553
not close or sexual: We're just good friends, nothing more
than that. 10 make friends: a) (of one or more people) to
form friendships: He has a pleasant manner, and finds it easy
to make friends. b) (of two or more people) to form a
friendship: Sammy and Joey have only just met, but they've
made friends already. | The little boys fought over a game, and
then made friends again. (=forgave each other) 11 make
friends with to form a friendship with: Have you made
friends with your new neighbours yet? 12 with friends like
these who needs enemies? infml, often humor a phrase used to
or about friends who have said or done something unpleas-
ant to you -> see also BEFRIEND, diamonds are a girl's best
friend (DIAMOND)
**Friend** n a member of the Christian group called the Society of
Friends; QUAKER
**friend·less** /'frendləs/ adj without friends or help —ness
n [U]
**friend·ly¹** /'frendli/ adj **1** [(to, towards)] acting or ready to act
as a friend: a friendly person | He's not very friendly
to/towards newcomers. | You're always sure of a friendly
welcome at this hotel. **2** [F (with)] having the relationship of
friends (with): She gets free tickets to the theatre because she's
friendly with the manager. **3** [+to] favouring; ready to
accept (ideas): This company has never been friendly to
change. **4** not an enemy: a friendly nation **5** (of a game,
argument etc) done for pleasure or practice and so not
causing or containing unpleasant feelings: We've been hav-
ing a friendly argument on politics/a friendly game of cards.
-> opposite UNFRIENDLY (for 1,3,4); see also FRIENDLY FIRE,
USER-FRIENDLY —liness n [U] Do you think his friendliness
is genuine?
**friendly²** n especially BrE a game that is played for pleasure or
practice and not as part of a serious competition: Manches-
ter United beat Celtic in a friendly.
**friendly 'fire** n [U] euph in a war, bombs or bullets which
accidentally kill people on the side which has fired the
weapons: The soldiers were killed by friendly fire when the
pilot thought they were the enemy.
**friendly so,ciety** n (often cap.) (in Britain) an association to
which the members pay small regular sums, and which
provides money when they are ill and/or in their old age
**friend of the 'court** also **amicus curiae** n tech a person
or group who has an interest in a legal case, although they are
not a PARTY to the case. In the American legal system they
can present their point of view to the court in the hope of
influencing it.
**Friends** /frendz/ a very popular US SITCOM (=a television
programme consisting of humorous stories about the same
group of characters) about a group of friends who live in
New York City during the late 1990s. The main characters
are played by three young men and three young women
who are known especially for being sexually attractive.
Friends is popular especially with young people who would
like to have a life like these characters.
**friend·ship** /'frendʃɪp/ n **1** [U] the condition of sharing a
friendly relationship; the feeling and behaviour that exists
between friends: Real friendship is more valuable than
money. **2** [C] a particular example or period of this: He finds
it difficult to form lasting/close friendships.
**Friends of the 'Earth** written abbrev. **FoE** an international
organization that tries to influence people and governments
to protect the environment
**Friends Reu'nited** trademark a British website which helps
to bring together people who went to the same school or
university, but who have not seen each other for a long
time. Users can put information about their own lives on
the website and can read information about people they
used to know. If you find an old friend on the website and
want to write to them, you can get their email address by
paying some money to the company that owns the website.
**fri·er** /'fraɪə/ n a FRYER
**fries** /fraɪz/ n -> see FRENCH FRIES
**Frie·si·an** /'fri:ziən||-ʒən/ n [C] especially BrE a type of cow
that is black and white; HOLSTEIN AmE
**frieze** /fri:z/ n a border along the top of the wall of a
building or along the top of wallpaper in a room, usually
decorated with pictures, patterns etc: There was an animal
frieze in the little girl's bedroom.
**frig** /frɪg/ v -gg- [I;T] taboo slang to have sex with
**frig about/around** phr v especially BrE taboo slang **1** [I] to act in
a foolish, pointless, and probably annoying manner **2** [T=
frig sby/sthg about] to treat or use in an improper way
**frig·ate** /'frɪgət/ n a small fast-moving armed naval ship,
used for travelling with and protecting other ships
**frig·ging** /'frɪgɪŋ/ adj, adv [A] taboo (used for giving force to an
expression, especially showing annoyance)
**fright** /fraɪt/ n **1** [U] the feeling or experience of fear: He was
shaking with fright; I thought he must have seen a ghost. | The
horse took fright (=had an attack of fear) at the sound of the
explosion. **2** [C] an experience that causes sudden fear;
shock: You gave me a fright by knocking so loudly on the
door. | I got the fright of my life (=the biggest fright I've
ever had) when the machine burst into flames. **3** [S] infml a
person or thing that looks silly or unattractive: She looks a
fright in that old black dress.
**fright·en** /'fraɪtn/ v [T] **1** to fill with fear: The little girl was
frightened by the big dog. | a frightening dream **2** [+obj+adv/
prep] to influence or drive by fear: The bird came to the
window, but I moved suddenly and frightened it away. | The
burglars were frightened off by the sound of our dog
barking. | He frightened the old lady into signing the paper.
—ingly adv
**fright·ened** /'fraɪtnd/ adj **1** [(of)] full of fear: a frightened
animal | Don't be frightened (of the dog) - he won't bite. | He
was frightened at the thought that he might drown. | [F+to-v]
I was frightened to look down from the top of the tall building. |
[F+(that)] The little girl was frightened (that) her mother
wouldn't come back. | (infml) They were frightened to death/
out of their wits (=extremely frightened) by the
ghost. **2** [F+of] habitually afraid: We leave that light on
because the children are frightened of the dark.
**USAGE** **1** Compare **frightened** and **afraid**: a You can be
frightened by a particular object, animal, or person: I
was frightened by a large dog. You can be frightened
at/by a particular thought or event: frightened at/by the
idea of flying | frightened at/by the arrival of the police.
You can be frightened of or, more commonly afraid of
something which causes long-lasting fear: I'm afraid
of/frightened of snakes. | He's afraid of/frightened of
flying. b Frightened can come before or after the noun: a
frightened child | The child was frightened. Afraid must
come after the noun: He's afraid of the dark. **2** Compare
**scared**, **frightened**, **terrified** and **petrified**. Scared is
the weakest in this group of words: I felt a bit scared
when the plane took off. Terrified and petrified are the
strongest: I was terrified when the tiger ran towards
me. | We stood petrified as we felt the earthquake begin.
**fright·en·ers** /'fraɪtənəz||-nərz/ n [the] BrE slang put the
frighteners on to make someone do what you want by
threatening them, usually to keep silent: The witnesses
refused to give evidence because the criminals had put the
frighteners on them.
**fright·ful** /'fraɪtfəl/ adj **1** terrible; shocking; causing fear:
The battlefield was a frightful scene. **2** infml, rather old-fash very
bad; unpleasant; difficult: We're having frightful weather this
week. | The exam questions were frightful! ---ness n [U]
**fright·ful·ly** /'fraɪtfəli/ adv infml, rather old-fash very; extremely:
I'm afraid I'm frightfully late.
**fri·gid** /'frɪdʒɪd/ adj **1** (usually of a woman) a) tech unable
to reach ORGASM during sexual activity b) derog having an
unnatural dislike for sexual activity **2** cold in manner;
unfriendly; lacking in warmth and life: She returned his
smile with a frigid glance. **3** [no comp.] tech very cold; having
a continuously low temperature: The parts of the world near
the North and South Poles are called the frigid zones. —ly
adv ---ity /frɪ'dʒɪdɪti// ---ness /'frɪdʒɪdnəs/ n [U]
**Fri·gi·daire** /ˌfrɪdʒɪ'deə/ trademark a type of FRIDGE made in
the US
**frill** /frɪl/ n **1** a decorative edge to a piece of material made of
a band of cloth gathered together on one side and sewn on:
She sewed a frill on the bottom of her skirt. **2** [usually pl.] infml,