Definition of 'fool'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense fools
, present participle fooling
, past tense, past participle fooled
1. countable noun
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Fool is used to describe an action or person that is not at all sensible and shows a lack of good judgment.
[mainly US, informal, disapproval]
4. verb
5. countable noun [usually the NOUN]
6. variable noun
7.
8.
9.
See more fool (you)
10.
See to play the fool
Phrasal verbs:
See fool about
See fool around
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
fool in British English 1
noun
1.
a person who lacks sense or judgment
2.
a person who is made to appear ridiculous
3.
5. See form the fool
6. See no fool
7. See play the fool
verb
9. (intr; sometimes foll by with, around with, or about with) informal
to act or play (with) irresponsibly or aimlessly
fooling around in the classroom
adjective
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C13: from Old French fol mad person, from Late Latin follis empty-headed fellow, from Latin: bellows; related to Latin flāre to blow
Word Frequency
fool in American English 1
(fuːl)
noun
SYNONYMS 1. simpleton, dolt, dunce, blockhead, numskull, ignoramus, dunderhead, ninny, nincompoop,
booby, saphead, sap. 2. zany, clown. 5. moron, imbecile, idiot. 7. delude, hoodwink, cheat, gull, hoax, cozen, dupe, gudgeon.ANTONYMS 1. genius.1.
a silly or stupid person; a person who lacks judgment or sense
2.
a professional jester, formerly kept by a person of royal or noble rank for amusement
the court fool
3.
a person who has been tricked or deceived into appearing or acting silly or stupid
to make a fool of someone
4. (usually prec. by a present participle)
He's just a dancing fool
5.
a weak-minded or unintelligent person
6. See be nobody's fool
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1225–75; ME fol, fool ‹ OF fol ‹ L follis bellows, bag; cf. follis]Word Frequency
fool in American English 2
(fuːl)
noun
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1590–1600; prob. special use of fool1]Examples of 'fool' in a sentence
fool
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Quotations
A fool and his words are soon partedWorks
A fool uttereth all his mind Bible: Proverbs
You may fool all the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can't fool all of the people all the
time
Natur never makes enny blunders. When she makes a phool she means itJosh Billings' Wit and Humour
A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man seesThe Marriage of Heaven and Hell
A knowledgeable fool is a greater fool than an ignorant foolLes Femmes Savantes
A fool and his money are soon parted
Fools build houses and wise men live in them
A fool may give a wise man counsel
fool
Types of entertainer ShakespeareQuick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
Which type of entertainer am I?
a person, esp a professional entertainer, who performs somersaults and other acrobatic feats
Which type of entertainer am I?
a tightrope walker
Which type of entertainer am I?
a performer who simulates the swallowing of fire
Which type of entertainer am I?
a person who acts in a play, film, broadcast, etc
Which type of entertainer am I?
a person who juggles, esp a professional entertainer
Your score:
Trends of
fool
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Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
In other languages
fool
British English: fool
/fuːl/ NOUN
If you call someone a fool, you are indicating that you think they are not sensible and show a lack of good judgement.
`You fool!' she shouted.
- American English: fool /ˈful/
- Arabic: مُغَفَّل
- Brazilian Portuguese: bobo
- Chinese: 傻瓜
- Croatian: budala
- Czech: hlupák
- Danish: tåbe
- Dutch: dwaas
- European Spanish: tonto idiota
- Finnish: typerys
- French: idiot
- German: Narr
- Greek: κορόιδο
- Italian: buffone
- Japanese: ばか者
- Korean: 바보
- Norwegian: dust
- Polish: głupiec
- European Portuguese: pateta
- Romanian: prost
- Russian: дурак
- Latin American Spanish: tonto
- Swedish: dumbom
- Thai: คนโง่
- Turkish: ahmak
- Ukrainian: дурень
- Vietnamese: đồ ngốc
British English: fool
/fuːl/ VERB
If someone fools you, they deceive or trick you.
They tried to fool you into coming after us.
- American English: fool /ˈful/
- Arabic: يُضَلِّلُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: enganar
- Chinese: 愚弄
- Croatian: zavarati
- Czech: napálit
- Danish: narre
- Dutch: voor de gek houden
- European Spanish: engañar
- Finnish: huijata
- French: tromper
- German: täuschen
- Greek: κοροϊδεύω
- Italian: ingannare
- Japanese: だます
- Korean: 속이다
- Norwegian: lure
- Polish: wygłupić się
- European Portuguese: enganar
- Romanian: a păcăli
- Russian: дурачить
- Latin American Spanish: engañar
- Swedish: lura
- Thai: หลอก
- Turkish: kandırmak
- Ukrainian: обдурювати
- Vietnamese: đánh lừa
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