539
formal
Rudyard Kipling, used especially on MEMORIALS to those
people who died during the two World Wars
for-get-ful /fəˈgetfəl||ˈfɔːr-/ adj [oft] having the habit of
forgetting: He tends to be forgetful of his manners. | My aunt
has become rather forgetful in her old age. —ly adv —ness
n [U]
for-get-me-not n a type of low-growing plant with small,
usually pale blue flowers
forg-ing /ˈfɔːdʒɪŋ||ˈfɔːr-/ n a piece of forged (FORGE) metal
for-giv-a-ble, -give- /fəˈɡɪvəbəl||ˈfɔːr-/ adj (of a thing) that
can be forgiven: It was a forgivable mistake. —bly adv
for-give /fəˈɡɪv||ˈfɔːr-/ v -gave /ˈɡeɪv/, -given /ˈɡɪvən/ 1 [I; T
(for) not in progressive forms] to say or feel that one is no longer
angry with (someone) or about (something); to say or feel
that one no longer blames (someone) for (something): I'm
afraid I've smashed up your car - can you ever forgive me? |
I'll never forgive you for what you said to me last night. | It's
best to forgive and forget. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] He forgave her the
awful things she said about him. | (used to express annoy-
ance, disagreement etc) 'Forgive me, Minister,' said the inter-
viewer, 'but you haven't answered my question yet.' 2 Father
forgive them for they know not what they do the words
spoken by Christ in the Bible, asking God to forgive the
people who were killing Him
for-give-ness /fəˈɡɪvnəs||ˈfɔːr-/ n [U] 1 [oft] the act of for-
giving or state of being forgiven: He asked God's forgiveness/
for forgiveness of his wrong-doings. 2 willingness to forgive
for-giv-ing /fəˈɡɪvɪŋ||ˈfɔːr-/ adj willing or able to forgive: a
gentle forgiving nature —ly adv
for-go, fore- /fɔːˈɡəʊ||fɔːr-/ v -went /ˈwent/, -gone
/ˈɡɒn||ˈɡɔːn/ [T; past tense rare] fml to give up; (be willing) not
to have (especially something pleasant): You shouldn't forgo
the opportunity of hearing this world-famous pianist in a live
concert.
for-got /fəˈɡɒt||fərˈɡɑt/ past tense of FORGET
for-got-ten /fəˈɡɒtən||fərˈɡɑtn/ past participle of FORGET
fork¹ /fɔːk||fɔːrk/ n 1 an instrument for holding food or
carrying it to the mouth, having a handle at one end with
two or more points at the other, and usually made of metal
or plastic: He picked up his knife and fork. → see KNIFE
(USAGE) 2 a farm or gardening tool for breaking up the soil,
lifting dried grass etc, having a handle with two or more
metal points at one end 3 a place where something divides
into branches, or one of the divided parts: We came to a fork
in the road, and we couldn't decide whether to take the left fork
or the right. 4 also forks pl. a pair of parallel metal points
between which the front wheel of a bicycle, motorcycle etc
is fixed → see picture at BICYCLE
fork² v 1 [T+obj+adv/prep] to lift, carry, move, or turn (soil,
grass etc) with a fork: Fork over the garden before you plant
the peas. 2 [I] (of something long and narrow) to divide into
two or more parts: You'll see our house on the left, just before
the road forks. 3 [+adv/prep] (of a person) to take one fork of
a road, path etc: Fork left at the pub.
fork (sthg. ⇔) out phr v [I;T (for, on)] infml to pay (money)
unwillingly: I had to fork out £200 for my last telephone bill.
fork up phr v [I (for) often imperative] infml to FORK OUT: Come on,
fork up!
forked /fɔːkt||fɔːrkt/ adj [no comp.] 1 having one end divided
into two or more points: Snakes have forked tongues.
2 white man speaks with forked tongue a phrase used in
old WESTERN films, said by Native Americans when they
believe a white man is not telling the truth
forked 'lightning n [U] lightning in the form of a line in
the sky, usually dividing into two or more parts near the
bottom → compare SHEET LIGHTNING
fork-ful /ˈfɔːkfʊl||fɔːrk-/ n [oft] an amount of food on a
fork: huge forkfuls of food
fork-lift truck /ˈfɔːklɪft ˈtrʌk||fɔːrk-/ n a small vehicle
with a movable apparatus on the front used for lifting and
lowering heavy goods
for-lorn /fəˈlɔːn||fərˈlɔːrn/ adj especially lit or fml 1 (typical of
one who is) left alone and unhappy: She had a forlorn look
(on her face). → see ALONE (USAGE) 2 left empty and in poor
condition: a row of forlorn old buildings down by the port
—ly adv —ness n [U]
for,lorn 'hope n [S] a plan or attempt that is very unlikely
to succeed
form¹ /fɔːm||fɔːrm/ n 1 [C;U] shape; outward appearance: In
the early morning light we could just make out/see the dark
forms of the mountains. | The tall graceful form of a woman
appeared at the top of the stairs. | Churches are often built in
the form of (=shaped like) a cross. 2 [C(of)] a general plan or
arrangement; way something shows or expresses itself; kind
or sort: Different countries have different forms of
government. | Name three forms of air travel. | This illness
takes the form of (=shows itself as) high fever and sickness
over a period of several days. | She dislikes any form of
exercise. | There are two forms of the past tense of 'to dream':
'dreamed' and 'dreamt'. | I don't like sport in any shape or
form. (=of any kind) 3 [U] tech the way in which a work of
art is put together: Some writers are masters of form, but the
content of their books isn't interesting. 4 [U] (especially in
sport) degree of fitness, skill etc, especially as this influences
performance or success: 'What kind of form is he in?' (=How
well is he playing?) 'He's been in bad form/out of form
recently.' | If it's really on form (especially BrE)/ in form (especially
AmE), this horse should win easily. | He was in great form(also
BrE) on great form (=in good spirits) at the party last night. |
We were hoping to make a profit this year, but on present
form (=judging by our present performance) that looks
unlikely. 5 [C] an official paper with spaces in which to
answer questions and give other information: If you wish to
be considered for this job, you must fill in/fill up/fill out a
form giving your age, name, experience etc, and send it to the
company. | Hand your completed form in at the desk. | I'm
sorry, I don't understand (how to fill in) this form. | a badly-
designed form | a visa application form 6 [(the) U] the correct
or usual custom or practice; PROCEDURE: I'd like to join the
library; what's the form? (=what do I have to do?) | I'll have
to ask for your name and address, sir, but it's purely a matter
of form. 7 [U] old-fash behaviour as judged by accepted
social standards; manners: It is considered very bad form to
arrive too early at a dinner party. 8 [C] a class in a British
school, and in some American schools: Children who have
just started school go into the first form; the oldest children are
in the sixth form. → compare GRADE¹ 9 [C] BrE a long
wooden seat, usually without a back 10 [U] BrE slang a record
of having been found guilty of crimes 11 -former BrE a
pupil of the stated FORM: a sixth-former
form² v 1 [I;T] to come or bring gradually into existence;
develop: A cloud of smoke formed over the burning city. | A
plan began to form in his mind. | I formed the impression that
she was not being completely honest. | School helps to form a
child's character. | They had soon formed a firm friend-
ship. 2 [T] to make or produce, especially by combining
parts: The past tense of 'cook' is formed by adding '-ed'. | The
leader of the winning party has been invited to form a
government. | We used branches and leaves to form a rough
shelter. 3 [L+N] to take the shape of: The school buildings
formed a hollow square, with a playground in the mid-
dle. 4 [L+N] to be; be the substance of; CONSTITUTE: Flour,
eggs, fat, and sugar form the main ingredients of a
cake. 5 [I+adv/prep;T] to (cause to) stand or move in (a certain
order): The men formed a chain to pass the goods from the
carts to the boats. | The teacher formed her class into five
groups. | The soldiers formed up into a line.
form-al¹ /ˈfɔːməl||ˈfɔːr-/ adj 1 a) based on or done accord-
ing to correct or accepted rules, e.g. of social behaviour or
official business: As it's a formal dinner party, we will have to
wear formal dress. | They told me on the phone that I could
have the job, but I haven't yet had a formal offer. b) especially
tech (of words or a style of writing or speaking) suitable for
official occasions, serious writing etc, but not for ordinary
conversation. Formal words or phrases are marked fml in this
dictionary: 'Purchase' means the same as 'buy', but it is more
formal. | Government reports are usually written in formal
language. 2 exact and correct in manner and behaviour:
He's very formal with everyone; he never joins in a
laugh. 3 having a set or regular shape: a formal garden with
straight paths and neat hedges → opposite INFORMAL (for
1,2,3) 4 [no comp.] fml in outward appearance only: There's
only a formal resemblance between the two brothers - their
characters are very different. —ly adv: At the police station he
was formally charged with murder.