n., adj., & v.
--n.
1. a natural oily or greasy substance occurring esp. in animal bodies.
2 the part of anything containing this.
3 excessive presence of fat in a person or animal; corpulence.
4 Chem. any of a group of natural esters of glycerol and various fatty acids existing as solids at room temperature.
--adj. (fatter, fattest)
1. (of a person or animal) having excessive fat; corpulent.
2 (of an animal) made plump for slaughter; fatted.
3 containing much fat.
4 greasy, oily, unctuous.
5 (of land or resources) fertile, rich; yielding abundantly.
6 a thick, substantial in content (a fat book). b substantial as an asset or opportunity (a fat cheque; was given a fat part in the play).
7 a (of coal) bituminous. b (of clay etc.) sticky.
8 colloq. iron. very little; not much (a fat chance; a fat lot).
--v.tr. & intr. (fatted, fatting) make or become fat.
Phrases and idioms:
fat cat sl.
1. US a wealthy person, esp. as a benefactor.
2 Austral. a highly paid executive or official. fat-head colloq. a stupid person. fat-headed stupid. fat-headedness stupidity. fat hen the white goosefoot, Chenopodium album. the fat is in the fire trouble is imminent. kill the fatted calf celebrate, esp. at a prodigal's return (Luke 15). live off (or on) the fat of the land have the best of everything.
Derivatives:
fatless adj. fatly adv. fatness n. fattish adj.
Etymology: OE f{aelig}t (adj.), f{aelig}ttian (v.) f. Gmc