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**fi·bre·board** *BrE* ‖ **fiberboard** *AmE* /'faibəbɔ:d || -bɔ:rd/ *n* [U] board made of wood fibres pressed together
**fi·bre·glass** *BrE* ‖ **fiberglass** *AmE* /'faibəglɑ:s || -bærglæs/ also **glass fibre** *n* [U] material made from glass fibres that is used for making car bodies, small boats, and furnishing materials, and in buildings for keeping out the cold
**,fibre 'optics** *n* [U] the use of very thin glass or plastic fibres to send light signals, especially for carrying telephone signals
**fi·bro·si·tis** /,faibrə'saitis/ *n* [U] a painful RHEUMATIC disorder of the muscles
**fi·brous** /'faibrəs/ *adj* like or made of fibres: *The coconut has a fibrous outer covering.*
**fib·u·la** /'fibjulə/ *n pl.* **-lae** /li:/, **-las** *med* the outer of the two bones in the lower leg
**FICA** /'faikə, ,ef ai si: 'ei/ *abbrev. for* Federal Insurance Contributions Act; in the US, money which is taken from your pay by the government to be used for SOCIAL SECURITY
**fiche** /fi:ʃ/ *n* [C;U] *AmE* for MICROFICHE
**fick·le** /'fikəl/ *adj* likely to change suddenly and without reason, especially in love or friendship; CAPRICIOUS: *a fickle lover* | (fig.) *The weather's so fickle – one moment it's raining, the next the sun's out.* **---ness** *n* [U]
**fic·tion** /'fikʃən/ *n* **1** [U] stories or NOVELS about imaginary people and events, as compared to other sorts of literature like history or poetry: *a writer of popular fiction* | *I prefer light fiction to all those serious novels.* | *They say that truth is stranger than fiction.* $\rightarrow$ compare NONFICTION; see also SCIENCE FICTION **2** [S;U] an invention of the mind; an untrue story: *His account of the crime was (a) complete fiction.*
**fic·tion·al** /'fikʃənəl/ *adj* belonging to fiction; told as a story: *Jules Verne wrote a fictional account of a journey to the moon.* (=wrote about it as an imaginary event) $\rightarrow$ compare FICTITIOUS **---ly** *adv*
**fic·tion·al·ize** also **-ise** *BrE* /'fikʃənəlaiz/ *v* [T] to write about (a true event) as if it were a story, changing some details, introducing imaginary characters etc **---ization** / ,fikʃənəlai'zeiʃən || -lə'n / *n* [S;U,oft]
**fic·ti·tious** /fik'tiʃəs/ *adj* untrue; invented; not real: *She invented a fictitious boyfriend to put him off.* | *His account of the incident was totally fictitious.* $\rightarrow$ compare FICTIONAL **---ly** *adv*
**fid·dle$^1$** /'fidl/ *n infml* **1** [C] *BrE* a dishonest practice: *It's a fiddle – they put different labels on the bottles and sell them at five times the proper price.* | *a tax fiddle* | *They suspected he was on the fiddle.* (=doing dishonest things) **2** [S] an activity that is difficult because it needs delicate use of the fingers: *It's a bit of a fiddle to get all these wires back in the box.* **3** [C] a VIOLIN especially when used in JAZZ or popular music **4 as fit as a fiddle** *infml* very fit and healthy **5 play/be second fiddle (to)** to play/have a less important part (than): *She has never enjoyed playing second fiddle to the chairman.*
**fiddle$^2$** *v infml* **1** [I(AROUND, with)] to move things aimlessly in one's fingers: *Put down that pen and stop fiddling* | *Don't fiddle around with that gun – it might go off!* **2** [T] *BrE* to prepare (accounts) dishonestly to one's own advantage: *He was fined for trying to fiddle his income tax.* **3** [T] *BrE* to gain dishonestly: *He fiddled an extra ten pounds on his expenses claim.* **4** [T] to repair or change slightly **5** [I] to play the VIOLIN **6 fiddle while Rome burns** to concern oneself with small matters while something important is happening (from the story of Nero who played the FIDDLE while the city of Rome was burning): *The government is fiddling while manufacturing industry is burning.* $\rightarrow$ see also NERO **---fiddler** *n*
**fiddle about/around** *phr v* [I] to behave aimlessly or waste time on unimportant matters: *We can't fiddle about here all day; we've got to get going.*
**fiddle with sthg.** *phrv* [T] to touch or move (something that is not one's own): *I don't want you fiddling with my bicycle - leave it alone!*
**fiddle-fad·dle** /'fidl,fædl/ *n* [U] *infml* nonsense: *Don't talk fiddle-faddle.*
**fid·dle·sticks** /'fidl,stiks/ *interj old-fash* Nonsense!
**fid·dling** /'fidliŋ/ *adj* [A] *infml* unimportant and silly; PETTY; TRIVIAL
# Field, The
**fid·dly** /'fidli/ *adj BrE infml* **1** needing delicate use of the fingers: *It's a very fiddly job to get all these wires back into their holes.* **2** fiddling: *I can't be bothered with all these fiddly details.*
**fi·del·i·ty** /fi'deləti/ *n* [U(to)] **1** [(to)] faithfulness; loyalty: *fidelity to one's leader/ideals* **2** loyalty in marriage shown by having a relationship only with one's husband or wife $\rightarrow$ compare INFIDELITY; see also FAITHFUL$^1$ **3** (of something copied or reported) closeness in sound, facts, colour etc to the original; exactness: *the fidelity of a translation/of a sound recording* $\rightarrow$ see also HIGH FIDELITY
**fid·get$^1$** /'fidʒit/ *v infml* **1** [I(with)] to move one's body around restlessly, so that one annoys people: *Stop fidgeting, children; just sit still and listen to the music.* | *I wish you'd stop fidgeting with that box of matches.* **2** [T] to make (someone) nervous and restless: *The dropping tap fidgeted me so much I had to get up and turn it off.*
**fidget$^2$** *n infml* someone, especially a child, who fidgets: *Sit still, you little fidget!*
**fid·gets** /'fidʒits/ *n* [the+P] *infml* an attack of fidgeting: *She's got the fidgets again.*
**fid·get·y** /'fidʒiti/ *adj infml* restless; fidgeting or wanting to fidget
**Fi·do** /'faidəu/ a name that is supposed to be a very common name given to a dog, although there are very few dogs really called Fido
**fie** /fai/ *interj* [(on, upon)] *old use or humor* (expressing disapproval or shock) Shame!: *Fie upon you!*
**Fied·ler, Arthur** /'fi:dlər/ (1894-1979) a US CONDUCTOR (=someone who directs a group of musicians) known especially for being the conductor of the BOSTON POPS for many years
**field$^1$** /fi:ld/ *n* **1** [C] an enclosed area of land, usually part of a farm, used for animals or crops: *fields of corn* | *a field full of sheep* **2** [C] (*usually in comb.*) an open area where **a)** the stated game is played: *a football field* **b)** the stated substance is mined (MINE): *an oilfield* | *the Yorkshire coalfields* **c)** the stated activity is practised: *an airfield* | *a battlefield/field of battle* **d)** the surface is of the stated kind: *a snowfield/field of snow* **3** [C] a branch of knowledge or area of activity: *a lawyer famous in his own field* | *the field of politics/art/Greek history* | *That's outside my field.* (=not my special subject) | *exciting business opportunities in the electronics field* $\rightarrow$ see also **never in the field of human conflict...** (CONFLICT$^1$) **4** [the+S] the place where practical operations happen, as compared to places where they are planned or studied, such as offices, factories, and universities: *She's studying tribal languages in the field.* (=living with the people who speak them) | *Our class is doing a field trip to study animals and plants in the local countryside.* $\rightarrow$ see also FIELD-TEST, FIELDWORK **5** [C] (in PHYSICS) the area in which the stated force is felt: *the moon's gravitational field* **6** [C+sing./pl. v] all the horses in a race **a)** except the FAVOURITE (=the one that is expected to win): *The betting is 9-4 the field.* **b)** including the FAVOURITE: *The rest of the field is/are far behind Red Rum.* **7** [the+S+sing./pl. v] (in cricket or BASEBALL) the team that are fielding (=stopping) the ball rather than hitting it: *The captain brought the field in closer to stop the batsmen taking a quick run.* **8** [C] the part on the surface of a coin or flag that is not the pattern: *Their flag shows a red lion on a white field.* **9** [C] *tech* an area of fixed length within a DATA record set aside for a particular type of information: *The field for the user's name and surname is 25 characters.* **10 take the field a)** to go onto a sports field in order to begin play **b)** to go to war **11 play the field** *infml* to DATE (=go out with) many people of the opposite sex rather than just one: *Don't expect a commitment from him, he likes to play the field.* $\rightarrow$ see also FIELD OF VISION
**field$^2$** *v* **1** [T] (in cricket and BASEBALL) to stop (a ball that has been hit) **2** [I] to be (a member of) the team whose turn it is to do this because they are not batting (BAT): *We'll be fielding in the afternoon.* **3** [T] to produce or have (a team, army etc): *The school fields two football teams.* **4** [T] to answer (a difficult question) cleverly and skilfully: *The Minister had to field some tricky questions from the reporters.*
**Field, The** *trademark* a British magazine which has articles about the countryside, farming, and sports such as POLO and