full

¹

[ fool ]

adjective

, full·er, full·est.

1. completely filled; containing all that can be held; filled to utmost capacity:

   a full cup.

2. unable to consume more food or drink; physically satisfied by what one has eaten or drunk:

   too full to eat another bite;

   feeling full after a big breakfast.

3. complete; entire; maximum:

   a full supply of food for a three-day hike.

4. of the maximum size, amount, extent, volume, etc.:

   a full load of five tons;

   to receive full pay.

5. (of garments, drapery, etc.) wide, ample, or having ample folds.
6. abundant; well-supplied:

   a yard full of litter;

   a cabinet full of medicine.

7. filled or rounded out, as in form:

   a full figure.

8. engrossed; occupied (usually followed by of ):

   She was full of her own anxieties.

9. of the same parents:

   They are full brothers, but have a much younger half sister.

10. Music. ample and complete in volume or richness of sound.
11. (especially of wine, beer, or coffee) having considerable body and flavor:

    It's a lovely brew, exceptionally dark and full.

12. Baseball.
    1. (of the count on a batter) amounting to three balls and two strikes:

       He hit a slider for a homer on a full count.

    2. (of the bases) having base runners at each; loaded:

       The bases were full and nobody was out.

13. being slightly oversized, as a sheet of glass cut too large to fit into a frame.
14. Poker. of or relating to the three cards of the same denomination in a full house:

    He won the hand with a pair of kings and sixes full.

adverb

1. exactly or directly:

   The blow struck him full in the face.

2. very:

   You know full well what I mean.

3. fully, completely, or entirely; quite; at least:

   The blow knocked him full around.

   It happened full 30 years ago.

verb (used with object)

1. Sewing.
   1. to make full, as by gathering or pleating.
   2. to bring (the cloth) on one side of a seam to a little greater fullness than on the other by gathering or tucking very slightly.

verb (used without object)

1. (of the moon) to become full.

noun

1. the highest or fullest state, condition, or degree:

   The moon is at the full.

2. Baseball. a full count:

   Yellich has taken it to full in all four of his at-bats.

full

²

[ fool ]

verb (used with object)

1. to cleanse and thicken (cloth) by special processes in manufacture.

verb (used without object)

1. (of cloth) to become compacted or felted.

full

¹

/ fʊl /

verb

1. (of cloth, yarn, etc) to become or to make (cloth, yarn, etc) heavier and more compact during manufacture through shrinking and beating or pressing

full

²

/ fʊl /

adjective

1. holding or containing as much as possible; filled to capacity or near capacity
2. abundant in supply, quantity, number, etc

   full of energy

3. having consumed enough food or drink
4. (esp of the face or figure) rounded or plump; not thin
5. prenominal with no part lacking; complete

   a full dozen

6. prenominal with all privileges, rights, etc; not restricted

   a full member

7. prenominal of, relating to, or designating a relationship established by descent from the same parents

   full brother

8. filled with emotion or sentiment

   a full heart

9. postpositivefoll byof occupied or engrossed (with)

   full of his own projects

10. music
    1. powerful or rich in volume and sound
    2. completing a piece or section; concluding

       a full close

11. (of a garment, esp a skirt) containing a large amount of fabric; of ample cut
12. (of sails, etc) distended by wind
13. (of wine, such as a burgundy) having a heavy body
14. (of a colour) containing a large quantity of pure hue as opposed to white or grey; rich; saturated
15. informal.
    drunk
16. See close-hauled
    full and by
    full and by nautical another term for close-hauled
17. full of oneself
    full of oneself full of pride or conceit; egoistic
18. full up
    full up filled to capacity

    the cinema was full up

19. in full cry
    in full cry (esp of a pack of hounds) in hot pursuit of quarry
20. in full swing
    in full swing at the height of activity

    the party was in full swing

adverb

1. 1. completely; entirely
   2. ( in combination )

      full-fledged

      full-grown

2. exactly; directly; right

   he hit him full in the stomach

3. very; extremely (esp in the phrase full well )
4. full out
   full out with maximum effort or speed

noun

1. the greatest degree, extent, etc
2. a ridge of sand or shingle along a seashore
3. in full
   in full without omitting, decreasing, or shortening

   we paid in full for our mistake

4. to the full
   to the full to the greatest extent; thoroughly; fully

verb

1. tr needlework to gather or tuck
2. intr (of the moon) to be fully illuminated

Derived Forms

• ˈfullness, noun

Other Words From

• full·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of full¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English full, ful; cognate with Gothic fulls, Old Norse fullr, Old High German foll ( German voll ); akin to Latin plēnus, Greek plḗrēs, Slavic ( Polish ) peƚny, Lithuanian pìlnas, Sanskrit pūrṇa-

Origin of full²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fullen; back formation from fuller ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of full¹

C14: from Old French fouler , ultimately from Latin fullō a fuller ¹

Origin of full²

Old English; related to Old Norse fullr , Old High German foll , Latin plēnus, Greek plērēs ; see fill

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in full,
   1. to or for the full or required amount.
   2. without abridgment:

      The book was reprinted in full.

2. to the full, to the greatest extent; thoroughly:

   They enjoyed themselves to the full.

More idioms and phrases containing full

• glass is half full
• have one's hands full
• in full swing
• to the full
• fill

Example Sentences

To put it rather uncharitably, the USPHS practiced a major dental experiment on a city full of unconsenting subjects.

From The Daily Beast

Could the (thus far) timid trembling give way to a full-on, grand mal seizure?

From The Daily Beast

So we know that boring down to the bedrock and pumping it full of fluid can cause earthquakes.

From The Daily Beast

It used to carry livestock but sailed its final voyage with a hold full of Syrian men, women, and children.

From The Daily Beast

Whether he gets his full due in popular culture remains to be seen.

From The Daily Beast

It ended on a complaint that she was 'tired rather and spending my time at full length on a deck-chair in the garden.'

From Project Gutenberg

As long as may be necessary, Sam,” replied Mr. Pickwick, “you have my full permission to remain.

From Project Gutenberg

It is full of poetic feeling, and the flesh tints are unusually natural.

From Project Gutenberg

A small book, bound in full purple calf, lay half hidden in a nest of fine tissue paper on the dressing-table.

From Project Gutenberg

One would not have wanted her white neck a mite less full or her beautiful arms more slender.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• absolute
• adequate
• broad
• complete
• comprehensive
• detailed
• entire
• exhaustive
• extensive
• generous
• maximum
• perfect
• whole