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noise is driving me frantic. (=making me go mad) 2 infl
hurried, excited, and disordered: I've had a frantic rush to get
here. | the frantic pace of modern life —ally /kli/ adv
frap-pé /'fræpeɪ||fræ'peɪ/ also frappe /'fræpeɪ||fræp/ n
[C;U] 1 AmE a kind of thick MILK SHAKE 2 a strong alcoholic
drink poured over very small pieces of ice 3 a partly frozen
drink, for example fruit juice —frappé /'fræpeɪ||fræ'peɪ/ adj
Fra-ser, (Mad) Frank-ie /'freɪzər, mæd 'fræŋki/ (1923-) a
London GANGSTER who spent more than 40 years in prison,
and who was a friend of the KRAY TWINS, (famous violent
criminals who were in prison for murder). Fraser became
well-known and wrote a book about his life.
Fra-si-er /'freɪziər||-ʒər/ a popular US television SITCOM
about a PSYCHIATRIST called Dr Frasier Crane, who lives in
Seattle and has his own radio show in which he gives advice
to people who phone him on the programme
frat /fræt/ n AmE infl a fraternity (2): frat house | frat rat
(=student who lives in a fraternity house)
fra-ter-nal /frə't3:nl||-3:r-/ adj 1 of, belonging to, or like
brothers 2 friendly; brotherly: The party sent its fraternal
greetings to the trade union meeting. —ly adv
fra-ter-ni-ty /frə't3:nɪti||-3:r-/ n 1 [C+sing./pl. v] pomp an
association of people having the stated work, interests etc in
common: He's a member of the medical fraternity. (=is a
doctor) 2 [C] also frat infl (at some American universities) a
club of male students usually living in the same house.
Fraternities are named after Greek letters, and members are
sometimes called Greeks. Most fraternities do work for CHAR-
ITY and they are also known for their drinking parties. -> see
also RUSH² and Cultural Note at SORORITY 3 [U] fml the state
of being brothers; brotherly feeling
frat-er-nize also -nise BrE /'frætənaɪz||-ər-/ v [I(with)] 1 to
meet and be friendly with someone as equals: The teachers
at the university tend not to fraternize with their students. ->
compare SOCIALIZE 2 derog to have friendly relations with
members of an enemy nation —nization
/ˌfrætənaɪ'zeɪʃən||-ɜ:rnə-/ n [U(with)]
frat-ri-cide /'frætrɪsaɪd/ n 1 [U] fml the act of murdering
one's brother or sister 2 [C] tech a person guilty of this crime
—cidal /ˌfrætrɪ'saɪdl/ adj
fraud /frɔ:d/ n 1 [C;U] (an act of) deceitful behaviour for the
purpose of making money, which may be punishable by
law: She got a five-year jail sentence for fraud. | He carried out
a number of frauds on trusting people who lent him
money. 2 [C] derog someone or something that is not what
they claim or are claimed to be: He said he was an insurance
salesman, but later she discovered he was a fraud.
Fraud Squad, the a special department of the British
police, based in London, which deals with serious cases of
dishonest behaviour in banks and businesses
fraud-ster /'frɔ:dstər/ n someone who has committed a
fraud
fraud-u-lent /'frɔ:djʊlənt||-dʒ-/ adj deceitful; got or done
by fraud: They obtained the top-secret information by fraudu-
lent means. —ly adv —lence n [U]
fraught /frɔ:t/ adj 1 [F+with] full of something unpleasant:
The expedition through the jungle was fraught with difficul-
ties and danger. 2 infl troubled by anxieties; very TENSE
fray¹ /freɪ/ v [I;T] 1 to (cause to) have loose threads develop-
ing: Constant rubbing had frayed his shirt cuffs. | This dress
material frays very quickly when you cut it. | The electric cord
is fraying and could be dangerous to handle. 2 to cause (a
person's temper, nerves etc) to become worn out: Tempers
began to fray in the hot weather.
fray² n [the] lit a fight; battle: He rushed into the fray. (=joined
fearlessly in the fighting) | (fig.) Are you ready for the fray?
(=ready for action, ready to begin)
Fra-zer, Sir James George /'freɪzər/ (1854-1941) a British
writer on ANTHROPOLOGY (=the scientific study of people
and their societies, and the way that their customs develop),
known especially for The Golden Bough, a book about the
connections between religion and magic
fraz-zle /'fræzl/ n [S] infl 1 a condition of being com-
pletely tired in body and mind, owing to hard work or other
difficulties: I've been trailing round the shops all day, and I'm
absolutely worn to a frazzle. 2 a thoroughly burnt condi-
tion: He forgot about the food he was frying, and it got burnt
to a frazzle. —frazzled adj
FRB, the /ˌef ɑː ˈbiː/ abbrev. for FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
FRCM /ˌef ɑː ˈsiː ˈem/ abbrev. for Fellow of the Royal
College of Music (in the UK)
FRCP /ˌef ɑː ˈsiː ˈpiː/ abbrev. for Fellow of the Royal
College of Physicians (in the UK)
FRCS /ˌef ɑː ˈsiː ˈes/ abbrev. for Fellow of the Royal
College of Surgeons (in the UK)
FRCVS /ˌef ɑː ˈsiː ˈviː ˈes/ abbrev. for Fellow of the Royal
College of Veterinary Surgeons (in the UK)
freak¹ /fri:k/ n 1 a living creature of unnatural form: One of
the new lambs is a freak; it was born with two tails. | This
dwarf tree is a freak of nature. 2 a strange unexpected
happening: By some strange freak, a little snow fell in the
middle of the summer. 3 infl a person with rather strange
habits, ideas, or appearance: He looks a real freak in his pink
trousers and orange shirt. 4 infl a person who takes a very
strong interest in the stated thing; FAN: a film freak -> see
also CONTROL FREAK
freak² adj [A] very unusual and unexpected: freak weather
conditions, with snow falling in the middle of summer | a
freak storm | a freak result
freak³ v [I] infl to become frightened or anxious very
suddenly: Dad freaked when he saw my new boyfriend.
freak out phr v [I;T (= freak sbdy. <-> out)] infl to (cause to)
become greatly excited or anxious, especially because of
drugs
freak-ish /'fri:kɪʃ/ adj unusual; unreasonable; strange: Her
behaviour's becoming so freakish that I wonder if she's going
mad. | a freakish hairstyle —ly adv —ness n [U]
freck-le /'frekəl/ n [usually pl.] a small flat brown spot on the
skin: When she lies in the sun, her face gets covered in freckles.
-> compare MOLE² —led adj: a freckled nose
Fred Per-ry /ˌfred ˈperi/ trademark a BRAND (=type) of British
sports clothes, especially clothes for playing TENNIS
-free -> see WORD FORMATION TABLE
free¹ /fri:/ adj 1 able to act as one wants; not in prison or
under anyone's control: This is a free country. (=the state
does not control everything) | [F+to-v] You are free to (=you
may) go anywhere you wish. | Do feel free to ask questions. |
They agreed to set all their prisoners free. 2 not limited in
any way, especially by rule or custom: He gave me free access
to his valuable collection of scientific books. (=let me use
them whenever I wanted) | It's a very free translation. (=one
in which the meaning is translated without giving an exact
translation of every single word) | The people won the right to
free speech and a free press. (=they could express ideas and
judgments in public and in the newspapers) | Their quarrel
developed into a free fight. (=everyone joined in) 3 [no comp.]
without payment of any kind; costing nothing; given away:
He gave me two free tickets for the concert. | a free gift | 'Are the
drinks free?' 'No, you have to pay for them.' | [after n] The goods
will be sent to you postage free. (=with no charge added on for
posting) | She lives there rent free. 4 [no comp.] not busy;
without work or duty; having time to give attention to
someone or something: He has very little free time during the
week. | She gets a free afternoon once a week. | The doctor will
be free in ten minutes' time; can you wait that long? -> see
also FREE PERIOD 5 [no comp.] not being used; empty; not
kept for or promised to anyone: Is this seat free? | I was late
because I couldn't find a free parking space. | She picked it up
with her free hand. | (fig.) I'll try and phone you back when I've
got my hands free. (=when I am not busy) 6 (of a way or
passage) open; not blocked: The way is free; we can make our
escape now. | Ice sometimes prevents the free passage of ships
in the winter. 7 [no comp.] not fixed onto anything; not set in
position; loose: The free end of the flag has been torn by the
wind. 8 [F+from, of] without (someone or something
unwanted); safe from; untroubled or unspoilt by: The old
lady is never free from/of pain. | Keep the surface free from/of
dirt by putting a cover over it. | Meals will be provided free of
charge. (=for no money) | She's been nothing but a nuisance;
I'll be glad to be free of her when she leaves next week. | All
our food products are completely free of artificial flavourings
and colourings. | (in comb.) trouble-free | duty-free 9 (especially