full (fuller comparative) (fullest superlative )
1 adj If something is full, it contains as much of a substance or as many objects as it can., (Antonym: empty)
Once the container is full, it stays shut until you turn it clockwise., ...a full tank of petrol.
2 adj If a place or thing is full of things or people, it contains a large number of them.
v-link ADJ of n
(=filled)
The case was full of clothes..., The streets are still full of debris from two nights of rioting., ...a useful recipe leaflet full of ideas for using the new cream.
3 adj If someone or something is full of a particular feeling or quality, they have a lot of it.
v-link ADJ of n
I feel full of confidence and so open to possibilities..., Mom's face was full of pain., ...an exquisite mousse, incredibly rich and full of flavour.
4 adj You say that a place or vehicle is full when there is no space left in it for any more people or things.
usu v-link ADJ
The main car park was full when I left about 10.45..., They stay here a few hours before being sent to refugee camps, which are now almost full..., The bus was completely full, and lots of people were standing.
5 adj If your hands or arms are full, you are carrying or holding as much as you can carry.
v-link ADJ
Sylvia entered, her arms full of packages..., People would go into the store and come out with their arms full.
6 adj If you feel full, you have eaten or drunk so much that you do not want anything else.
v-link ADJ
It's healthy to eat when I'm hungry and to stop when I'm full.
fullness n-uncount
High fibre diets give the feeling of fullness.
7 adj You use full before a noun to indicate that you are referring to all the details, things, or people that it can possibly include.
ADJ n
(=complete)
Full details will be sent to you once your application has been accepted..., May I have your full name?...
8 adj Full is used to describe a sound, light, or physical force which is being produced with the greatest possible power or intensity.
ADJ n
From his study came the sound of Mahler, playing at full volume..., Then abruptly he revved the engine to full power.
Full is also an adverb., adv ADV adv
...a two-seater Lotus, parked with its headlamps full on.
9 adj You use full to emphasize the completeness, intensity, or extent of something.
ADJ n (emphasis)
We should conserve oil and gas by making full use of other energy sources..., Television cameras are carrying the full horror of this war into homes around the world..., The lane leading to the farm was in full view of the house windows...
10 adj A full statement or report contains a lot of information and detail.
usu ADJ n
Mr Primakov gave a full account of his meeting with the President., ...the enormous detail in this very full document.
11 adj If you say that someone has or leads a full life, you approve of the fact that they are always busy and do a lot of different things.
usu ADJ n (approval)
You will be successful in whatever you do and you will have a very full and interesting life.
12 adv You use full to emphasize the force or directness with which someone or something is hit or looked at.
ADV prep (emphasis)
She kissed him full on the mouth...
13 adj You use full to refer to something which gives you all the rights, status, or importance for a particular position or activity, rather than just some of them.
ADJ n
How did the meeting go, did you get your full membership?...
14 adj A full flavour is strong and rich.
ADJ n
Italian plum tomatoes have a full flavour, and are best for cooking.
15 adj If you describe a part of someone's body as full, you mean that it is rounded and rather large.
usu ADJ n
The Juno Collection specialises in large sizes for ladies with a fuller figure., ...his strong chin, his full lips, his appealing mustache.
16 adj A full skirt or sleeve is wide and has been made from a lot of fabric.
usu ADJ n
My wedding dress has a very full skirt.
fullness n-uncount
The coat has raglan sleeves, and is cut to give fullness at the back.
17 adj When there is a full moon, the moon appears as a bright, complete circle.
usu ADJ n
18 You say that something has been done or described in full when everything that was necessary has been done or described.
in full phrase PHR after v
(=fully)
The medical experts have yet to report in full...
19 If you say that a person knows full well that something is true, especially something unpleasant, you are emphasizing that they are definitely aware of it, although they may behave as if they are not.
know full well phrase V inflects (emphasis)
He knew full well he'd be ashamed of himself later.
20 Something that is done or experienced to the full is done to as great an extent as is possible.
to the full phrase PHR after v
She probably has a good mind, which should be used to the full...
21 →
to be full of beans →
bean →
full blast →
blast →
to come full circle →
circle →
to have your hands full →
hand →
in full swing →
swing
chock-full
Something that is chock-full is completely full.
INFORMAL adj v-link ADJ, usu ADJ of n
The 32-page catalog is chock-full of things that add fun to festive occasions.
full-back (full-backs plural ), fullback In rugby or football, a full-back is a defending player whose position is towards the goal which their team is defending. n-count
full-blooded
Full-blooded behaviour and actions are carried out with great commitment and enthusiasm. adj ADJ n (Antonym: half-hearted)
Experts are agreed that full-blooded market reform is the only way to save the economy.
full-blown
Full-blown means having all the characteristics of a particular type of thing or person. adj ADJ n
Before becoming a full-blown director, he worked as the film editor on Citizen Kane.
full board , full-board
If the price at a hotel includes full board, it includes all your meals.
(mainly BRIT) n-uncount
full dress
Someone who is infull dress is wearing all the clothes needed for a ceremony or formal occasion. n-uncount
full-flavoured
in AM, use full-flavored
Full-flavoured food or wine has a pleasant fairly strong taste. adj
full-fledged
Full-fledged means the same as fully fledged. adj
full-frontal , full frontal
1 adj If there is full-frontal nudity in a photograph or film, you can see the whole of the front part of someone's naked body, including the genitals.
usu ADJ n
Why is full-frontal male nudity still so scarce in films?
2 adj If you use full-frontal to describe someone's criticism or way of dealing with something, you are emphasizing that it is very strong and direct.
usu ADJ n (emphasis)
The Tories believe a full-frontal attack on the opposition leader is their best hope...
full-grown
An animal or plant that is full-grown has reached its full adult size and stopped growing. adj
...a full-grown male orang-utan.
full house (full houses plural )If a theatre has afull house for a particular performance, it has as large an audience as it can hold. n-count
...playing to a full house.
full-length
1 adj A full-length book, record, or film is the normal length, rather than being shorter than normal.
ADJ n
...his first full-length recording in well over a decade.
2 adj A full-length coat or skirt is long enough to reach the lower part of a person's leg, almost to the ankles. A full-length sleeve reaches a person's wrist.
ADJ n
3 adj Full-length curtains or other furnishings reach to the floor.
ADJ n
4 adj A full-length mirror or painting shows the whole of a person.
ADJ n
5 adv Someone who is lying full-length, is lying down flat and stretched out.
ADV after v
She stretched herself out full-length.
full marks
If you get full marks in a test or exam, you get everything right and gain the maximum number of marks.
(BRIT) n-plural
Most people in fact got full marks in one question and zero in the other.
in AM, use a perfect score
full monty
You use thefull monty to describe something that impresses you because it includes everything that you could possibly expect it to include.
(BRIT)
INFORMAL n-sing the N (approval)
There was everything from simple piano to a full orchestral finish. The full monty.
full-on
Full-on is used to describe things or activities that have all the characteristics of their type, or are done in the strongest or most extreme way possible.
INFORMAL adj
What they were really good at was full-on rock'n'roll...
full-page
A full-page advertisement, picture, or article in a newspaper or magazine uses a whole page. adj ADJ n
full-scale
1 adj Full-scale means as complete, intense, or great in extent as possible.
ADJ n (Antonym: limited)
...the possibility of a full-scale nuclear war.
2 adj A full-scale drawing or model is the same size as the thing that it represents.
ADJ n
...working, full-scale prototypes.
full-size , full-sized
A full-size or full-sized model or picture is the same size as the thing or person that it represents. adj ADJ n
I made a full-size cardboard model.
full stop (full stops plural )A full stop is the punctuation mark . which you use at the end of a sentence when it is not a question or exclamation.
(BRIT) n-count
in AM, use period
full-strength
→
strength
full-throated
A full-throated sound coming from someone's mouth, such as a shout or a laugh, is very loud. adj ADJ n
...full-throated singing.
full-time , full time
1 adj Full-time work or study involves working or studying for the whole of each normal working week rather than for part of it.
usu ADJ n (Antonym: part-time)
...a full-time job., ...full-time staff.
Full-time is also an adverb., adv ADV after v
Deirdre works full-time.
2 n-uncount In games such as football, full-time is the end of a match.
(BRIT)
The score at full-time was Arsenal 1, Sampdoria 1.
full-timer (full-timers plural )A full-timer is someone who works full-time. n-count
The company employs six full-timers and one part-time worker.
full up , full-up
1 adj Something that is full up has no space left for any more people or things.
v-link ADJ
The prisons are all full up.
2 adj If you are full up you have eaten or drunk so much that you do not want to eat or drink anything else.
INFORMAL v-link ADJ
