551
fretwork
French 'polish n [U] a clear liquid put on wooden furniture to protect it and make it shine
French Poly'nesia about 130 islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, including TAHITI, which belong to France. Population: 262,125 (2003). Capital: Papeete.
French Quarter, the a part of the city of New Orleans in Louisiana, US which was originally lived in by French people. It now attracts many tourists.
French Revo'lution, the the REVOLUTION which began in France in 1789 with the 'Storming of the Bastille' on 14th July, when the people of Paris attacked and took control of the Bastille prison. Four years later, the French king and queen, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were killed by having their heads cut off by the GUILLOTINE. Many other people of high rank were also killed and France became a REPUBLIC (=a country without a king or queen). During the revolution, the people demanded 'Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity', and the events and ideas of the revolution had an important influence on European history.
French Rivi'era, the also the Riviera an area of south-eastern France on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, which includes places such as Nice, Cannes, and St Tropez. Many rich and fashionable people live on or visit the French Riviera, and it attracts a lot of tourists: They rented a villa on the French Riviera. ➔ see also SOUTH OF FRANCE, THE
French's 'mustard trademark a type of bright yellow MUSTARD which is typically served on HOT DOGS, HAMBURGERS, and SANDWICHES in the US
French 'seam n (in dressmaking) a double SEAM used to hide edges that have been cut
French 'stick n a long thin LOAF of white bread with a hard CRUST
French 'toast n [U] pieces of bread put into a mixture of egg and milk and then cooked in hot oil
French West 'Indies, the a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea which belong to France
French 'windows also French doors especially AmE– n [P] a pair of light outer doors made of glass in a frame, usually opening out onto the garden or a BALCONY of a house
French·wom·an /'frentʃˌwʊmən/ n pl. Frenchwomen /-ˌwɪmɪn/ [C] a woman born in France or one who has French parents
fre·net·ic /frə'netɪk/ adj showing frenzied activity; overexcited: She worked at a frenetic pace to finish the work. ---ally /kli/ adv
fren·zied /'frenzid/ adj full of uncontrolled excitement and/or wild activity; mad; FRANTIC: The house was full of frenzied activity on the morning of the wedding. ---ly adv
fren·zy /'frɛnzi/ n [S,U] a state of wild uncontrolled feeling, expressed with great force; a sudden, but not lasting, attack of madness: In a frenzy of hate he killed his enemy. | The fans at the rock concert worked themselves up into a frenzy.
fre·quen·cy /'fri:kwənsi/ n 1 [U(of)] the happening of something a large number of times: The frequency of accidents on that road has forced the council to lower the speed limit. | Accidents are happening with increasing frequency. 2 [C;U] tech a rate at which something happens or is repeated; the number of times that something happens in a given period: This radio signal has a frequency of 200,000 cycles per second. | low frequency radiation 3 [C] a particular number of radio waves per second at which a radio signal is broadcast: This radio station broadcasts on three different frequencies. ➔ see also FM, VHF
fre·quent¹ /'fri:kwənt/ adj common; found or happening often; repeated many times; habitual: Storms are frequent on this part of the coast. | She's a frequent visitor to our house. ➔ opposite INFREQUENT; see NEVER (USAGE) ---ly adv
fre·quent² /frɪ'kwent||frɪ'kwɛnt, 'fri:kwənt/ v [T] fml to be often in (a place, especially a place of entertainment, people's company etc): Police visited all the bars that the suspect frequented. | These woods are frequented by all kinds of birds.
fres·co /'frɛskəʊ/ n pl. -coes or -cos [C;U] a painting made on a wall while the PLASTER is still wet: This church is famous for its frescoes.
fresh¹ /freʃ/ adj 1 (of meat, vegetables, flowers etc) in good natural condition, and not spoilt in taste, smell, or appearance by being kept too long; new: You can buy fresh fruit and vegetables in the market. | This fish smells; I don't think it's quite fresh. | These flowers don't look very fresh. 2 (of food) not preserved by freezing, putting in cans, or other means: Canned fruit never tastes quite the same as fresh fruit. | Are those peas fresh or frozen? 3 [A no comp.] (of water) not salty: I prefer swimming in fresh water to sea water. 4 [(from) no comp.] that has recently arrived, happened, grown, been found, or been supplied: There's been no fresh news of the fighting since yesterday. | This bread's fresh from the oven. (=is newly baked) | This paint's fresh (=just put on); don't touch it. | The new teacher is fresh from university. | Can you throw any fresh light on this subject? (=add anything that will help to explain it) 5 [A no comp.] another and different; new: Let me make you a fresh pot of tea. | I've spoilt this drawing; I'll have to start again on a fresh piece of paper. | It's time to take a fresh look at this problem. | When she came out of prison, she decided to make a fresh start. (=begin life again) 6 [F] not tired; young, healthy, and active: She always seems fresh, however much work she's done. | The plants look fresh after the rain. | (infml) He woke up fresh as a daisy (=very fresh) after his long sleep. 7 [A] (of skin) clear and healthy: She has dark hair and a fresh complexion. 8 [A] (of air) pure; cool: Open the window and let in some fresh air. | I'm just going out for a breath of fresh air. 9 often tech (of wind) rather strong; gaining in force: The winds will be fresh or strong tonight, according to the weather report. 10 [F] infml (of weather) cool and windy: It's a bit fresh today. 11 [F (with)] infml rudely confident with someone of the opposite sex: He started getting fresh with me so I slapped his face. ➔ see also AFRESH, FRESHLY ---ness n [U]
fresh² adv 1 (in comb.) just; newly: I like fresh-ground coffee. 2 fresh out of infml, especially AmE having just used up one's supplies of: The store was fresh out of coffee. (=had just sold its last jar of coffee)
fresh·en /'freʃən/ v [I] (of wind) to gain in force; become stronger or colder
freshen up phr v [I;T (= freshen sbdy./sthg. ↔ up)] to (cause to) feel less tired, look more attractive etc: I must just go and freshen (myself) up before dinner. | (fig.) She's freshened up the house with a new coat of paint. | Can I freshen up your drink? (=add more liquid, especially alcohol, to it)
fresh·ly /'freʃli/ adv (before a past participle) recently; just lately: 'This coffee smells good.' 'Yes, it's freshly made.' | His shirts have been freshly washed and ironed.
fresh·man /'freʃmən/ n pl. -men /-mən/ 1 also fresh·er /-ʃə/ BrE infml a student in the first year at college or university 2 AmE a student in the first year at a HIGH SCHOOL, college, or university ➔ compare SENIOR, JUNIOR, SOPHOMORE
fresh·wa·ter /'freʃwɔ:tə||ˈwɔː-, wɑː-/ adj [A] of, living in, or being a river or inland lake; not belonging to the sea: freshwater fish | freshwater lakes ➔ opposite SALTWATER
fret¹ /fret/ v -tt- 1 [I;T] to (cause to) be continually worried or dissatisfied about small or unnecessary things: Don't fret (yourself); everything will be all right. | The old lady is always fretting about/over something. | You mustn't fret your life away! 2 [T] rare to make a wavy pattern on (water)
fret² n [S] infml an anxious complaining state of mind: She gets in a fret whenever we're late. ➔ see also FRETFUL
fret³ v -tt- [T] to decorate with wood cut out in patterns
fret⁴ n any of the raised lines on the NECK (=the long thin part) of a GUITAR or similar musical instrument with strings
fret·board /'fretbɔ:d||-bɔ:rd/ n the long piece of wood on the NECK (=straight part) of a GUITAR. You press the strings against the fretboard with your fingers to change the note.
fret·ful /'fretfəl/ adj complaining and anxious, especially because of dissatisfaction or discomfort: The child was tired and fretful. ---ly adv ---ness n [U]
fret·saw /'fretsɔ:/ n a metal cutting tool that has a thin blade with fine teeth held in a deep frame, used for cutting out patterns in thin sheets of wood
fret·work /'fretwɜ:k||-wɜ:rk/ n [U] (the making of) patterns cut in thin wood: cupboard decorated with fretwork | (fig.) The ground beneath the trees was a fretwork of sunlight and shadow. (=formed a pattern of lines and spaces)