1 N‑VAR Fraud is the crime of gaining money or financial benefits by a trick or by lying. □ He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception. □ Tax frauds are dealt with by HMRC.
2 N‑COUNT A fraud is something or someone that deceives people in a way that is illegal or dishonest. □ He believes many 'psychics' are frauds who rely on perception and subtle deception.
3 N‑COUNT If you call someone or something a fraud , you are criticizing them because you think that they are not genuine, or are less good than they claim or appear to be. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I suspect her of being a fashion fraud, pretending to care about it more than she really does. SYNONYMS fraud NOUN 1
deception: He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.
deceit: They have been involved in a campaign of deceit.
treachery: He was deeply wounded by the treachery of close aides and old friends.
trickery: They are notorious for resorting to trickery in order to impress their clients.
frau d squa d (fraud squads ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] The fraud squad is a part of a police force whose job is to investigate crimes involving fraud.
fraud|ster /frɔː dstə r / (fraudsters ) N‑COUNT A fraudster is someone who commits the crime of fraud. [mainly BRIT ]
fraudu|lent /frɔː dʒʊlənt/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A fraudulent activity is deliberately deceitful, dishonest, or untrue. □ …fraudulent claims about being a nurse. ● fraudu|lent|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The report concludes that I acted neither fraudulently nor improperly.
fraught /frɔː t/
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ with n] If a situation or action is fraught with problems or risks, it is filled with them. □ The earliest operations employing this technique were fraught with dangers.
2 ADJ If you say that a situation or action is fraught , you mean that it is worrying or difficult. □ It has been a somewhat fraught day.
fray /fre I / (frays , fraying , frayed )
1 VERB If something such as cloth or rope frays , or if something frays it, its threads or fibres start to come apart from each other and spoil its appearance. □ [V ] The fabric is very fine or frays easily. □ [V + at ] The stitching had begun to fray at the edges. □ [V n] Her washing machine tends to fray edges on intricate designs. □ [V -ing] …fraying edges in the stair carpet. □ [V -ed] He wore frayed jeans and cowboy shirts.
2 VERB If your nerves or your temper fray , or if something frays them, you become nervous or easily annoyed because of mental strain and anxiety. □ [V ] Tempers began to fray as the two teams failed to score. □ [V n] This kind of living was beginning to fray her nerves.
3 N‑SING The fray is an exciting or challenging activity, situation, or argument that you are involved in. □ There will have to be a second round of voting when new candidates can enter the fray. □ He would be inspiring young people to get into the political fray.
freak /friː k/ (freaks , freaking , freaked )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A freak event or action is one that is a very unusual or extreme example of its type. □ Weir broke his leg in a freak accident playing golf.
2 N‑COUNT [n N ] If you describe someone as a particular kind of freak , you are emphasizing that they are very enthusiastic about a thing or activity, and often seem to think about nothing else. [INFORMAL ] □ Oat bran became the darling of health freaks last year. □ …computer freaks.
3 → see also control freak
4 N‑COUNT People are sometimes referred to as freaks when their behaviour or attitude is very different from that of the majority of people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Not so long ago, transsexuals were regarded as freaks.
5 N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a freak , you mean that they are physically abnormal in some way. This use could cause offence. [DISAPPROVAL ]
▸ freak out PHRASAL VERB If someone freaks out , or if something freaks them out , they suddenly feel extremely surprised, upset, angry, or confused. □ [V P ] I remember the first time I went onstage. I freaked out completely. □ [V n P ] I think our music freaks people out sometimes. □ [be V -ed P ] It sort of frightens me. I guess I am kind of freaked out by it. [Also V P n]
freak|ish /friː k I ʃ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is freakish is remarkable because it is not normal or natural. □ …his freakish voice varying from bass to soprano.
freaky /friː ki/ (freakier , freakiest ) ADJ If someone or something is freaky , they are very unusual in some way. [INFORMAL ] □ This guy bore a really freaky resemblance to Jones.
freck|le /fre k ə l/ (freckles ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Freckles are small light brown spots on someone's skin, especially on their face. □ He had short ginger-coloured hair and freckles.
freck|led /fre k ə ld/ ADJ If a part of your body is freckled , it has freckles on it. □ …a slight man with auburn hair and a freckled face.
free ◆◆◆ /friː / (freer , freest , frees , freeing , freed )
1 ADJ If something is free , you can have it or use it without paying for it. □ The seminars are free, with lunch provided. □ …a free brochure with details of gift vouchers.
2 free of charge → see charge
3 ADJ [oft ADJ to-inf] Someone or something that is free is not restricted, controlled, or limited, for example by rules, customs, or other people. □ The government will be free to pursue its economic policies. □ The elections were free and fair. □ Economists argued that freer markets would quickly revive the region's economy. □ He wrote that a free press is essential to a democratic society. □ Dogs were allowed to roam free and 48 sheep were killed. ● free|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ They cast their votes freely and without coercion on election day. □ Merchandise can now circulate freely among the E.U. countries.