I. ˈfȯg, ˈfäg noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English fogge, fog rank grass, winter grass, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian fogg tall, worthless grass, Old Norse fugga mold, fūll rotten — more at foul
1. dialect
a. : dead or decaying grass on land in the winter
b. : a second growth of grass : aftermath
2. dialect
a. : moss
b. : velvet grass
II. verb
( fogged ; fogged ; fogging ; fogs )
transitive verb
1. Britain
a. : to pasture (animals) on fog
b. : to feed (cattle) with fog
2. dialect : to leave (land) under fog
intransitive verb
dialect : to become overgrown with fog
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Shetland Norse fjog, fjug thin layer of cloud, dust, Danish fog spray, shower, driving rain, Old Norse fjūk snowstorm, fjūka to be driven by the wind (used of snow), to snow violently; akin to Middle High German fochen to blow, Latin pussula, pustula blister, pimple, Greek physan to blow, inflate, pygē buttocks, Sanskrit puṣyati he thrives, flourishes, nourishes, promotes; basic meaning: blowing, inflating
1. : vapor condensed to fine particles of water suspended in the lower atmosphere that differs from cloud only in being near the ground and is sometimes distinguished from mist in being less transparent
2.
a. : a murky or thick condition of the atmosphere
b. : a substance so diffused as to lessen the transparency of the atmosphere
c. : a suspension of fine droplets in a gas
tar fog in manufactured gas
3.
a. : a fine spray of water or foam discharged from a fog nozzle used in fire fighting
b. : a fine spray of any substance (as an insecticide)
4. : a state of mental confusion, uncertainty, or obscurity : bewilderment
I am in a complete fog as to what to do next
the subject is wrapped in fogs of vague thinking — H.A.Overstreet
5. or fog blue
a. : a variable color averaging a grayish blue that is redder and paler than electric, greener and paler than copenhagen, and redder, lighter, and stronger than Gobelin
b. : a nearly neutral slightly bluish light gray
6. : a general or local density in a developed photographic image that is not associated with the image-forming exposure and is caused by chemical action or stray radiation
IV. verb
( fogged ; fogged ; fogging ; fogs )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cover or envelop with or as if with fog
a fogged landscape
b. : to obscure (as a view) with or as if with fog
a heavy smoke fogged our view of the city
— often used with up
the smoke fogged up the road ahead
c. : to make blurred
his eyes were still fogged with sleep
d. : to make fogbound — often used with in
the airport was fogged in for two days
e. : to cover or treat with a substance (as insecticide or pesticide) in the form of spray
thoroughly fogged the area with insecticide
2. : to make obscure or confusing to the intelligence or understanding
fog an issue with too much talk
a text fogged by generalities
— often used with up
the issue was fogged up during the debate
3. : to make confused (as a person or the mind)
fogged by the examination
arguments that only fog the understanding
4. dialect : drive , chase
5. : to blur (a field of vision) with lenses that prevent a sharp focus in order to relax accommodation before testing vision
6. : to produce fog on (a photographic film or plate) during development
intransitive verb
1. : to become covered or thick with fog — often used with up
the pilot could not return because the airfield had fogged up behind him
2.
a. : to become blurred or beclouded by a covering of fog or mist
his glasses fogged when he entered the warm room
— often used with up
the mirror fogged up with the steam
b. : to become indistinct through exposure to light or radiation
3. chiefly West : rush , hurry , run , gallop
cattle came fogging down the road
4. Britain : to put fog signals in place on a railway line
Synonyms: see obscure