517
fixed star
loss of consciousness, with strange uncontrolled movements
of the body: She suffers from epileptic fits. 1 (fig, infml) The boss
will have a fit/throw a fit (=be very angry) when he hears
what you've done. 3 in/by fits and starts continually start-
ing and stopping; not regularly
fit·ful /'fɪtfl/ adj irregular; happening for short periods of
time: fitful showers of rain → -ly adv: He slept fitfully.
fit·ment /'fɪtmənt/ n [often pl.] BrE a piece of fitted furniture:
bathroom fitments
fit·ness /'fɪtnəs/ n [U] 1 the state of being physically fit:
They're doing exercises to improve their fitness. 2 [+for / to-v]
the quality of being suitable: No one questions her fitness for
the job/to do the job.
'fitness, freak n often derog a person who spends a lot of time
doing exercises to keep their body strong and in good
condition
fit·ted /'fɪtɪd/ adj 1 [F+with] including (a part, piece of appa-
ratus etc): Is the car fitted with a radio? 2 [A] fixed in place:
a fitted carpet | fitted cupboards
,fitted 'kitchen n BrE a kitchen that has cupboards that fit
exactly in the space provided
fit·ter /'fɪtə/ n 1 a person who puts together or repairs
machines or electrical parts: a gas fitter 2 a person who cuts
out clothes and/or makes them the correct size for other
people
fit·ting¹ /'fɪtɪŋ/ adj fml right for the purpose or occasion;
suitable: It is fitting that we should honour their memory. | a
fitting tribute to the dead soldiers
fitting² n 1 [usually pl.] something necessary that is fixed into
a building but able to be moved: electric light fittings →
compare FIXTURE 2 an occasion when one puts on clothes
that are being made for one, to see if they fit: I'm going for a
fitting on Tuesday.
Fitz·ger·ald, Ella
/'fɪts'dʒerəld, 'elə/ (1918-96)
a US JAZZ singer, called 'The
First Lady of Jazz' because of
her beautiful voice and her
skill in SCAT singing. She
was known for performing
with bands led by Duke
ELLINGTON, Count BASIE, and
Oscar PETERSON, and for
singing songs by Cole POR-
TER and George GERSHWIN.
Fitzgerald, F. Scott (1896-
1940) a US writer known
especially for his novels The
Great Gatsby and Tender is
the Night. He lived in France
for many years with his wife
Zelda Fitzgerald and his early death was caused by drinking
too much alcohol.
five /faɪv/ determiner, n, pron 1 (the number) 5 → see TABLE 1
2 AmE a five-dollar bill: Have you got a five?
,five-and-'ten also dime store, ,five-and-'dime,
,five-and-ten-'cent store n AmE a shop which sells
many different types of inexpensive goods, especially for the
house: Run down to the five-and-ten and get me a broom,
please, honey.
five-barred 'gate n a large gate made of wooden bars,
usually used at the entrance to a field
five o'clock 'shadow n [S] infml a darkness on the face of a
man who has not shaved (SHAVE) since the morning
501's /,faɪv əʊ 'wʌnz/ trademark a type of JEANS made by Levi
Strauss, Inc (LEVIS) which have buttons in the front instead of
a ZIP. They are considered fashionable, especially if they are
old and faded (FADE).
fiv·er /'faɪvə/ n BrE infml £5 or a five-pound note: It costs a
fiver. | I've only got fivers.
fives /faɪvz/ n [U] a British ball game in which the ball is hit
with the hand against any of three walls → compare
HANDBALL; see also a bunch of fives (BUNCH¹)
five-spot n AmE slang a five-dollar bill
five-star adj [A] of the highest standard or quality: a five-star
hotel
fix¹ /fɪks/ v [T] 1 [+obj+adv/prep] to fasten firmly in position: I
fixed it to the wall with a nail. | She fixed a new handle on the
door. | (fig.) The address is fixed in my mind. | (fig.) He fixed his
eyes on her. | (fig.) Don't try and fix the blame on me. → see also
FIXED 2 [{UP}] to arrange and establish (an exact time, place,
price etc), especially through agreement: Let's fix (up) a time
for the meeting. | The rent was fixed at £45. | Have you got
anything fixed for the weekend? (=Have you arranged to do
anything?) | If you want to meet them, I can fix it. | [+wh-] We
haven't fixed (up) where to stay yet. | [+to-v] They've fixed to go
to Borneo. → compare FIX ON, FIX UP 3 to repair: I must get the
radio fixed. 4 especially AmE to cook or prepare (especially food
or drink): She's fixing breakfast. | [+obj(II)+obj(d)] Let me fix you a
drink. 5 a) to arrange the result of (something) dishonestly:
The election was fixed. | She accused the chairman of fixing the
vote. b) infml to influence dishonestly, especially by BRIBERY:
Can they fix the judge? 6 infml to deal with (someone who has
harmed you); get even with (EVEN) 7 AmE infml to NEUTER a pet,
especially a dog or cat: We took the cat in to be fixed last
week. 8 [{TO}] AmE infml to prepare or plan (to do sthg.): I was
just fixing to call you. | They're fixing to go camping this
weekend. 9 tech to protect (colours or photographic film)
from the effects of light by chemical treatment
fix on sthg./sbdy. phr v [T] to choose or decide after
considering: We've fixed on the 14th of April for the wedding.
→ compare FIX¹
fix sbdy./sthg. ⇔ up phr v [T] 1 [(with)] infml to provide
(someone) with something they need, usually by making
arrangements: Can you fix me up with a bed for the night? →
compare FIX¹ 2 to repair, change, or improve to make
suitable for new needs: My mother's getting too old to live on
her own, so we're fixing up the spare room for her.
fix sbdy. with sthg. phr v [T] to look for a long time at
(someone) with: He fixed me with an intense stare and I
couldn't move.
fix² n 1 [C] infml an awkward or difficult position; PREDICA-
MENT: We're in a real fix - there's nobody to look after the
baby! 2 [S] infml something that has been dishonestly
arranged: The election was a fix! → see also FIX¹ 3 [C(of)] slang
(used by drug-takers) an INJECTION: He didn't know where his
next fix was coming from. 4 [C(on)] the (calculation of) the
position of a ship, spacecraft etc, found by looking at the
stars, taking measurements etc
fix·a·ted /fɪk'seɪtɪd/ adj [F (on)] thinking, talking etc continu-
ously about one particular thing, so as not to give enough
attention to anything else: The popular newspapers seem to
be fixated on stories about sex and drugs.
fix·a·tion /fɪk'seɪʃən/ n 1 [(about, with)] a strong unhealthy
feeling (about) or love (for); OBSESSION: He has a fixation
about cleanliness. | a mother fixation 2 tech a stopping of the
growth of the mind and character at a certain stage, so that
the person remains childish
fix·a·tive /'fɪksətɪv/ n [C;U] a chemical used for sticking
things together, holding things, especially hair or false
teeth, in position, or fixing colours
fixed /fɪkst/ adj 1 fastened; not movable or changeable: The
tables are firmly fixed to the floor. | The date is fixed now. | (fig.)
He has very fixed ideas on this subject. 2 [F (for)] infml supplied
with something that one needs: How are you fixed for
money? (=How much do you have?)
,fixed 'assets n [P] things which a business has or owns
which are likely to be used over a long period of time, for
example land, buildings, equipment etc
,fixed 'capital n [U] buildings or machines which a business
owns and which can be used for a long period of time in the
production of other goods
,fixed 'charge n a cost which does not change for some time
,fixed 'costs n [P] costs of rent, rates etc which an organiza-
tion has to pay even when no production is taking place
,fixed 'income n an amount of money that you receive to
live on that does not change: pensioners living on a fixed
income
fix·ed·ly /'fɪksɪdli/ adv steadily; with great attention: He
stared fixedly at the woman in black.
,fixed 'star n a star so distant that its movement can be
measured only by very exact calculations over long periods,
unlike that of the PLANETS