ful|mi|nate /fʊ lm I ne I t, fʌ l-/ (fulminates , fulminating , fulminated ) VERB If you fulminate against someone or something, you criticize them angrily. [FORMAL ] □ [V + against/about ] They all fulminated against the new curriculum.
ful|some /fʊ lsəm/ ADJ If you describe expressions of praise, apology, or gratitude as fulsome , you disapprove of them because they are exaggerated and elaborate, so that they sound insincere. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Newspapers have been fulsome in their praise of the former president.
fum|ble /fʌ mb ə l/ (fumbles , fumbling , fumbled )
1 VERB If you fumble for something or fumble with something, you try and reach for it or hold it in a clumsy way. □ [V + for/with ] She crept from the bed and fumbled for her dressing gown. [Also V + in ]
2 VERB When you are trying to say something, if you fumble for the right words, you speak in a clumsy and unclear way. □ [V + for ] I fumbled for something to say. □ [V n] He fumbled his lines, not knowing what he was going to say. [Also V ]
fume /fjuː m/ (fumes , fuming , fumed )
1 N‑PLURAL Fumes are the unpleasant and often unhealthy smoke and gases that are produced by fires or by things such as chemicals, fuel, or cooking. □ …car exhaust fumes.
2 VERB If you fume over something, you express annoyance and anger about it. □ [V + over/at/about ] He was still fuming over the remark. □ [V with quote] 'It's monstrous!' Jackie fumed.
fu|mi|gate /fjuː m I ge I t/ (fumigates , fumigating , fumigated ) VERB If you fumigate something, you get rid of germs or insects from it using special chemicals. □ [be V -ed] …fruit which has been treated with insecticide and fumigated. ● fu|mi|ga|tion /fjuː m I ge I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ Methods of control involved poisoning and fumigation.
fun ◆◆◇ /fʌ n/
1 N‑UNCOUNT You refer to an activity or situation as fun if you think it is pleasant and enjoyable and it causes you to feel happy. □ It was such a success and we had so much fun doing it. □ It could be fun to watch them. □ You still have time to join in the fun.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone is fun , you mean that you enjoy being with them because they say and do interesting or amusing things. [APPROVAL ] □ Liz was wonderful fun to be with.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe something as a fun thing, you mean that you think it is enjoyable. If you describe someone as a fun person, you mean that you enjoy being with them. [INFORMAL ] □ It was a fun evening. □ What a fun person he is!
4 PHRASE Someone who is a figure of fun is considered ridiculous, so that people laugh at them or make jokes about them.
5 PHRASE If you do something for fun or for the fun of it , you do it in order to enjoy yourself rather than because it is important or necessary. □ I took my M. A. just for fun really. □ He had just come for the fun of it.
6 PHRASE If you do something in fun , you do it as a joke or for amusement, without intending to cause any harm. □ Don't say such things, even in fun.
7 PHRASE If you make fun of someone or something or poke fun at them, you laugh at them, tease them, or make jokes about them in a way that causes them to seem ridiculous. □ Don't make fun of me. □ She poked fun at people's shortcomings. SYNONYMS fun NOUN 1
amusement: Steamers tooted at us as sailors on deck waved in amusement.
pleasure: He gets huge pleasure from ballet and contemporary dance.
enjoyment: …her enjoyment of the beauty of the countryside.
func|tion ◆◆◇ /fʌ ŋkʃ ə n/ (functions , functioning , functioned )
1 N‑COUNT The function of something or someone is the useful thing that they do or are intended to do. □ [+ of ] The main function of the merchant banks is to raise capital for industry.
2 VERB If a machine or system is functioning , it is working or operating. □ [V ] The authorities say the prison is now functioning normally.
3 VERB If someone or something functions as a particular thing, they do the work or fulfil the purpose of that thing. □ [V + as ] On weekdays, one third of the room functions as workspace.
4 N‑COUNT A function is a series of operations that a computer performs, for example when a single key or a combination of keys is pressed.
5 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you say that one thing is a function of another, you mean that its amount or nature depends on the other thing. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Investment is a function of the interest rate.
6 N‑COUNT A function is a large formal dinner or party. COLLOCATIONS function NOUN
1
noun + function : brain, kidney, liver, lung; memory
adjective + function : bodily, cognitive; basic, important, primary; administrative
verb + function : exercise, fulfil, perform, serve; affect, impair
6
noun + function : charity, gala
adjective + function : official, social
verb + function : attend; host, organize VERB 2
function + adverb : efficiently, normally, properly, smoothly SYNONYMS function NOUN 1