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fullness
him. (=has work to do all the time) 2 [(off)] (of a container) holding liquid, powder etc, as near to the top as is needed or convenient: They brought us out a pot full of steaming coffee. | This bag of flour is only half full. (=contains half the amount that it can hold) | Don't fill my cup too full. 3 [F+of] containing or having plenty (of): The field was full of sheep. | This work's full of mistakes. | Her eyes were full of tears. | Every time they meet us, they're full of complaints about something. | The children were full of excitement at the thought of their coming holiday. | a soup full of flavour 4 [(UP)] infml well fed, often to the point of discomfort; satisfied: I can't eat any more; I'm full (up). | You shouldn't go swimming on a full stomach. (=just after you have eaten a meal) 5 [A] complete; whole: The full truth of the matter can never be told. | Please write down your full name and address. | You have my full support. | He's been away for a full year now. | For a full report on the prime minister's speech, turn to page seven. | It was only later that I realized the full implications of what she had said. | She rose to her full height. (=stood up very straight and proudly) | Only full members of the club (=those with all the rights of membership) are allowed to vote at meetings. | My foot caught in the step, and I fell full length. (=flat on the ground) | The incident took place in full view of the television cameras. | He has led a full life. (=has had every kind of experience) | I believe her, but I don't think she's telling us the full story. (=everything she knows) 6 [A] the highest or greatest possible: He drove the car at full speed through the town. | Only a very good student can obtain full marks in such a difficult exam. | Up on the hill, the full force of the wind can be felt. | The riders crossed the plain at full gallop. (=as fast as they could) 7 [F+of] having the mind and attention fixed only (on); thinking and talking of nothing else (except): Some people are too full of their own troubles to care about anyone else. | She's rather full of herself. (=she thinks she's very important) | He's full of his plans to visit America. (=talks a lot about them) 8 (of clothing) containing a lot of material; fitting loosely: The wedding dress had a tight bodice, full sleeves, and a full skirt. 9 (of a shape, a body, or its parts) a) often approx round; rounded; fleshy: Her face was full/She was full in the face when she was younger; now it's much thinner. | full breasts b) euph fat: This shop sells dresses for the fuller figure. 10 apprec (of colour, smell, sound, taste, or substance) deep, rich, and powerful: He likes a wine with a full body. (=having strength or substance) | This cheese should be served at room temperature to bring out its lovely full flavour. → see also FULLNESS, FULLY, full of beans (BEAN), (at) full blast (BLAST¹), come full circle (CIRCLE¹), in full cry (CRY²), (at) full pelt (PELT²), in full swing (SWING²), (at) full tilt (TILT²)
full² adv [+adv/prep] 1 straight; directly: The ball struck him full on the chest. | The sun shone full in her face. 2 very; quite: They knew full well that he wouldn't keep his promise. 3 full out rare at full power; at top speed → flat out (FLAT³)
full³ n 1 in full completely: The debt must be paid in full. 2 to the full to the greatest degree: To appreciate this opera to the full, you need to read the story first.
full-back /'fʊlbæk/ n 1 (especially in football) a defending player whose position is at the end of their own half of the field, farthest from the centre 2 in American football, an attacking player who usually works to block the defending team and keep them away from the QUARTERBACK → compare HALFBACK
full 'beam n [S] BrE the full strength of a car's HEADLIGHTS
full-'blooded adj [A] 1 of unmixed race: He's a full-blooded Indian. 2 having all the typical qualities (of something) to a great degree: a full-blooded Socialist 3 forceful: They were having a full-blooded argument. —ness n [U]
full-'blown adj 1 [A] fully developed; possessing all the usual or necessary qualities: We're afraid that the fighting on the border may develop into a full-blown war. | He has developed full-blown AIDS. 2 often lit (of a flower) completely open
full 'board n [U] (in hotels etc) the providing of all meals: The room with full board will be £60 a week. → compare HALF BOARD
full-'bodied adj apprec strong; heavy and rich in taste: a fine full-bodied red wine
full-'colour BrE || full-color AmE — adj [A] (of books, magazines etc) printed using coloured inks rather than only black and white: a full-colour brochure
full-court 'press n AmE infml (in BASKETBALL) a method of defence in which the team with the ball is followed all over the playing area, not only in the part where their basket is: (fig.) The Justice Department and the DEA have launched a full-court press against Noriega, with dozens of people working on the case.
'full-cream BrE || whole AmE — adj made of milk which has not had any of the cream removed → compare SEMI-SKIMMED
full 'dress n [U] special dress worn on special or ceremonial occasions → compare EVENING DRESS, HIGHLAND DRESS, MORNING DRESS
full em'ployment n [U] a situation existing in a country, society etc where everyone who wants a job is able to get one because there is enough work available → compare UNEMPLOYMENT
Ful-ler, Rich-ard Buck-min-ster /'fʊlər, 'rɪtʃəd 'bʌkmɪnstər||-tʃərd-/ (1895-1983) a US ARCHITECT (=someone who designs buildings) and engineer, who believed that scientific and technical developments could be used to solve many of society's problems, and who invented the GEO-DESIC DOME, a large, light, ball-shaped structure
fuller's 'earth n [U] dried clay sometimes made into a powder, used in former times for removing oil from cloth, but now used especially in treating impure oils, to make them clearer and lighter
full-'fashioned adj AmE for FULLY-FASHIONED
full-'fledged adj especially AmE for FULLY-FLEDGED
full 'frontal adj [A] 1 showing the whole of the front of someone's body without clothes on: scenes of full frontal nudity 2 done in a direct and strong way: a full frontal attack on the government
full-'grown also fully-grown BrE — adj (especially of an animal, plant, or (tech) person) completely developed; that is not going to grow any larger: A full-grown elephant can weigh over 6000 kilograms.
full 'house n 1 (at a cinema, sports ground etc) an occasion when every seat is taken: We've had five full houses this week - it's a very popular film. 2 (in the card game of POKER) three cards of one kind and a pair of another kind: I've got a full house, fives over jacks. (=three fives and two jacks)
full-'length adj 1 (of a photograph, painting etc) showing all of a person, from their head to their feet: a full-length portrait of the queen 2 (of clothing) reaching to the ground: a full-length evening dress 3 (of a play, book etc) not short; not shorter than is usual: a full-length feature film
full 'marks n [P] 1 praise that you give to someone for doing something well: full marks to sb (for sth) Not the most stylish mobile, but full marks to Marconi for originality. 2 BrE the highest number of points you can get for school work
full mon-ty, the /ˌfʊl 'mɒnti||'mɑːn-/ n infml the whole amount of something that people want and expect: The ice cream was covered in sauce, nuts, chocolate - the full monty.
Full Monty, The (1997) a humorous British film that was extremely popular in both the UK and US, about a group of men in the town of Sheffield who cannot get work because the steel industry has closed down, and who decide to become STRIPPERS (=someone who takes off their clothes to entertain people) to earn some money
full 'moon n the moon when seen as a complete circle: A full moon shone brightly. → compare HALF MOON, NEW MOON
CULTURAL NOTE Some people believe that a full moon can make people behave strangely or dangerously. People joke that hospital CASUALTY departments are busier during full moons because people have more accidents. In stories and films people sometimes turn into werewolves (WEREWOLF) when there is a full moon.
full-ness, fulness /'fʊlnəs/ n [U] 1 the condition of being full: a contented feeling of fullness 2 in the fullness of time especially lit or fml when the right time comes/came: You may have to suffer hardships now, but in the fullness of time you will have your reward.