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fetish
ferret sthg. <=> out phr v [T] infml to discover (something) by searching: At last I managed to ferret out the truth.
Fer-ri-er, Kath-leen /'fɛrɪər, 'kæθli:n/ (1912-53) a British singer of OPERA and CLASSICAL music, known for her beautiful CONTRALTO voice
ferr-is wheel /'fɛrɪs ˌwi:l/ n especially AmE for BIG WHEEL
fer-ro-con-crete /ˌfɛrəʊ'kɒŋkri:t||-'ka:ŋ-, -ka:ŋ'kri:t/ n [U] REINFORCED CONCRETE
fer-rous /'fɛrəs/ adj tech related to or containing iron: ferrous metals
fer-rule /'fɛru:l, 'fɛrəl||'fɛrəl/ n a metal band or cap that is put on the end of a thin stick or tube
fer-ry¹ /'fɛri/ also fer-ry-boat /'fɛrɪbəʊt/ n a boat that goes across a river or any other especially narrow stretch of water, carrying people and things: You can cross the river by ferry. | a car ferry | When does the next ferry leave?
ferry² v [T+obj+adv/prep] to carry (as if) on a ferry: The boatman ferried them across the river. | Every day I ferry the children to and from school in my car.
fer-ry-man /'fɛrɪmən/ n pl. -men /mən/ a person who guides a ferry across water
fer-tile /'fɜ:taɪl||'fɜ:rɪtl/ adj 1 producing many young fruits or seeds: Some fish are very fertile: they lay thousands of eggs. 2 (of land) which produces or can produce good crops: fertile soil 3 [no comp.] (of living things) able to produce young or fruit: Are these eggs fertile? 4 (of a person's mind) inventive; full of suggestions, ideas etc: a fertile imagination -> opposite INFERTILE; compare BARREN, STERILE —tility /fɜ:'tɪlɪti||fɜ:r-/ n [U]: Margaret wants a child so she's taking special drugs to increase her fertility. | a fertility symbol
Fertile 'Crescent, the an area in the MIDDLE EAST in the shape of a CRESCENT (=a curved shape) from Israel to the GULF, including the land around the rivers TIGRIS and EUPHRATES. Several important ancient CIVILIZATIONS were based there, such as the ASSYRIAN and SUMERIAN civilizations. -> see also BABYLON, MESOPOTAMIA
fer-ti-lize also -lise BrE /'fɜ:tɪlaɪz||'fɜ:rɪtl-aɪz/ v [T] 1 to start the development of young (in a female creature or plant) by sexual or other means: Bees fertilize the flowers. 2 to put fertilizer on (land) -> see also CROSS-FERTILIZE —lization /ˌfɜ:tɪlaɪ'zeɪʃn||ˌfɜ:rɪtlə-/ n [U] Keep the eggs in a warm place after fertilization.
fer-ti-liz-er /'fɜ:tɪlaɪzər||'fɜ:rɪtl-aɪzər/ n [C,U] a natural or chemical substance that is put on the land to make crops grow better: Animal manure makes a good fertilizer. | artificial fertilizers
fer-vent /'fɜ:vənt||'fɜ:r-/ adj being, having, or showing deep sincere feelings: a fervent desire to win | a fervent nationalist —ly adv: He fervently begged us not to go. —vency n [U]
fer-vid /'fɜ:vɪd||'fɜ:r-/ adj fml showing too strong feeling: his fervid support for capital punishment —ly adv
fer-vour BrE || fervor AmE /'fɜ:və||'fɜ:r-/ n [U] the quality of being fervent or fervid; ZEAL: religious/revolutionary fervour
fess /fes/
fess up phr v [I(to)] infml to admit guilt or responsibility; CONFESS: He fessed up to breaking the window when I told him insurance would cover it. | Come on, fess up! Who ate the last cookie?
fest /fest/ n a beer/song/food etc fest an informal occasion when a lot of people do a fun activity together, such as drinking beer, singing songs, or eating food
fes-ter /'festər/ v [I] (of a cut or wound) to become infected and diseased: (fig.) The memory of the insult continued to fester daily, until he could think of nothing else.
fes-ti-val /'festɪvəl/ n 1 a special occasion, especially in memory of a religious event, marked by public enjoyment, religious ceremonies etc: Christmas is one of the festivals of the Christian church. -> see also HARVEST FESTIVAL 2 (often cap.) a group of especially musical or theatrical performances held usually regularly in a particular place: the Cannes Film Festival | the Edinburgh Festival | a pop festival
CULTURAL NOTE In Britain and the United States, many different types of festival are organized for different branches of the arts, including music, theatre, comedy,
film, and literature. Some of the most well-known music festivals held in Britain are: Glastonbury (mainly rock music), the Cambridge Folk Festival, and the Brecon Jazz Festival. Festivals of classical music include the Proms held every summer at the Albert Hall in London, the Aldeburgh Festival in Suffolk, and the Glyndebourne Festival in East Sussex where OPERAS are performed. In Wales, music and poetry competitions called EISTEDDFODS are held every year. Plays, music, and other types of entertainment are performed at the Edinburgh Festival every summer. Part of this festival is called the Edinburgh Fringe, and it is known especially for performances of ALTERNATIVE COMEDY.
,Festival 'Hall, the also the Royal Festival Hall a large concert hall used especially for performances of CLASSICAL music which is part of the SOUTH BANK centre, on the southern side of the River Thames in London
,Festival of 'Britain, the a set of events held all over Britain between May and September, 1951. The events were meant to celebrate British art, design, and industry, and to make people feel happier after the Second World War. Special buildings were built near Waterloo, on the South Bank of the Thames in London, so that EXHIBITIONS (=special shows) could be held there.
,Festival of ,Nine ,Lessons and 'Carols n a service held just before Christmas in some Christian churches containing readings from the Bible and Christmas CAROLS -> see also CAROL SERVICE
fes-tive /'festɪv/ adj of or suitable for a FESTIVAL: The Christmas period is often called the festive season. | (lit or humor) They all sat round the festive board. (=table spread with a FEAST) | a festive occasion
fes-tiv-i-ty /fe'stɪvɪti/ n [U] 1 happiness and festive activity 2 also festivities pl. a festive event: Come next door and join the festivities. | Christmas festivities
fes-toon¹ /fe'stu:n/ n a chain of flowers, leaves, RIBBONS etc, hung up in a curve between two points as a decoration
festoon² v [T(with)] to decorate with festoons: The hall was festooned with flowers.
fet-a /'fetə/ n [U] a kind of white salty cheese made from sheep's or goat's milk
fe-tal /'fi:tl/ adj AmE foetal (FOETUS)
fetch¹ /fetʃ/ v [T] 1 to go and get from another place and bring back: Run and fetch the doctor! | [+obj[)+obj[(d)] Could you fetch me a clean shirt from my bedroom? 2 to be sold for: The house should fetch a high price/at least £80,000. 3 [+obj[)+obj[(d)] especially BrE infml to strike with (a blow, kick etc): I fetched him a clip round the ear. 4 rare to breathe (especially a deep breath or SIGH) 5 fetch and carry (for) to do small jobs (for someone), as if one was a servant: You can't expect me to fetch and carry for you all day! -> see BRING (USAGE)
fetch up phr v [I+adv/prep] BrE infml to arrive; end up, especially without planning: I fell asleep on the train and fetched up in Glasgow.
fetch² n play fetch to play with a dog by throwing a stick for the dog to bring back to you
fetch-ing /'fetʃɪ/ adj old-fash infml attractive or pleasing in appearance: a fetching outfit —ly adv
fete¹, fête /feɪt, fet/ n 1 BrE a day of public enjoyment and entertainment, held usually out of doors in villages in summer. Often money is collected for a special purpose by selling cakes, JAM, HOMEMADE woollen clothes etc and by providing tea, and games for the children: Our village is holding a fete to raise money for the building of the new hall. 2 AmE a celebration or entertainment: Prom Night is the fete of the year for high school students.
fete², fête v [T usually pass.] to show honour to (someone) with public parties and ceremonies: After it won the cup, the local football team was feted everywhere it went.
fe-tid /'fi:tɪd||'fetɪd/ adj smelling extremely bad; FOUL: the fetid odour of the decomposing corpses
fet-ish /'fetɪʃ, 'fi:-/ n 1 an object that is worshipped as a god by people in some undeveloped societies, and is thought to have magic power 2 something to which one pays an unreasonable amount of attention or which one admires to a foolish degree: Make sure you clean your room