fulminate
fulminate: v. & n. --v.intr.
1 (often foll. by against) express censure loudly and forcefully.
2 explode violently; flash like lightning (fulminating mercury).
3 Med. (of a disease or symptom) develop suddenly. --n. Chem. a salt or ester of fulminic acid. øøfulmination n. fulminatory adj. [L fulminare fulminat- f. fulmen -minis lightning]

fashion
fashion: n. & v. --n.
1 the current popular custom or style, esp. in dress or social conduct.
2 a manner or style of doing something (in a peculiar fashion).
3 (in comb.) in a specified manner (walk crab-fashion).
4 fashionable society (a woman of fashion). --v.tr. (often foll. by into) make into a particular or the required form. øafter (or in) a fashion as well as is practicable, though not satisfactorily. in (or out of) fashion fashionable (or not fashionable) at the time in question. øøfashioner n. [ME f. AF fasun, OF faúon, f. L factio -onis f. facere fact- do, make]

fortran
Fortran: n. (also FORTRAN) Computing a high-level programming language used esp. for scientific calculations. [formula translation]

further
further: adv., adj., & v. --adv. (also farther esp. with ref. to physical distance.
1 to or at a more advanced point in space or time (unsafe to proceed further).
2 at a greater distance (nothing was further from his thoughts).
3 to a greater extent, more (will enquire further).
4 in addition; furthermore (I may add further). --adj. (also farther.
1 more distant or advanced (on the further side).
2 more, additional, going beyond what exists or has been dealt with (threats of further punishment). --v.tr. promote, favour, help on (a scheme, undertaking, movement, or cause). øfurther education Brit. education for persons above school age but usu. below degree level. further to formal following on from (esp. an earlier letter etc.). till further notice (or orders) to continue until explicitly changed. øøfurtherer n. furthermost adj. [OE furthor (adv.), furthra (adj.), fyrthrian (v.), formed as FORTH, -ER(3)]

futility
funereal
funereal: adj.
1 of or appropriate to a funeral.
2 gloomy, dismal, dark. øøfunereally adv. [L funereus (as FUNERAL)]

fringe
fringe: n. & v. --n.
1 a an ornamental bordering of threads left loose or formed into tassels or twists. b such a bordering made separately. c any border or edging.
2 a a portion of the front hair hanging over the forehead. b a natural border of hair etc. in an animal or plant.
3 an outer edge or margin; the outer limit of an area, population, etc. (often attrib. : fringe theatre).
4 a thing, part, or area of secondary or minor importance.
5 a a band of contrasting brightness or darkness produced by diffraction or interference of light. b a strip of false colour in an optical image.
6 US a fringe benefit. --v.tr.
1 adorn or encircle with a fringe.
2 serve as a fringe to. øfringe benefit an employee's benefit supplementing a money wage or salary. fringe medicine systems of treatment of disease etc. not regarded as orthodox by the medical profession. fringing reef a coral reef that fringes the shore. øøfringeless adj. fringy adj. [ME & OF frenge ult. f. LL fimbria (earlier only in pl.) fibres, fringe]

fringy
formation
formation: n.
1 the act or an instance of forming; the process of being formed.
2 a thing formed.
3 a structure or arrangement of parts.
4 a particular arrangement, e.g. of troops, aircraft in flight, etc.
5 Geol. an assemblage of rocks or series of strata having some common characteristic. øøformational adj. [ME f. OF formation or L formatio (as FORM)]

flatworm
flatworm: n. any worm of the phylum Platyhelminthes, having a flattened body and no body-cavity or blood vessels, including turbellaria, flukes, etc.

fluid
fluid: n. & adj. --n.
1 a substance, esp. a gas or liquid, lacking definite shape and capable of flowing and yielding to the slightest pressure.
2 a fluid part or secretion. --adj.
1 able to flow and alter shape freely.
2 constantly changing or fluctuating (the situation is fluid).
3 (of a clutch, coupling, etc.) in which liquid is used to transmit power. øfluid drachm see DRACHM . fluid ounce see OUNCE(1) ). øøfluidify v.tr. (-ies, -ied). fluidity n. fluidly adv. fluidness n. [F fluide or L fluidus f. fluere flow]

forgiving
forgiving: adj. inclined readily to forgive. øøforgivingly adv.

fields