fog

¹

[fog, fawg]

noun

1. a cloudlike mass or layer of minute water droplets or ice crystals near the surface of the earth, appreciably reducing visibility.

2. any darkened state of the atmosphere, or the diffused substance that causes it.

3. a state of mental confusion or unawareness; daze; stupor.

   The survivors were in a fog for days after the catastrophe.

   Synonyms: dim, darken, blur, cloud, trance, muddle, haze
   Antonyms: clarity

4. Photography.,  a hazy effect on a developed negative or positive, caused by light other than that forming the image, by improper handling during development, or by the use of excessively old film.

5. Physical Chemistry.,  a mixture consisting of liquid particles dispersed in a gaseous medium.

verb (used with object)

fogged, fogging 

1. to cover or envelop with or as if with fog.

   The steam in the room fogged his glasses.

2. to confuse or obscure.

   The debate did little else but fog the issue.

   Synonyms: obfuscate, obscure, muddy, confuse, befog, becloud
   Antonyms: clarify

3. to bewilder or perplex.

   to fog the mind.

   Synonyms: befuddle, daze, mystify, muddle

4. Photography.,  to produce fog on (a negative or positive).

verb (used without object)

fogged, fogging 

1. to become enveloped or obscured with or as if with fog.

   Antonyms: clear

2. Photography.,  (of a negative or positive) to become affected by fog.

fog

²

[fog, fawg]

noun

U.S. and British Dialect.

1. a second growth of grass, as after mowing.

2. long grass left standing in fields during the winter.

fog

¹

/ fɒɡ /

noun

1. a mass of droplets of condensed water vapour suspended in the air, often greatly reducing visibility, corresponding to a cloud but at a lower level

2. a cloud of any substance in the atmosphere reducing visibility

3. a state of mental uncertainty or obscurity

4. photog a blurred or discoloured area on a developed negative, print, or transparency caused by the action of extraneous light, incorrect development, etc

5. a colloid or suspension consisting of liquid particles dispersed in a gas

verb

1. to envelop or become enveloped with or as if with fog

2. to confuse or become confused

   to fog an issue

3. photog to produce fog on (a negative, print, or transparency) or (of a negative, print, or transparency) to be affected by fog

fog

²

/ fɒɡ /

noun

1. 1. a second growth of grass after the first mowing

   2. grass left to grow long in winter

fog

1. A dense layer of cloud lying close to the surface of the ground or water and reducing visibility to less than 1 km (0.62 mi). Fog occurs when the air temperature becomes identical, or nearly identical, to the dew point.

2. An opaque or semiopaque condensation of a substance floating in a region or forming on a surface.

Other Word Forms

• fogless adjective
• unfogged adjective
• unfogging adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fog¹

First recorded in 1535–45; perhaps by back formation from foggy; fog ²

Origin of fog²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fogge, from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian fogg “long, scattered grass on damp ground”; further origin uncertain; foggy

Word History and Origins

Origin of fog¹

C16: perhaps back formation from foggy damp, boggy, from _fog ²

Origin of fog²

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian fogg rank grass

Idioms and Phrases

see in a fog.

Synonym Study

See cloud.

Example Sentences

In an effort to describe them, fashion writers mentioned blackened silver and beach fog.

From Los Angeles Times

As Matteoli drove the curves of Last Chance Grade last week, construction workers appeared out of the thick morning fog like neon-vested ghosts.

From Los Angeles Times

An initial search involving Inverness coastguard helicopter was made in mist and fog in difficult terrain, before the bodies were found the following day.

From BBC

Ten minutes — no more — for workers to stand upright and learn, in their own language, the signs: dizziness, nausea, the creeping fog in the mind that means it’s time to stop.

From Los Angeles Times

The helicopter had been on its way from RAF Aldergrove, in Northern Ireland, to a conference in Inverness, in Scotland, and was travelling through thick fog.

From BBC

Related Words

• cloud 
• gloom 
• smog 
• smoke 
• steam 
• vapor