fry

¹

[ frahy ]

verb (used with object)

fried, frying.

1. to cook in a pan or on a griddle over direct heat, usually in fat or oil.
2. Slang. to execute by electrocution in an electric chair.

verb (used without object)

fried, frying.

1. to undergo cooking in fat or oil.
2. Slang. to die by electrocution in an electric chair.

noun

plural fries.

1. a dish of something fried.
2. a piece of french-fried potato.
3. a party or gathering at which the chief food is fried, frequently outdoors:

   a fish fry.

fry

²

[ frahy ]

noun

plural fry fry or fries

1. a young fish:

   a salmon fry.

2. a young animal of certain other kinds, as frogs and oysters.
3. a person, especially a young or unimportant one:

   The prime minister had to bank on the cooperation of lesser fry.

Fry

³

[ frahy ]

noun

1. Christopher, 1907–2005, English playwright.

Fry

¹

/ fraɪ /

noun

1. FryChristopher19072005MEnglishTHEATRE: dramatist Christopher . 1907–2005, English dramatist; author of the verse dramas A Phoenix Too Frequent (1946), The Lady's Not For Burning (1948), and Venus Observed (1950)
2. FryElizabeth17801845FEnglishPOLITICS: prison reformerRELIGION: Quaker Elizabeth . 1780–1845, English prison reformer and Quaker
3. FryRoger Eliot18661934MEnglishARTS AND CRAFTS: criticARTS AND CRAFTS: painter Roger Eliot . 1866–1934, English art critic and painter who helped to introduce the postimpressionists to Britain. His books include Vision and Design (1920) and Cézanne (1927)
4. FryStephen (John)1957MBritishWRITING: writerTHEATRE: actorTHEATRE: comedian Stephen ( John ). born 1957, British writer, actor, and comedian; his novels include The Liar (1991) and The Stars' Tennis Balls (2000)

fry

²

/ fraɪ /

verb

1. whentr, sometimes foll by up to cook or be cooked in fat, oil, etc, usually over direct heat
2. informal.
   intr to be excessively hot
3. slang.
   to kill or be killed by electrocution, esp in the electric chair

noun

1. a dish of something fried, esp the offal of a specified animal

   pig's fry

2. a social occasion, often outdoors, at which the chief food is fried
3. informal.
   the act of preparing a mixed fried dish or the dish itself

fry

³

/ fraɪ /

plural noun

1. the young of various species of fish
2. the young of certain other animals, such as frogs
3. young children See also small fry

Other Word Forms

• frya·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fry¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; 1925–30 fry ¹fordef 2; Middle English frien, from Anglo-French, Old French frire, from Latin frīgere “to roast”

Origin of fry²

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English frie, fry “seed, descendant,” perhaps from Old Norse frjō “seed”; cognate with Swedish frö, Gothic fraiw “seed”

Word History and Origins

Origin of fry¹

C13: from Old French frire , from Latin frīgere to roast, fry

Origin of fry²

C14 (in the sense: young, offspring): perhaps via Norman French from Old French freier to spawn, rub, from Latin fricāre to rub

Example Sentences

The squishy Amoroso’s roll is packed with finely shaved Black Angus beef, fried onions and melted American cheese — though mushrooms and halal chicken are also available as fillings.

From Los Angeles Times

For this salad, I cut the halloumi into planks, air fry it, then quarter it.

From Salon

The sit-down dinner consisted, brilliantly, of cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets with caviar, truffle fries and Caesar salad, before the ceremony kicked off with remarks from the Fashion Trust U.S. founder Tania Fares and the board.

From Los Angeles Times

After being handed a mock-up of McDonald's Island, featuring chicken nuggets dancing around a skirted Big Mac under french fry palm trees, Johnson rattled off a rapid-fire series of self-referential jokes about the show's history.

From Salon

I have a special place in my heart for home cooked fried okra.

From Salon

Related Words

• sauté