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Fiber optics

that branch of optics which studies the transmission of light through thin transparent fibers.

fiberboard

a type of wallboard composed of wood chips or shavings bonded together with resin and compressed into rigid sheets, calle also particle board.

fiberglass

a material made of fine glass fibers woven into a fabric-like form, and used in applications requiring heat resistance; it is also embedded in resins to make a pliable but strong composite material used as the main component of fishing rods and boat hulls, and replacing the sheet metal in some automobile bodies.

fiberscope

an instrument used to examine internal organs.

Fibre Fiber

One of the delicate, threadlike portions of which the tissues of plants and animals are in part constituted; as, the fiber of flax or of muscle.

Fibre-faced Fiber-faced

Having a visible fiber embodied in the surface of; -- applied esp. to a kind of paper for checks, drafts, etc.

Fibriform

Having the form of a fiber or fibers; resembling a fiber.

Fibril

A small fiber; the branch of a fiber; a very slender thread; a fibrilla.

Fibrilla

A minute thread or fiber, as one of the fibrous elements of a muscular fiber; a fibril.

Fibrillar

Of or pertaining to fibrils or fibers; as, fibrillar twitchings.

Fibrillose

Covered with hairlike appendages, as the under surface of some lichens; also, composed of little strings or fibers; as, fibrillose appendages.

Fibrin

A white, albuminous, fibrous substance, formed in the coagulation of the blood either by decomposition of fibrinogen, or from the union of fibrinogen and paraglobulin which exist separately in the blood. It is insoluble in water, but is readily digestible in gastric and pancreatic juice.

Fibrination

The state of acquiring or having an excess of fibrin.

Fibrine

Belonging to the fibers of plants.

Fibrinogen

An albuminous substance existing in the blood, and in other animal fluids, which either alone or with fibrinoplastin or paraglobulin forms fibrin, and thus causes coagulation.

Fibrinogenous

Possessed of properties similar to fibrinogen; capable of forming fibrin.

Fibrinoplastic

Like fibrinoplastin; capable of forming fibrin when brought in contact with fibrinogen.

Fibrinoplastin

An albuminous substance, existing in the blood, which in combination with fibrinogen forms fibrin; -- called also paraglobulin.

Fibrinous

Having, or partaking of the properties of, fibrin; as, fibrious exudation.

Fibrocartilage

A kind of cartilage with a fibrous matrix and approaching fibrous connective tissue in structure.

fibroid

Resembling or forming fibrous tissue; made up of fibers; as, fibroid tumors. A fibroid tumor; a fibroma.

fibroin

A variety of gelatin; the chief ingredient of raw silk, extracted as a white amorphous mass.

Fibrolite

A silicate of alumina, of fibrous or columnar structure. It is like andalusite in composition; -- called also sillimanite, and bucholzite.

Fibroma

A tumor consisting mainly of fibrous tissue, or of same modification of such tissue.

Fibrospongiae

An order of sponges having a fibrous skeleton, including the commercial sponges.

Fibrous

Containing, or consisting of, fibers; as, the fibrous coat of the cocoanut; the fibrous roots of grasses.

Fibrovascular

Containing woody fiber and ducts, as the stems of all flowering plants and ferns; -- opposed to cellular.

Fibula

A brooch, clasp, or buckle.

Fibulare

The bone or cartilage of the tarsus, which articulates with the fibula, and corresponds to the calcaneum in man and most mammals.

Fice

A small dog; -- written also fise, fyce, fiste, etc.

Fichtelite

A white crystallized mineral resin from the Fichtelgebirge, Bavaria.

Fichu

A light cape, usually of lace, worn by women, to cover the neck and throat, and extending to the shoulders.

Fickle

Not fixed or firm; liable to change; unstable; of a changeable mind; not firm in opinion or purpose; inconstant; capricious; as, Fortune's fickle wheel.

Fickleness

The quality of being fickle; instability; inconsonancy.

Fico

A fig; an insignificant trifle, no more than the snap of one's thumb; a sign of contempt made by the fingers, expressing. A fig for you.

Fictile

Molded, or capable of being molded, into form by art; relating to pottery or to molding in any soft material.

Fiction

The act of feigning, inventing, or imagining; as, by a mere fiction of the mind.

Fictional

Pertaining to, or characterized by, fiction; fictitious; romantic.

Fictitious

Feigned; imaginary; not real; fabulous; counterfeit; false; not genuine; as, fictitious fame.

Fictor

An artist who models or forms statues and reliefs in any plastic material.

Ficus

A genus of trees or shrubs, one species of which (F. Carica) produces the figs of commerce; the fig tree.

Fid

A square bar of wood or iron, used to support the topmast, being passed through a hole or mortise at its heel, and resting on the trestle trees.

Fidalgo

The lowest title of nobility in Portugal, corresponding to that of Hidalgo in Spain.

Fiddle

To play (a tune) on a fiddle.

fiddledeedee

An exclamatory word or phrase, equivalent to nonsense!

fiddlehead

any of several tall ferns of northern temperate regions having graceful arched fronds and sporophylls resembling ostrich plumes.

fiddleneck

hairy annual plant (Phacelia tanacetifolia) of California to Mexico with crowded cymes of small blue to lilac or mauve flowers.

Fiddler

One who plays on a fiddle or violin.

Fiddlestick

The bow, strung with horsehair, used in playing the fiddle; a fiddle bow.

Fiddlewood

The wood of several West Indian trees, mostly of the genus Citharexylum.

Fidejussion

The act or state of being bound as surety for another; suretyship.

Fidejussor

A surety; one bound for another, conjointly with him; a guarantor.

Fidelity

Faithfulness; adherence to right; careful and exact observance of duty, or discharge of obligations. Adherence to a person or party to which one is bound; loyalty.

Fides

Faith personified as a goddess; the goddess of faith.

Fidget

Uneasiness; restlessness.

Fidia

A genus of small beetles, of which one species (the grapevine Fidia, F. longipes) is very injurious to vines in America.

Fidicinal

Of or pertaining to a stringed instrument.

Fiducial

Having faith or trust; confident; undoubting; firm.

Fiduciary

One who holds a thing in trust for another; a trustee.

Fie

An exclamation denoting contempt or dislike. See Fy.

Fief

An estate held of a superior on condition of military service; a fee; a feud. See under Benefice, n., 2.

field

Cleared land; land suitable for tillage or pasture; cultivated ground; the open country.

Field

To catch, stop, throw, etc. (the ball), as a fielder.

field mouse fieldmouse

any nocturnal Old World mouse of the genus Apodemus inhabing woods and fields and gardens.

field test field-test

to test something in the field, i. e. under the actual conditions under which it will be used; as, The Army field-tested the new tanks. Used in contrast with testing in a laboratory or under controlled conditions.

Fielded

Engaged in the field; encamped.

Fielder

A ball payer who stands out in the field to catch or stop balls.

Fieldfare

a small thrush (Turdus pilaris) which breeds in northern Europe and winters in Great Britain. The head, nape, and lower part of the back are ash-colored; the upper part of the back and wing coverts, chestnut; -- called also fellfare.

Fielding

The act of playing as a fielder.

Fieldpiece

A cannon mounted on wheels, for the use of a marching army; a piece of field artillery; -- called also field gun.

fieldsman

a member of the cricket team that is fielding rather than batting.

Fieldwork

Any temporary fortification thrown up by an army in the field; -- commonly in the plural.

fiend

An implacable or malicious foe; one who is diabolically wicked or cruel; an infernal being; -- applied specifically to the devil or a demon.

Fiendful

Full of fiendish spirit or arts.

Fiendish

Like a fiend; diabolically wicked or cruel; infernal; malignant; devilish; hellish.

Fiendly

Fiendlike; monstrous; devilish.

Fierasfer

A genus of small, slender fishes, remarkable for their habit of living as commensals in other animals. One species inhabits the gill cavity of the pearl oyster near Panama; another lives within an East Indian holothurian.

Fierce

Furious; violent; unrestrained; impetuous; as, a fierce wind.

fierceness

the quality of being fierce; ferocity; fury; vehemence.

Fieriness

The quality of being fiery; heat; acrimony; irritability; as, a fieriness of temper.

Fiery

Consisting of, containing, or resembling, fire; as, the fiery gulf of Etna; a fiery appearance.

Fiesta

Among Spanish, a religious festival; a saint's day or holiday; also, a holiday or festivity.

Fife

To play on a fife.

Fifer

One who plays on a fife.

FIFO

an accounting method in which goods in inventory are valued at the price of the most recent acquisition of each type of goods, and those used up from inventory are valued at the cost of those first acquired.

Fifteen

The sum of five and ten; fifteen units or objects.

Fifteenth

One of fifteen equal parts or divisions; the quotient of a unit divided by fifteen.

Fifth

The quotient of a unit divided by five; one of five equal parts; a fifth part.

fifth column

a group of persons inside the battle lines of a territory engaged in a conflict, who secretly sympathize with the enemy, and who engage in espionage or sabotage; -- sometimes also referred to as a trojan horse.

Fifthly

In the fifth place; as the fifth in order.

fifties

the decade from 1950 to 1959.

Fiftieth

One of fifty equal parts; the quotient of a unit divided by fifty.

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