becomes clearer, stronger, or more definite. □ [V P n] Looking to the future, the Government will firm up their plans for a cleaner, greener, safer Britain. □ [V P ] At least the bank situation had firmed up. [Also V n P ]
3 PHRASAL VERB If a financial institution firms up the price or value of something, they take action to protect and maintain its price or value. □ [V P n] OPEC has agreed to freeze its global oil production slightly in order to firm up crude prices. COLLOCATIONS firm NOUN 1
noun + firm : accountancy, consulting, investment, law, private equity; building, energy, engineering
adjective + firm : architectural, financial, legal, pharmaceutical; large, medium-sized, small
verb + firm : found, set up SYNONYMS firm NOUN 1
company: Sheila found some work as a secretary in an insurance company.
business: The company was a family business.
concern: If not a large concern, Queensbury Nursery was at least a successful one.
corporation: …multi-national corporations. ADJ 2
hard: He shuffled his feet on the hard wooden floor.
solid: The snow had melted, but the lake was still frozen solid.
stiff: His waterproof trousers were brand new and stiff.
rigid: …rigid plastic containers.
fir|ma|ment /fɜː r məmənt/
1 N‑SING The firmament is the sky or heaven. [LITERARY ] □ There are no stars in the firmament.
2 N‑SING If you talk about the firmament in a particular organization or field of activity, you mean the top of it. □ He was rich, and a rising star in the political firmament.
firm|ware /fɜː r mweə r / N‑UNCOUNT In computer systems, firmware is a set of commands which are stored on a chip rather than as part of a program, because the computer uses them very often. [COMPUTING ]
first ◆◆◆ /fɜː r st/ (firsts )
1 ORD The first thing, person, event, or period of time is the one that happens or comes before all the others of the same kind. □ She lost 16 pounds in the first month of her diet. □ …the first few flakes of snow. □ Two years ago Johnson came first in the one hundred metres. ● PRON First is also a pronoun. □ The second paragraph startled me even more than the first. □ We did exercises to improve my car control. The first was to drive on ice.