fog /fɒ g/ (fogs )
1 N‑VAR When there is fog , there are tiny drops of water in the air which form a thick cloud and make it difficult to see things. □ The crash happened in thick fog. □ These ocean fogs can last for days.
2 N‑SING A fog is an unpleasant cloud of something such as smoke inside a building or room. □ [+ of ] …a fog of stale cigarette smoke.
3 N‑SING [oft in N ] You can use fog to refer to a situation which stops people from being able to notice things, understand things, or think clearly. □ [+ of ] The most basic facts about him are lost in a fog of mythology. □ [+ of ] Synchronizing these attacks may be difficult in the fog of war. □ His mind was in a fog when he finally got up.
fo g bank (fog banks ) N‑COUNT A fog bank is an area of thick fog, especially at sea.
fog|bound /fɒ gbaʊnd/ also fog-bound ADJ If you are fogbound in a place or if the place is fogbound , thick fog makes it dangerous or impossible to go anywhere. □ He was fog-bound at London airport. □ …a fogbound motorway.
fo|gey /foʊ gi/ (fogies or fogeys ) also fogy N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a fogey or an old fogey , you mean that they are boring and old-fashioned. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ I don't want to sound like I'm some old fogy.
fog|gy /fɒ gi/ (foggier , foggiest )
1 ADJ When it is foggy , there is fog. □ Conditions were damp and foggy after morning sleet.
2 PHRASE If you say that you haven't the foggiest or you haven't the foggiest idea , you are emphasizing that you do not know something. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ I did not have the foggiest idea what he meant.
fog|horn /fɒ ghɔː r n/ (foghorns ) also fog horn N‑COUNT A foghorn is a piece of equipment that makes a loud noise and is used to warn ships about the position of land and other ships in fog.
foi|ble /fɔ I b ə l/ (foibles ) N‑COUNT A foible is a habit or characteristic that someone has which is considered rather strange, foolish, or bad but which is also considered unimportant. □ …human foibles and weaknesses.
foie gras /fwɑː grɑː / N‑UNCOUNT Foie gras is a food made from the livers of geese that were specially fed so that their livers became very large.
foil /fɔ I l/ (foils , foiling , foiled )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Foil consists of sheets of metal as thin as paper. It is used to wrap food in. □ Pour cider around the meat and cover with foil. □ …aluminium foil.
2 VERB If you foil someone's plan or attempt to do something, for example to commit a crime, you succeed in stopping them from doing what they want. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V n] A brave police chief foiled an armed robbery on a jewellers' by grabbing the raiders' shotgun.
3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you refer to one thing or person as a foil for another, you approve of the fact that they contrast with each other and go well together, often in a way that makes the second thing or person seem better or less harmful. [APPROVAL ] □ [+ for ] He thought of her serenity as a foil for his intemperance. □ [+ for ] A cold beer is the perfect foil for a curry.
foist /fɔ I st/ (foists , foisting , foisted )
▸ foist on PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone foists something on you, or foists it upon you, you dislike the way that they force you to listen to it or experience it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n P n] I don't see my role as foisting my beliefs on them. □ [V P n n] The government foisted on other countries the expense of training young workers.
fold ◆◇◇ /foʊ ld/ (folds , folding , folded )
1 VERB If you fold something such as a piece of paper or cloth, you bend it so that one part covers another part, often pressing the edge so that it stays in place. □ [V n] He folded the paper carefully. □ [V n prep/adv] Fold the omelette in half. □ [V -ed] …a folded towel.
2 N‑COUNT A fold in a piece of paper or cloth is a bend that you make in it when you put one part of it over another part and press the edge. □ Make another fold and turn the ends together.
3 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The folds in a piece of cloth are the curved shapes which are formed when it is not hanging or lying flat. □ [+ of ] The priest fumbled in the folds of his gown.
4 VERB If a piece of furniture or equipment folds or if you can fold it, you can make it smaller by bending or closing parts of it. □ [V adv/prep] The back of the bench folds forward to make a table. □ [V adj] This portable seat folds flat for easy storage. □ [V n] Check if you can fold the buggy without having to remove the raincover. □ [V -ing] …a folding beach chair. [Also V n adj] ● PHRASAL VERB Fold up means the same as fold . □ [V P ] When not in use it folds up out of the way. □ [V n P ] Fold the ironing board up so that it is flat.
5 VERB If you fold your arms or hands, you bring them together and cross or link them, for example over your chest. □ [V n] Meer folded his arms over his chest and turned his head away. □ [V n] Mrs Ringrose sat down and folded her hands in her lap.
6 VERB If a business or organization folds , it is unsuccessful and has to close. [mainly BRIT , BUSINESS ] □ [V ] 2,500 small businesses were folding each week.