12 N‑UNCOUNT Force is used before a number to indicate a wind of a particular speed or strength, especially a very strong wind. □ Northerly winds will increase to force six by midday.
13 VERB If you force a smile or a laugh, you manage to smile or laugh, but with an effort because you are unhappy. □ [V n] Joe forced a smile, but underneath he was a little disturbed. □ [V -ed] 'Why don't you offer me a drink?' he asked, with a forced smile.
14 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Forces are groups of soldiers or military vehicles that are organized for a particular purpose. □ …the deployment of American forces in the region.
15 N‑PLURAL The forces means the army, the navy, or the air force, or all three. □ The more senior you become in the forces, the more likely you are to end up in a desk job.
16 N‑SING The force is sometimes used to mean the police force. □ It was hard for a police officer to make friends outside the force.
17 → see also air force , armed forces , labour force , peacekeeping , task force , tour de force , workforce
18 PHRASE If you do something from force of habit , you do it because you have always done it in the past, rather than because you have thought carefully about it. □ Unconsciously, by force of habit, she plugged the coffee pot in.
19 PHRASE A law, rule, or system that is in force exists or is being used. □ Although the new tax is already in force, you have until November to lodge an appeal.
20 PHRASE When people do something in force , they do it in large numbers. □ Voters turned out in force for their first taste of multi-party elections.
21 PHRASE If you join forces with someone, you work together in order to achieve a common aim or purpose. □ [+ with ] She joins forces with a maverick detective to expose the killer.
22 PHRASE If you force your way through or into somewhere, you have to push or break things that are in your way in order to get there. □ [+ through ] The miners were armed with clubs as they forced their way through a police cordon. □ [+ into ] He forced his way into a house shouting for help.
23 to force someone's hand → see hand ➊
▸ force back PHRASAL VERB If you force back an emotion or desire, you manage, with an effort, not to experience it. □ [V P n] Nancy forced back tears. She wasn't going to cry in front of all those people. [Also V n P ]
forced /fɔː r st/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A forced action is something that you do because someone else makes you do it. □ A system of forced labour was used on the cocoa plantations.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A forced action is something that you do because circumstances make it necessary. □ He made a forced landing on a highway.
3 ADJ If you describe something as forced , you mean it does not happen naturally and easily. □ …a forced smile. □ She called him darling. It sounded so forced.
fo rce-fee d (force-feeds , force-feeding , force-fed ) VERB If you force-feed a person or animal, you make them eat or drink by pushing food or drink down their throat. □ [V n] Production of foie gras by force-feeding of birds is banned in Britain but imports are allowed.
force|ful /fɔː r sfʊl/
1 ADJ If you describe someone as forceful , you approve of them because they express their opinions and wishes in a strong, emphatic, and confident way. [APPROVAL ] □ He was a man of forceful character, with considerable insight and diplomatic skills. ● force|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Mrs. Dambar was talking very rapidly and somewhat forcefully. ● force|ful|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ She had inherited her father's forcefulness.
2 ADJ Something that is forceful has a very powerful effect and causes you to think or feel something very strongly. □ It made a very forceful impression on me. □ For most people a heart attack is a forceful reminder that they are mortal. ● force|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Daytime television tended to remind her too forcefully of her own situation.
3 ADJ A forceful point or argument in a discussion is one that is good, valid, and convincing.
for|ceps /fɔː r seps/ N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Forceps are an instrument consisting of two long narrow arms. Forceps are used by a doctor to hold things.
for|cible /fɔː r s I b ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Forcible action involves physical force or violence. □ …the forcible resettlement of villagers from the countryside into towns.
ford /fɔː r d/ (fords , fording , forded )
1 N‑COUNT A ford is a shallow place in a river or stream where it is possible to cross safely without using a boat.
2 VERB If you ford a river or stream, you cross it without using a boat, usually at a shallow point. □ [V n] They were guarding the bridge, so we forded the river.
fore /fɔː r /
1 PHRASE If someone or something comes to the fore in a particular situation or group, they become important or popular. □ A number of low-budget independent films brought new directors and actors to the fore.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Fore is used to refer to parts at the front of an animal, ship, or aircraft. □ There had been no direct damage in the fore part of the ship.
fore|arm /fɔː rɑː r m/ (forearms ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Your forearm is the part of your arm between your elbow and your wrist.
fore|armed /fɔː r ɑː r md/ PHRASE If you say ' Forewarned is forearmed ', you are saying that if you know about a problem or situation in advance, you will be able to deal with it when you need to.