First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1fat
adjective \ˈfat\
: having a lot of extra flesh on your body : having a lot of body fat
: having a full, rounded form
: unusually wide or thick
fat·terfat·test
Full Definition of FAT
1
2
a : well filled out : thick, big <a fat book> b : full in tone and quality : rich <a gorgeous fat bass voice — Irish Digest> c : well stocked <a fat larder> d : prosperous, wealthy <grew fat on the war — Time> e : being substantial and impressive <a fat bank account>
3
a : richly rewarding or profitable <a fat part in a movie> <a fat contract> b : practically nonexistent <a fat chance>
4
: productive, fertile <a fat year for crops>
6
: being swollen <got a fat lip from the fight>
7
of a baseball pitch : easy to hit
— fat·ness noun
See fat defined for English-language learners
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Origin of FAT
Middle English, from Old English fǣtt, past participle of fǣtan to cram; akin to Old High German feizit fat
Related to FAT
2fat
verb
fat·tedfat·ting
3fat
noun
: the soft flesh on the bodies of people and animals that helps keep the body warm and is used to store energy
: an oily solid or liquid substance in food
: an amount that is more than what is usual or needed
Full Definition of FAT
1
: animal tissue consisting chiefly of cells distended with greasy or oily matter
2
a : oily or greasy matter making up the bulk of adipose tissue and often abundant in seeds b : any of various compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that are glycerides of fatty acids, are the chief constituents of plant and animal fat, are a major class of energy-rich food, and are soluble in organic solvents but not in water c : a solid or semisolid fat as distinguished from an oil
3
: the best or richest part
4
: obesity
5
: something in excess : superfluity <trim the fat from the news operation — Ray Olson>
— fat·less \-ləs\ adjective
See fat defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of FAT
14th century
Related to FAT
- Synonyms
- A-list, aristocracy, best, choice, corps d'elite, cream, crème de la crème, elect, elite, flower, illuminati, pick, pink, pride, priesthood, prime, royalty, upper crust
- Antonyms
- deficiency, deficit, insufficiency, undersupply
Other Biochemistry Terms
FAT Defined for Kids
1fat
adjective \ˈfat\
fat·terfat·test
Definition of FAT for Kids
1
: having much body fat <a fat pig>
2
: 1thick 1 <a fat book>
3
: richly rewarding or profitable <He signed a fat contract.>
4
: swollen up <I fell and got a fat lip.>
— fat·ness noun
2fat
noun
Definition of FAT for Kids
1
: animal or plant tissue containing much greasy or oily material
2
: any of numerous compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that make up most of animal or plant fat and that are important to nutrition as sources of energy
3
: a solid fat as distinguished from an oil
4
: the best or richest part <the fat of the land>
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