I. ˈfat adjective
( fat·ter ; fat·test )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fǣtt, past participle of fǣtan to cram; akin to Old High German feizit fat
Date: before 12th century
1. : notable for having an unusual amount of fat:
a. : plump
b. : obese
c. of a meat animal : fattened for market
d. of food : oily , greasy
2.
a. : well filled out : thick , big
a fat book
b. : full in tone and quality : rich
a gorgeous fat bass voice — Irish Digest
c. : well stocked
a fat larder
d. : prosperous , wealthy
grew fat on the war — Time
e. : being substantial and impressive
a fat bank account
3.
a. : richly rewarding or profitable
a fat part in a movie
a fat contract
b. : practically nonexistent
a fat chance
4. : productive , fertile
a fat year for crops
5. : stupid , foolish
6. : being swollen
got a fat lip from the fight
7. of a baseball pitch : easy to hit
• fat·ness noun
II. transitive verb
( fat·ted ; fat·ting )
Date: before 12th century
: to make fat : fatten
III. noun
Date: 14th century
1. : animal tissue consisting chiefly of cells distended with greasy or oily matter
2.
a. : oily or greasy matter making up the bulk of adipose tissue and often abundant in seeds
b. : any of various compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that are glycerides of fatty acids, are the chief constituents of plant and animal fat, are a major class of energy-rich food, and are soluble in organic solvents but not in water
c. : a solid or semisolid fat as distinguished from an oil
3. : the best or richest part
4. : obesity
5. : something in excess : superfluity
trim the fat from the news operation — Ray Olson
• fat·less -ləs adjective