FOG

n. & v. --n. 1 a a thick cloud of water droplets or smoke suspended in the atmosphere at or near the earth's surface restricting or obscuring visibility. b obscurity in the atmosphere caused by this. 2 Photog. cloudiness on a developed negative etc. obscuring the image. 3 an uncertain or confused position or state. --v. (fogged, fogging) 1 tr. a envelop or cover with fog or condensed vapour. b bewilder or confuse as if with a fog. 2 intr. become covered with fog or condensed vapour. 3 tr. Photog. make (a negative etc.) obscure or cloudy. øfog-bank a mass of fog at sea. fog-bound unable to proceed because of fog. fog-bow a manifestation like a rainbow, produced by light on fog. fog-lamp a lamp used to improve visibility in fog. fog-signal a detonator placed on a railway line in fog to warn train drivers. in a fog puzzled; at a loss. [perh. back-form. f. FOGGY]