I. ˈfil verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fyllan; akin to Old English full full
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to put into as much as can be held or conveniently contained
fill a cup with water
b. : to supply with a full complement
the class is fill ed
c.
(1) : to cause to swell or billow
wind fill ed the sails
(2) : to trim (a sail) to catch the wind
d. : to raise the level of with fill
fill ed land
e. : to repair the cavities of (teeth)
f. : to stop up : obstruct
wreckage fill ed the channel
g. : to stop up the interstices, crevices, or pores of (as cloth, wood, or leather) with a foreign substance
2.
a. : feed , satiate
b. : satisfy , fulfill
fill s all requirements
c. : make out , complete — used with out or in
fill out a form
fill in the blanks
d. : to draw the playing cards necessary to complete (as a straight or flush in poker)
3.
a. : to occupy the whole of
smoke fill ed the room
b. : to spread through
music fill ed the air
c. : to make full
a mind fill ed with fantasies
4.
a. : to possess and perform the duties of : hold
fill an office
b. : to place a person in
fill a vacancy
5. : to supply as directed
fill a prescription
6. : to cover the surface of with a layer of precious metal
intransitive verb
: to become full
•
- fill one's shoes
II. noun
Date: before 12th century
1. : a full supply ; especially : a quantity that satisfies or satiates
eat your fill
2. : something that fills: as
a. : material used to fill a receptacle, cavity, passage, or low place
b. : a bit of instrumental music that fills the pauses between phrases (as of a vocalist or soloist)
c. : artificial light used in photography to reduce or eliminate shadows — often used attributively
fill flash