/ feɪnt; NAmE / adjective , verb , noun
■ adjective ( faint·er , faint·est )
1.
that cannot be clearly seen, heard or smelt :
a faint glow / glimmer / light
a faint smell of perfume
We could hear their voices growing fainter as they walked down the road.
His breathing became faint.
2.
very small; possible but unlikely
SYN slight :
There is still a faint hope that she may be cured.
They don't have the faintest chance of winning.
3.
not enthusiastic :
a faint show of resistance
a faint smile
4.
[ not before noun ] feeling weak and tired and likely to become unconscious :
She suddenly felt faint.
The walkers were faint from hunger.
► faint·ly adverb :
She smiled faintly.
He looked faintly embarrassed.
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IDIOMS
- not have the faintest (idea)
—more at damn verb
■ verb
[ v ] to become unconscious when not enough blood is going to your brain, usually because of the heat, a shock, etc.
SYN pass out :
to faint from hunger
Suddenly the woman in front of me fainted.
( informal )
I almost fainted (= I was very surprised) when she told me.
■ noun
[ sing. ] the state of becoming unconscious :
He fell to the ground in a dead faint.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the sense feigned , also feeble, cowardly , surviving in faint-hearted ): from Old French faint , past participle of faindre , from Latin fingere mould, contrive. Compare with feint .