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full¹

(fl)

adj. full·er, full·est

1. Containing all that is normal or possible: a full pail.

2. Complete in every particular: a full account.

3. Baseball

a. Amounting to three balls and two strikes. Used of a count.

b. Having a base runner at first, second, and third base: The bases were full when the slugger stepped up to bat.

a. Of maximum or highest degree: at full speed.

b. Being at the peak of development or maturity: in full bloom.

c. Of or relating to a full moon.

5. Having a great deal or many: a book full of errors.

6. Totally qualified, accepted, or empowered: a full member of the club.

a. Rounded in shape; plump: a full figure.

b. Having or made with a generous amount of fabric: full draperies.

a. Having an appetite completely satisfied, especially for food or drink: was full after the Thanksgiving dinner.

b. Providing an abundance, especially of food.

9. Having depth and body; rich: a full aroma; full tones.

10. Completely absorbed or preoccupied: “He was already pretty full of himself” (Ron Rosenbaum).

11. Possessing both parents in common: full brothers; full sisters.

12. Of or relating to a full-size bed: full sheets; a full bed skirt.

adv.

1. Exactly; directly: full in the path of the moon.

2. To a complete extent; entirely. Sometimes used in combination: knew full well; full blown; full-fledged.

v. fulled, full·ing, fulls

v. tr.

To make (a garment) full, as by pleating or gathering.

v. intr.

To become full. Used of the moon.

1. The maximum or complete size or amount: repaid in full.

2. The highest degree or state: living life to the full.

3. A full-size bed.

[Middle English ful, from Old English full; see pelə-¹ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

fullness, fulness n.

full²

(fl)

tr.v. fulled, full·ing, fulls

To increase the density and usually the thickness of (cloth) by shrinking and beating or pressing.

[Middle English fullen, from Old French fouler, from Vulgar Latin *fullāre, from Latin fullō, fuller; see bhel-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

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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