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. 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. fatless adj. fatly adv. fatness n. fattish adj.
[ OE ft (adj.), fttian (v.) f. Gmc ]