fat

[fat]

adjective

fatter, fattest 

1. having too much flabby tissue; corpulent; obese.

   a fat person.

   Synonyms: pudgy, adipose, portly
   Antonyms: thin

2. plump; well-fed.

   a good, fat chicken.

3. consisting of or containing fat; greasy; oily.

   fat gravy; fat meat.

   Synonyms: fatty, unctuous
   Antonyms: lean

4. profitable, as an office.

   a fat job on the city commission.

   Synonyms: remunerative, lucrative

5. affording good opportunities, especially for gain.

   a fat business contract.

6. wealthy; prosperous; rich.

   He grew fat on dishonest profits.

7. big, broad, or extended; thick.

   a fat sheaf of bills.

8. plentiful; abundant.

   a fat supply of food.

   Synonyms: copious

9. plentifully supplied.

   a fat larder; a fat feast.

10. dull; stupid.

    fat clumsiness of manner.

    Synonyms: sluggish
    Antonyms: clever

11. abounding in a particular element.

    Fat pine is rich in resin.

12. (of paint) having more oil than pigment.

13. (of coal) highly bituminous; rich in volatile hydrocarbons.

14. Ceramics.,  long.

15. fertile, as land.

    Everything grows in this fat soil.

    Synonyms: productive, fruitful, rich
    Antonyms: barren, sterile

noun

1. any of several white or yellowish greasy substances, forming the chief part of adipose tissue of animals and also occurring in plants, that when pure are colorless, odorless, and tasteless and are either solid or liquid esters of glycerol with fatty acids; fats are insoluble in water or cold alcohol but soluble in ether, chloroform, or benzene: used in the manufacture of soap, paints, and other protective coatings and in cooking.

2. animal tissue containing much of this substance; loose flesh; flabbiness.

   to have rolls of fat around one's waist.

3. the richest or best part of anything.

4. obesity; corpulence.

   In his later years, he inclined to fat.

5. Slang.,  especially profitable or advantageous work.

6. an overabundance or excess; superfluity.

7. action or lines in a dramatic part that permit an actor to display abilities.

8. Also called lift. Typesetting.,  Also matter that can be composed easily and profitably, especially from standing type, illustrations, or the like.

   fat work.

verb (used with or without object)

fatted, fatting 

1. to make or become fat.

fat

/ fæt /

noun

1. any of a class of naturally occurring soft greasy solids that are esters of glycerol and certain fatty acids. They are present in some plants and in the adipose tissue of animals, forming a reserve energy source, and are used in making soap and paint and in the food industry See also oil

2. vegetable or animal tissue containing fat

3. corpulence, obesity, or plumpness

4. the best or richest part of something

5. a part in a play that gives an actor a good opportunity to show his talents

6. slang

   1. to argue over a point

   2. to talk idly; gossip

7. an irrevocable action has been taken, esp one from which dire consequences are expected

8. the best that is obtainable

adjective

1. having much or too much flesh or fat

2. consisting of or containing fat; greasy

   fat pork

3. profitable; lucrative

   a fat year

4. affording great opportunities

   a fat part in the play

5. fertile or productive

   a fat land

6. thick, broad, or extended

   a fat log of wood

7. having a high content of a particular material or ingredient, such as resin in wood or oil in paint

8. plentifully supplied

   a fat larder

9. slang,  empty; stupid

   get this into your fat head

10. slang,  very little or none; minimal (in phrases such as a fat chance , a fat lot of good , etc)

verb

1. to make or become fat; fatten

fat

1. Any of a large number of oily compounds that are widely found in plant and animal tissues and serve mainly as a reserve source of energy. In mammals, fat, or adipose tissue, is deposited beneath the skin and around the internal organs, where it also protects and insulates against heat loss. Fat is a necessary, efficient source of energy. An ounce of fat contains more than twice as much stored energy as does an ounce of protein or carbohydrates and is digested more slowly, resulting in the sensation of satiety after eating. It also enhances the taste, aroma, and texture of food. Fats are made chiefly of triglycerides, each molecule of which contains three fatty acids. Dietary fat supplies humans with essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid and linolenic acid. Fat also regulates cholesterol metabolism and is a precursor of prostaglandins.

2. See more at saturated fat unsaturated fat

Other Word Forms

• fatness noun
• fatly adverb
• fattish adjective
• fatless adjective
• fatlike adjective
• defat verb (used with object)
• overfat adjective
• unfatted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fat¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English fǣtt, originally the past participle of fǣtan “to cram, load, adorn”; cognate with Gothic fētjan “to adorn”; akin to vat

Word History and Origins

Origin of fat¹

Old English fǣtt , past participle of fǣtan to cram; related to Old Norse feita , Old High German feizen to fatten; compare Gothic fētjan to adorn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. chew the fat. chew.

2. the fat of the land, the best or richest of anything obtainable.

   to live on the fat of the land.

3. a fat chance, a very slight chance; small probability.

   A fat chance he has of winning the title!

4. the fat is in the fire,

   1. an irrevocable action or chain of events has been started; the die is cast.

      Now that they have been given an ultimatum, the fat is in the fire.

   2. the decision, whether good or bad, has been made.

   3. the crisis is imminent.

5. a fat lot, little or not at all.

   A fat lot they care about anyone else's troubles!

More idioms and phrases containing fat

• chew the fat
• kill the fatted calf

Synonym Study

See stout.

Example Sentences

Or her Delhi architecture school days, when she was too broke for jewellery and wore "cow beads" - fat glass beads strung across cow horns, bought off herdsmen near the hostel.

From BBC

He told jurors that the receptionist and doctor did not see the 40 to 50 seconds where Cardi B labeled his client fat, spat on her and took a swing at her.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s a tremendous amount of emerging science that talks about the need for more protein in our diet and more fats in our diet. And there’s no industry that does that better than this industry.”

From Salon

It eased her mind that she wouldn’t be the next “viral video of someone upset about sitting next to the fat passenger.”

From Los Angeles Times

The fat hissed in greeting, and within seconds the kitchen was filled with oregano’s scent.

From Salon

Related Words

• big 
• bulging www.thesaurus.com
• bulky 
• chunky 
• heavy 
• hefty 
• inflated 
• large 
• meaty 
• obese 
• plump 
• well-fed 

When To Use

What is a basic definition of fat?

Fat is commonly used as a way to describe someone as obese or overweight.This is most often used in a critical, judgmental, or mean way. In contrast, words like obese and overweight are more often used in a neutral way, such as in a medical context in the discussion of a person’s health (though they too can be used in a judgmental or mean way).This sense of fat isn’t always used in a negative way. Some people might call others or themselves fat in a way that’s not intended to be critical, as in I’m fat and I’m fabulous and all the body-shamers will just have to deal with it. Sometimes, people replace the word fat with words intended to be more polite or euphemistic, such as heavy, heavyset, plump, and chubby. However, these words still focus on a person’s weight or appearance in a way that can be demeaning or objectifying.As a noun, fat refers to the greasy substance that forms some types of tissue in the body of humans and animals (some of which the body stores and uses for energy) and some plants. The word is often used more casually to refer to a person’s excess flesh, as in belly fat.  In the context of nutrition, fat refers to this kind of substance in the foods we eat. Foods from animals, such as meat, milk, and eggs, all contain fat. But so do some plant-based foods, such as nuts, avocados, and olive oil. However, there are different kinds of fat, such as saturated fat, unsaturated fat, and trans-fat, each of which can have different effects on a person’s nutrition and health. In general, it’s usually recommended not to consume too much fat. However, some fats are necessary in a diet because they help the body to absorb vitamins. The nutrition label on food products usually tell you exactly how much fat and what kinds of fats are in them.The word fat is common and has many other meanings as an adjective, a noun, and even a verb.Example: This diet is based on avoiding foods that are high in fat.