fur|tive /fɜː r t I v/ ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour as furtive , you disapprove of them behaving as if they want to keep something secret or hidden. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ With a furtive glance over her shoulder, she unlocked the door and entered the house.
fury /fjʊə ri/ N‑UNCOUNT Fury is violent or very strong anger. □ She screamed, her face distorted with fury and pain.
fuse /fjuː z/ (fuses , fusing , fused )
1 N‑COUNT A fuse is a safety device in an electric plug or circuit. It contains a piece of wire which melts when there is a fault so that the flow of electricity stops. □ The fuse blew as he pressed the button to start the motor. □ Remove the circuit fuse before beginning electrical work.
2 VERB When an electric device fuses or when you fuse it, it stops working because of a fault. [BRIT ] □ [V ] The wire snapped at the wall plug and the light fused. □ [V n] Rainwater had fused the bulbs.
3 N‑COUNT A fuse is a device on a bomb or firework which delays the explosion so that people can move a safe distance away. □ A bomb was deactivated at the last moment, after the fuse had been lit.
4 VERB When things fuse or are fused , they join together physically or chemically, usually to become one thing. You can also say that one thing fuses with another. □ [V ] The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five. □ [V + with ] Conception occurs when a single sperm fuses with an egg. □ [V n] Manufactured glass is made by fusing various types of sand. □ [V n + with ] Their solution was to isolate specific clones of B cells and fuse them with cancer cells. □ [V together ] The flakes seem to fuse together and produce ice crystals.
5 VERB If something fuses two different qualities, ideas, or things, or if they fuse , they join together, especially in order to form a pleasing or satisfactory combination. □ [V n + with ] His music fused the rhythms of jazz with classical forms. □ [V n] They have fused two different types of entertainment, the circus and the rock concert. □ [V ] Past and present fuse. [Also V + with ]
6 PHRASE If you blow a fuse , you suddenly become very angry and are unable to stay calm. [INFORMAL ] □ For all my experience, I blew a fuse in the quarter-final and could have been sent off.
7 PHRASE If someone or something lights the fuse of a particular situation or activity, they suddenly get it started. □ Hopes for an early cut in interest rates lit the market's fuse early on.
8 PHRASE If you say that someone has a short fuse or is on a short fuse you mean that they are quick to react angrily when something goes wrong. □ I have a very short fuse and a violent temper.
fu se box (fuse boxes ) N‑COUNT The fuse box is the box that contains the fuses for all the electric circuits in a building. It is usually fixed to a wall.
fused /fjuː zd/ ADJ If an electric plug or circuit is fused , it has a fuse in it.
fu|selage /fjuː z I lɑːʒ/ (fuselages ) N‑COUNT The fuselage is the main body of an aeroplane, missile, or rocket. It is usually cylindrical in shape.
fu|sil|lade /fjuː z I le I d, [AM ] -lɑː d/ N‑SING A fusillade of shots or objects is a large number of them fired or thrown at the same time. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Both were killed in a fusillade of bullets fired at close range.
fu|sion /fjuː ʒ ə n/ (fusions )
1 N‑COUNT A fusion of different qualities, ideas, or things is something new that is created by joining them together. □ [+ of ] His previous fusions of jazz, pop and African melodies have proved highly successful.
2 N‑VAR The fusion of two or more things involves joining them together to form one thing. □ [+ of ] His final reform was the fusion of regular and reserve forces.
3 N‑UNCOUNT In physics, fusion is the process in which atomic particles combine and produce a large amount of nuclear energy. □ …research into nuclear fusion.
fuss /fʌ s/ (fusses , fussing , fussed )
1 N‑SING Fuss is anxious or excited behaviour which serves no useful purpose. □ I don't know what all the fuss is about. □ He just gets down to work without any fuss.
2 VERB If you fuss , you worry or behave in a nervous, anxious way about unimportant matters or rush around doing unnecessary things. □ [V about ] Carol fussed about getting me a drink. □ [V + over ] Jack was fussing over the food and clothing we were going to take. □ [V prep] A team of waiters began fussing around the table. □ [V ] 'Stop fussing,' he snapped. [Also V n]
3 VERB If you fuss over someone, you pay them a lot of attention and do things to make them happy or comfortable. □ [V + over ] Auntie Hilda and Uncle Jack couldn't fuss over them enough.
4 PHRASE If you make a fuss or kick up a fuss about something, you become angry or excited about it and complain. [INFORMAL ] □ If enough parents kick up a fuss, you can change things.
5 PHRASE If you make a fuss of someone, you pay them a lot of attention and do things to make them happy or comfortable. [BRIT ] □ When I arrived my nephews made a big fuss of me.
fussed /fʌ st/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say you are not fussed about something, you mean you do not mind about it or do not mind what happens. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ I'm not fussed as long as we get where we want to go.
fussy /fʌ si/ (fussier , fussiest )
1 ADJ Someone who is fussy is very concerned with unimportant details and is difficult to please. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ about ] She is not fussy about her food. □ Her aunt was small, with a rather fussy manner.