/ freʃ; NAmE / adjective , adverb
■ adjective
( fresh·er , fresh·est )
FOOD
1.
( usually of food ) recently produced or picked and not frozen, dried or preserved in tins or cans :
Is this milk fresh?
fresh bread / flowers
Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
vegetables fresh from the garden
Our chefs use only the freshest produce available.
NEW
2.
made or experienced recently :
fresh tracks in the snow
Let me write it down while it's still fresh in my mind .
3.
[ usually before noun ] new or different in a way that adds to or replaces sth :
fresh evidence
I think it's time we tried a fresh approach.
a fresh coat of paint
Could we order some fresh coffee?
This is the opportunity he needs to make a fresh start (= to try sth new after not being successful at sth else) .
CLEAN / COOL
4.
[ usually before noun ] pleasantly clean, pure or cool :
a toothpaste that leaves a nice fresh taste in your mouth
Let's go and get some fresh air (= go outside where the air is cooler) .
WATER
5.
[ usually before noun ] containing no salt :
There is a shortage of fresh water on the island.
—see also freshwater
WEATHER
6.
( BrE ) quite cold with some wind :
It's fresh this morning, isn't it?
7.
( of the wind ) quite strong and cold
SYN brisk :
a fresh breeze
CLEAR / BRIGHT
8.
looking clear, bright and attractive :
He looked fresh and neat in a clean white shirt.
a collection of summer dresses in fresh colours
a fresh complexion
FULL OF ENERGY
9.
[ not usually before noun ] full of energy :
Regular exercise will help you feel fresher and fitter.
I managed to sleep on the plane and arrived feeling as fresh as a daisy .
JUST FINISHED
10.
fresh from sth having just come from a particular place; having just had a particular experience :
students fresh from college
fresh from her success at the Olympic Games
RUDE / CONFIDENT
11.
[ not before noun ] fresh (with sb) ( informal ) rude and too confident in a way that shows a lack of respect for sb or a sexual interest in sb :
Don't get fresh with me!
► fresh·ness noun [ U ]:
We guarantee the freshness of all our produce.
the cool freshness of the water
I like the freshness of his approach to the problem.
•
IDIOMS
see blood , breath , heart
■ adverb
•
IDIOMS
- fresh out of sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English fersc not salt, fit for drinking , superseded in Middle English by forms from Old French freis , fresche ; both ultimately of Germanic origin and related to Dutch vers and German frisch .