First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1fool
noun \ˈfül\
: a person who lacks good sense or judgment : a stupid or silly person
: a person who enjoys something very much
: a dessert made with cooked fruit and cream or a thick sauce
Full Definition of FOOL
1
: a person lacking in judgment or prudence
2
3
a : a harmlessly deranged person or one lacking in common powers of understanding b : one with a marked propensity or fondness for something <a dancing fool> <a fool for candy>
4
: a cold dessert of pureed fruit mixed with whipped cream or custard
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Origin of FOOL
Middle English, from Anglo-French fol, from Late Latin follis, from Latin, bellows, bag; akin to Old High German bolla blister, balg bag — more at belly
Related to FOOL
- Synonyms
- berk [British], booby, charlie (also charley) [British], cuckoo, ding-a-ling, dingbat, ding-dong, dipstick, doofus [slang], featherhead, git [British], goose, half-wit, jackass, lunatic, mooncalf, nincompoop, ninny, ninnyhammer, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, nut, nutcase, simp, simpleton, turkey, yo-yo
- Antonyms
- nonfan
2fool
adjective
Definition of FOOL
See fool defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of FOOL
13th century
Related to FOOL
- Synonyms
- absurd, asinine, balmy, brainless, bubbleheaded, cockeyed, crackpot, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, dippy, dotty, fatuous, featherheaded, foolish, half-baked, harebrained, half-witted, inept, insane, jerky, kooky (also kookie), loony (also looney), lunatic, lunkheaded, mad, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, sappy, screwball, senseless, silly, simpleminded, stupid, tomfool, unwise, wacky (also whacky), weak-minded, witless, zany
3fool
verb
: to speak or act in a way that is not serious
: to make (someone) believe something that is not true : to trick (someone)
Full Definition of FOOL
intransitive verb
1
a : to behave foolishly <told the children to stop their fooling> —often used with around b : to meddle, tamper, or experiment especially thoughtlessly or ignorantly <don't fool with that gun> —often used with around
2
a : to play or improvise a comic role b : to speak in jest : joke <I was only fooling>
3
: to contend or fight without serious intent or with less than full strength : toy <a dangerous man to fool with>
transitive verb
1
: to make a fool of : deceive
2
obsolete : infatuate
3
: to spend on trifles or without advantage : fritter —used with away
See fool defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of FOOL
1593
Related to FOOL
- Synonyms
- bamboozle, beguile, bluff, buffalo, burn, catch, con, cozen, delude, dupe, fake out, deceive, gaff, gammon, gull, have, have on [chiefly British], hoax, hoodwink, hornswoggle, humbug, juggle, misguide, misinform, mislead, snooker, snow, spoof, string along, sucker, suck in, take in, trick
- Antonyms
- undeceive
FOOL Defined for Kids
1fool
noun \ˈfül\
Definition of FOOL for Kids
1
: a person without good sense or judgment
2
: jester
Word History of FOOL
In Latin the word follis meant “bag” or (in the plural form folles) “bellows.” In the late stage of Latin that developed into French, follis also took on the meaning “person without sense,” whose head seemed, like a bag or bellows, to be full of nothing but air. Follis became Old French fol, which was borrowed into English as fol, later spelled fool.
2fool
verb
fooledfool·ing
Definition of FOOL for Kids
1
: to speak or act in a playful way or in fun : joke <We were only fooling.>
2
: 2trick <Don't let them fool you.>
3
: to spend time in an aimless way <We fooled around in the playground before school.>
4
: to play with or handle something carelessly <Don't fool with my science project.>
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