2 ADJ If you describe things such as clothes and furniture as fussy , you are criticizing them because they are too elaborate or detailed. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ We are not very keen on floral patterns and fussy designs.
fus|ty /fʌ sti/ (fustier , fustiest )
1 ADJ If you describe something or someone as fusty , you disapprove of them because they are old-fashioned in attitudes or ideas. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The fusty old establishment refused to recognise the demand for popular music.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A fusty place or thing has a smell that is not fresh or pleasant. □ …fusty old carpets.
fu|tile /fjuː ta I l, [AM ] -t ə l/ ADJ If you say that something is futile , you mean there is no point in doing it, usually because it has no chance of succeeding. □ He brought his arm up in a futile attempt to ward off the blow. □ It would be futile to sustain his life when there is no chance of any improvement.
fu|til|ity /fjuːt I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Futility is a total lack of purpose or usefulness. □ [+ of ] …the injustice and futility of terrorism.
fu|ton /fuː tɒn/ (futons ) N‑COUNT A futon is a piece of furniture which consists of a thin mattress on a low wooden frame which can be used as a bed or folded up to make a chair.
fu|ture ◆◆◆ /fjuː tʃə r / (futures )
1 N‑SING The future is the period of time that will come after the present, or the things that will happen then. □ The spokesman said no decision on the proposal was likely in the immediate future. □ He was making plans for the future. □ I had little time to think about what the future held for me.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Future things will happen or exist after the present time. □ By taking action now we can ensure that future generations will not be put at risk. □ …a report on the future role of local government. □ …the future King and Queen.
3 for future reference → see reference
4 N‑COUNT [usu sing] Someone's future , or the future of something, is what will happen to them or what they will do after the present time. □ His future as prime minister depends on the outcome of the elections. □ …a proposed national conference on the country's political future.
5 N‑COUNT If you say that someone or something has a future , you mean that they are likely to be successful or to survive. □ These abandoned children have now got a future. □ There's no future in this relationship.
6 N‑PLURAL When people trade in futures , they buy stocks and shares, commodities such as coffee or oil, or foreign currency at a price that is agreed at the time of purchase for items which are delivered some time in the future. [BUSINESS ] □ This report could spur some buying in corn futures when the market opens today.
7 ADJ [ADJ n] In grammar, the future tense of a verb is the one used to talk about things that are going to happen. In English, this applies to verb groups consisting of 'will' or 'shall' and the base form of a verb. The future perfect tense of a verb is used to talk about things that will have happened at some time in the future.
8 PHRASE You use in future when saying what will happen from now on, which will be different from what has previously happened. The form in the future is sometimes used instead, especially in American English. □ I asked her to be more careful in future. □ In the future, Mr. Fernandes says, he won't rely on others to handle this. COLLOCATIONS future NOUN 1
adjective + future : bright, rosy, secure; uncertain, unclear; distant, forseeable, immediate, long-term, near; bleak, dystopian
verb + future : predict; secure; shape
fu ture-proof (future-proofs , future-proofing , future-proofed ) also futureproof
1 VERB If you future-proof something, you design or change it so that it will continue to be useful or successful in the future if the situation changes. □ [V n] I am refurbishing my home. What cabling should I install to future-proof it?
2 ADJ If something is future-proof , it will continue to be useful or successful in future if the situation changes. □ In these times of economic uncertainty, these are the future-proof skills you need.
fu|tur|ism /fjuː tʃər I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Futurism was a modern artistic and literary movement in the early twentieth century.
fu|tur|ist /fjuː tʃər I st/ (futurists )
1 N‑COUNT Futurists were artists and writers who were followers of futurism.
2 N‑COUNT A futurist is someone who makes predictions about what is going to happen, on the basis of facts about what is happening now. [mainly AM ]
fu|tur|is|tic /fjuː tʃər I st I k/
1 ADJ Something that is futuristic looks or seems very modern and unusual, like something from the future. □ The theatre is a futuristic steel and glass structure. □ …futuristic cars.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A futuristic film or book tells a story that is set in the future, when things are different. □ …the futuristic hit film, 'Terminator 2'.
fu|tur|ol|ogy /fjuː tʃərɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Futurology is the activity of trying to predict what is going to happen, on the basis of facts about what is happening now. □ The way a good investor does really well is by engaging in successful futurology. ● fu|tur|olo|gist /fjuː tʃərɒ lədʒ I st/ (futurologists ) N‑COUNT □ Predicting the future should not be left to futurologists, who can be detached from reality.
fuzz /fʌ z/
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] Fuzz is a mass of short, curly hairs.