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fit 1 (fĭt)
Share:
v. fit·ted or fit, fit·ted, fit·ting, fits
v.tr.
1.
a. To be the proper size and shape for: These shoes fit me.
b. To cause to be the proper size and shape: The tailor fitted the trousers by shortening them.
c. To measure for proper size: She fitted me for a new jacket.
2. To be appropriate to; suit: music that fits your mood.
3. To be in conformity or agreement with: observations that fit the theory nicely.
4. To make suitable; adapt: fitted the shelves for large books. See Synonyms at adapt.
5. To make ready; prepare: Specialized training fitted her for the job.
6. To equip; outfit: fit out a ship.
7. To provide a place or time for: You can't fit any more toys in the box. The doctor can fit you in today.
8. To insert or adjust so as to be properly in place: fit a handle on a door.
v.intr.
1. To be the proper size and shape.
2. To be suited; belong: doesn't fit in with these people.
3. To be in harmony; agree: His good mood fit in with the joyful occasion.
adj. fit·ter, fit·test
1. Suited, adapted, or acceptable for a given circumstance or purpose: not a fit time for flippancy.
2. Appropriate; proper: Do as you see fit.
3. Physically sound; healthy: keeps fit with diet and exercise.
4. Biology Able to survive and produce viable offspring in a particular environment
n.
1. The state, quality, or way of being fitted: the proper fit of means to ends.
2. The manner in which clothing fits: a jacket with a tight fit.
3. The degree of precision with which surfaces are adjusted or adapted to each other in a machine or collection of parts.
Idioms:
fit to be tied
Roused to great anger or indignation; outraged.
fit to kill Slang
To an extreme or elaborate degree: dressed up fit to kill.
[Middle English fitten, to be suitable, marshal troops.]
fitly adv.
fitter n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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