I. ˈfu̇l adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English ful, full, from Old English full; akin to Old High German fol full, Old Norse fullr, Gothic fulls, Latin plenus full, plēre to fill, Greek plērēs full, plēthein to be full, Sanskrit pūrṇa full
1.
a. : containing all that possibly can be placed or put within
a full hamper
a full magazine
— often used with of
a bin full of corn
b. : having the normal or intended capacity supplied or accommodated : entirely occupied
a full bus
a full house
c. : occupying completely the requisite space
a full cargo
a full audience
d. : possessed of the appropriate or normal complement
a full dramatic company
a full jury
e. : regularly allotted : normally apportioned
more than its full share of lovely old American houses — Jerome Weidman
f. of an ablaut grade : normal
2.
a.
(1) : lacking restraint or check : precipitous , headlong
full retreat
(2) : being without reservation : unqualified
full supporters of a policy
b. : possessing the maximum strength or force
a full gale
c.
(1) : followed to the greatest extent feasible : all possible
making full use of a library's resources
(2) : greatest or highest potential
a ship going at full speed
a machine operating at full capacity
(3) : being at or of the greatest or highest degree : maximum
full strength
full potency
3.
a. : rounded in outline
a full face
: well filled out : plump
a full figure
: generously formed : swelling
full lips
b.
(1) : filled or distended by wind
full sails
(2) of a ship : having the sails filled with wind
c. : big with young or eggs
d. : having an abundance of material especially in the form of gathered, pleated, or flared parts
a full skirt
e.
(1) : slightly oversize, projecting, or standing out usually so as to require more tooling
(2) : risen above the normal level : swollen
in spring when the rivers and streams are full
4.
a. : possessing, containing, or furnished with an abundance or great number — used with of
a face full of wrinkles
a city full of soldiers
a room full of pictures
b. : possessing all particulars : completely familiar or expert — used with of
he is full of his subject and our foremost authority — W.O.Douglas
c. : packed with variety of experience
a full life
also : possessing much knowledge
education having made him a full man
5.
a. : satisfied especially with food or drink : replete
b. : large enough so as to satisfy
a full meal
6.
a.
(1) : enjoying or possessed of all recognized or authorized prerogatives, rights, and privileges : not temporary, substitute, or provisional
a full member
(2) : being without reduction or subtraction : regular
working only half time but drawing full salary
maintaining full diplomatic relations with a foreign country
a full term of office
(3) : being without truncation : unabbreviated
full words
b.
(1) : containing all details : complete
a full statement
a full report
(2) : not lacking in any feature, quality, or accomplishment : perfect
quite old but in full possession of his faculties
7. archaic : completely weary : utterly sick — used with of
8. : filled with emotion
a full heart
9.
a. : having the limit or near limit — used with of
a man weary and full of years
b.
(1) : being at the height of development
a flower in full bloom
the tide at full flood
a moon nearly full
(2) : mature , adult
men and women of full age
10. : having the same parents
full sisters
11. of a color : pure
12.
a. : carried to the greatest practical extent
a shotgun with a full choke
b. : extended to or occupying the largest possible space, area, or dimensions
a full basement
c. : completely covering the boards and backbone
a book bound in full crushed blue morocco with gilt edges and blind tooling
— compare half
13.
a. : having marked volume or depth
a full voice
a full tone
b. of a vowel : back 1c
14.
a. : squarely facing ahead
a full -face portrait
b. : being in dead center : direct
a cue ball making a full hit on the object ball
15. : completely occupied : engrossed — used with of
I have been full of work since I wrote last — H.J.Laski
16. : being the rank of the three of a kind in a full house in poker — used postpositively
jacks full
17. : possessing a rich or pronounced quality
a wine of full body
a food of full flavor
II. adverb
Etymology: Middle English ful, full, from Old English full, from full, adjective
1.
a. : very , extremely
I knew full well he had lied to me
b. : entirely , completely , quite
it was full dark by then — A.J.Liebling
swung full around — Morley Callaghan
2. : to the full : to the utmost extent : to the highest degree, state, or condition
the sun was full on the suburb — Herbert Gold
3.
a. of a position : exactly
full in the center of the sacred wood — Joseph Addison
b. of a direction : straight , squarely
the blow hit him full in the face
he turned and looked full at me — Nigel Balchin
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English fulle, from Old English fulla, from full, adjective
1.
a. : the utmost extent
enjoy a book to the full
b. : the highest or fullest state, condition, or degree
the full of the moon
the full of the tide
when the moon is at full
2. : a satiating or glutting share or portion — often used with the possessive adjective
had his full of that job
3. : the requisite or complete amount — often used with in
paid in full
4. Britain : beach ridge
5. : full house
IV. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English fullen to become full, fill, from ful, full, adjective — more at full I
intransitive verb
of the moon : to become full
transitive verb
1. : to make full in sewing especially by gathering or pleating
2. : to distribute (fullness) by fitting a longer edge to a shorter edge smoothly in sewing — often used with on
V. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English fullen, from Middle French fouler, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin fullare, from Latin fullo fuller; perhaps akin to Sanskrit bhāla luster — more at bald
: to shrink and thicken (woolen cloth) by fulling