3 N‑COUNT [usu on the N of n] To be on the fringe or the fringes of a place means to be on the outside edge of it, or to be in one of the parts that are farthest from its centre. □ [+ of ] …black townships located on the fringes of the city. □ They lived together in a mixed household on the fringe of a campus.
4 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The fringe or the fringes of an activity or organization are its less important, least typical, or most extreme parts, rather than its main and central part. □ [+ of ] The party remained on the fringe of the political scene until last year.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] Fringe groups or events are less important or popular than other related groups or events. □ The monarchists are a small fringe group who quarrel fiercely among themselves.
fri nge be n|efit (fringe benefits )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Fringe benefits are extra things that some people get from their job in addition to their salary, for example a car. [BUSINESS ]
2 N‑COUNT The fringe benefits of doing something are the extra advantages which you get from it, although you may not have expected them and they were not the main reason for doing it. □ [+ of ] His support was one of the nicest fringe benefits of pursuing this research.
fringed /fr I ndʒd/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Fringed clothes, curtains, or lampshades are decorated with fringes. □ Emma wore a fringed scarf round her neck.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ with n] If a place or object is fringed with something, that thing forms a border around it or is situated along its edges. □ Her eyes were large and brown and fringed with incredibly long lashes.
frip|pery /fr I pəri/ (fripperies ) N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to something as frippery , you mean that it is silly or unnecessary, and only done or worn for pleasure [mainly BRIT , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …all the fripperies with which the Edwardian woman indulged herself. □ …a sombre display, with no frills or frippery.
Fris|bee /fr I zbi/ (Frisbees ) N‑COUNT A frisbee is a light plastic disc that one person throws to another as a game. [TRADEMARK ]
frisk /fr I sk/ (frisks , frisking , frisked ) VERB If someone frisks you, they search you, usually with their hands in order to see if you are hiding a weapon or something else such as drugs in your clothes. □ [V n] Drago pushed him up against the wall and frisked him.
frisky /fr I ski/ (friskier , friskiest ) ADJ A frisky animal or person is energetic and playful, and may be difficult to control. □ His horse was feeling frisky, and he had to hold the reins tightly.
fris|son /friː sɒn, [AM ] friːsoʊ n/ (frissons ) N‑COUNT A frisson is a short, sudden feeling of excitement or fear. [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] A frisson of apprehension rippled round the theatre.
frit|ter /fr I tə r / (fritters , frittering , frittered ) N‑COUNT [usu n N ] Fritters are round pieces of fruit, vegetables, or meat that are dipped in batter and fried. □ …apple fritters.
▸ fritter away PHRASAL VERB If someone fritters away time or money, they waste it on unimportant or unnecessary things. □ [V P n] The firm soon started frittering away the cash it was generating. □ [V n P ] I seem to fritter my time away at coffee mornings.
fri|vol|ity /fr I vɒ l I ti/ (frivolities ) N‑VAR If you refer to an activity as a frivolity , you think that it is amusing and rather silly, rather than serious and sensible. □ There is a serious message at the core of all this frivolity. □ He was one of my most able pupils, but far too easily distracted by frivolities.
frivo|lous /fr I vələs/
1 ADJ If you describe someone as frivolous , you mean they behave in a silly or light-hearted way, rather than being serious and sensible. □ I just decided I was a bit too frivolous to be a doctor.
2 ADJ If you describe an activity as frivolous , you disapprove of it because it is not useful and wastes time or money. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The group wants politicians to stop wasting public money on what it believes are frivolous projects.
frizz /fr I z/ N‑UNCOUNT Frizz is frizzy hair. □ Manic brushing will only cause frizz.
friz|zy /fr I zi/ (frizzier , frizziest ) ADJ Frizzy hair is very tightly curled. □ Carol's hair had a slightly frizzy perm.
fro /froʊ / to and fro → see to ➊
frock /frɒ k/ (frocks ) N‑COUNT A frock is a woman's or girl's dress. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
fro ck coat (frock coats ) also frock-coat N‑COUNT A frock coat was a long coat that was worn by men in the 19th century.
frog /frɒ g, [AM ] frɔː g/ (frogs )
1 N‑COUNT A frog is a small creature with smooth skin, big eyes, and long back legs which it uses for jumping. Frogs usually live near water.
2 N‑COUNT Frogs is sometimes used to refer to French people. [INFORMAL , OFFENSIVE ]
frog|man /frɒ gmən, [AM ] frɔː g-/ (frogmen ) N‑COUNT A frogman is someone whose job involves diving and working underwater, especially in order to mend or search for something. Frogmen wear special rubber suits and shoes, and carry equipment to help them to breathe underwater.
fro g-march (frog-marches , frog-marching , frog-marched ) also frogmarch VERB If you are frog-marched somewhere, someone takes you there by force, holding you by the arms or another part of your body so that you have to walk along with them. □ [be V -ed prep/adv] He was frog-marched through the kitchen and out into the yard. □ [V n prep/adv] They arrested the men and frog-marched them to the local police station.