friend
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friend
(frĕnd)n.
1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.
2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.
3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.
4. One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement: friends of the clean air movement.
5. Friend A member of the Society of Friends; a Quaker.
tr.v. friend·ed, friend·ing, friends
Idiom: 1. Informal To add (someone) as a friend on a social networking website.
2. Archaic To befriend.
be friends with
To be a friend of: I am friends with my neighbor.
friend′less adj.
friend′less·ness n.
Word History: The relationship between Latin amīcus, "friend," and amō, "I love," is clear, as is the relationship between Greek philos, "friend," and phileō, "I love." In English, though, we have to go back a millennium before we see the verb that we can easily connect to friend. Frēond, the Old English source of Modern English friend, is related to the Old English verb frēon, "to love, like, honor, set free (from slavery or confinement)." Specifically, frēond comes from the present participle of the Germanic ancestor of Old English frēon and thus originally meant "one who loves." (The Old English verb frēon, "to love, set free," by the way, survives today in Modern English as to free.) The Germanic root of frēond and frēon is *frī-, which meant "to like, love, be friendly to." Closely linked to these concepts is that of "peace," and in fact Germanic made a noun from this root, *frithu-, meaning exactly that. Ultimately descended from this noun are the personal names Frederick, "peaceful ruler," and Siegfried, "victory peace." The root also shows up in the name of the Germanic deity Frigg, the goddess of love, who lives on today in the word Friday, "day of Frigg," from an ancient translation of Latin Veneris diēs, "day of Venus."
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
friend
(frɛnd)n
1. a person known well to another and regarded with liking, affection, and loyalty; an intimate
2. an acquaintance or associate
3. an ally in a fight or cause; supporter
4. a fellow member of a party, society, etc
5. a patron or supporter: a friend of the opera.
6. be friends to be friendly (with)
7. make friends to become friendly (with)
vb (tr)
8. (Communications & Information) to add (a person) to one's list of contacts on a social networking website
9. an archaic word for befriend
[Old English frēond; related to Old Saxon friund, Old Norse frǣndi, Gothic frijōnds, Old High German friunt]
ˈfriendless adj
ˈfriendlessness n
ˈfriendship n
Friend
(frɛnd)n
(Protestantism) a member of the Religious Society of Friends; Quaker
Friend
(frɛnd)n
(Mountaineering) trademark mountaineering a device consisting of a shaft with double-headed spring-loaded cams that can be wedged in a crack to provide an anchor point
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
friend
(frɛnd)n.
1. a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.
2. a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter: friends of the Boston Symphony.
3. a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile: Who goes there? Friend or foe?
4. a member of the same nation, party, etc.
5. (cap.) a member of the Society of Friends; Quaker.
v.t. 6. Archaic. to befriend.
Idioms: make friends with, to enter into friendly relations with; become a friend to.
[before 900; Middle English friend, frend, Old English frēond friend, lover, relative (c. Old Saxon friund, Old High German friunt), orig. present participle of frēogan to love]
friend′less, adj.
friend′less•ness, n.
syn: See acquaintance.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
friend
1. 'friend'
Your friends are people you know well and like spending time with. You can refer to a friend who you know very well as a good friend or a close friend.
He's a good friend of mine.
A close friend told me about it.
If someone has been your friend for a long time, you can refer to them as an old friend. He or she is not necessarily an old person.
I went back to my hometown and visited some old friends.
2. 'be friends with'
If someone is your friend, you can say that you are friends with them.
You used to be good friends with him, didn't you?
I also became friends with Melanie.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
friend
Past participle: friended
Gerund: friending
| Imperative |
|---|
| friend |
| friend |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  friend - a person you know well and regard with affection and trust; "he was my best friend at the university"individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do" alter ego - a very close and trusted friend who seems almost a part of yourself amigo - a friend or comrade best friend - the one friend who is closest to you comrade, brother - used as a term of address for those male persons engaged in the same movement; "Greetings, comrade!" buddy, chum, crony, pal, sidekick, brother - a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities companion, comrade, familiar, fellow, associate - a friend who is frequently in the company of another; "drinking companions"; "comrades in arms" flatmate - an associate who shares an apartment with you girlfriend - any female friend; "Mary and her girlfriend organized the party" light - a person regarded very fondly; "the light of my life" mate - informal term for a friend of the same sex schoolfriend - a friend who attends the same school |
| 2. |  friend - an associate who provides cooperation or assistance; "he's a good ally in fight"associate - a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor; "he had to consult his associate before continuing" blood brother - a male sworn (usually by a ceremony involving the mingling of blood) to treat another as his brother | |
| 3. |  friend - a person with whom you are acquainted; "I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances"; "we are friends of the family"individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do" bunkmate - someone who occupies the same sleeping quarters as yourself campmate - someone who lives in the same camp you do connection - (usually plural) a person who is influential and to whom you are connected in some way (as by family or friendship); "he has powerful connections" end man - a man at one end of a row of people homeboy - a male friend from your neighborhood or hometown messmate - (nautical) an associate with whom you share meals in the same mess (as on a ship) pickup - a casual acquaintance; often made in hope of sexual relationships | |
| 4. |  friend - a person who backs a politician or a team etc.; "all their supporters came out for the game"; "they are friends of the library"anglophil, anglophile - an admirer of England and things English Boswell - a devoted admirer and recorder of another's words and deeds cheerleader - an enthusiastic and vocal supporter; "he has become a cheerleader for therapeutic cloning" Confederate - a supporter of the Confederate States of America corporatist - a supporter of corporatism Francophil, Francophile - an admirer of France and everything French free trader - an advocate of unrestricted international trade functionalist - an adherent of functionalism Jacobite - a supporter of James II after he was overthrown or a supporter of the Stuarts New Dealer - a supporter of the economic policies in the United States known as the New Deal Roundhead - a supporter of parliament and Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War seconder - someone who endorses a motion or petition as a necessary preliminary to a discussion or vote Shavian - an admirer of G. B. Shaw or his works well-wisher, sympathiser, sympathizer - someone who shares your feelings or opinions and hopes that you will be successful toaster, wassailer - someone who proposes a toast; someone who drinks to the health of success of someone or some venture maintainer, sustainer, upholder - someone who upholds or maintains; "firm upholders of tradition"; "they are sustainers of the idea of democracy" Whig - a supporter of the American Revolution | |
| 5. |  Friend - a member of the Religious Society of Friends founded by George Fox (the Friends have never called themselves Quakers)Quakers, Religious Society of Friends, Society of Friends - a Christian sect founded by George Fox about 1660; commonly called Quakers Christian - a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
friend
noun
1. companion, pal, mate (informal), buddy (informal), partner, china (Brit. & S. African informal), familiar, best friend, intimate, cock (Brit. informal), close friend, comrade, chum (informal), crony, alter ego, confidant, playmate, confidante, main man (slang, chiefly U.S.), soul mate, homeboy (slang, chiefly U.S.), cobber (Austral. or old-fashioned N.Z. informal), bosom friend, boon companion, Achates I had a long talk with my best friend.
companion rival, enemy, opponent, competitor, foe, adversary, antagonist
companion rival, enemy, opponent, competitor, foe, adversary, antagonist
2. supporter, ally, associate, sponsor, advocate, patron, backer, partisan, protagonist, benefactor, adherent, well-wisher the Friends of Birmingham Royal Ballet
Quotations
"A friend should bear his friend's infirmities" [William Shakespeare Julius Caesar]
"The belongings of friends are common" [Aristotle]
"My best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake" [Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics]
"Friends are born, not made" [Henry Adams The Education of Henry Adams]
"True happiness"
"Consists not in the multitude of friends,"
"But in the worth and choice" [Ben Jonson Cynthia's Revels]
"Friends are God's apology for relatives" [Hugh Kingsmill]
"Old friends are the best. King James used to call for his old shoes; for they were easiest for his feet" [John Seldon Table Talk]
"Old friends are the blessing of one's later years - half a word conveys one's meaning" [Horace Walpole]
"The only way to have a friend is to be one" [Ralph Waldo Emerson Essays: First Series]
"Of two close friends, one is always the slave of the other" [Mikhail Lermontov A Hero of Our Time]
"A friend should bear his friend's infirmities" [William Shakespeare Julius Caesar]
"The belongings of friends are common" [Aristotle]
"My best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake" [Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics]
"Friends are born, not made" [Henry Adams The Education of Henry Adams]
"True happiness"
"Consists not in the multitude of friends,"
"But in the worth and choice" [Ben Jonson Cynthia's Revels]
"Friends are God's apology for relatives" [Hugh Kingsmill]
"Old friends are the best. King James used to call for his old shoes; for they were easiest for his feet" [John Seldon Table Talk]
"Old friends are the blessing of one's later years - half a word conveys one's meaning" [Horace Walpole]
"The only way to have a friend is to be one" [Ralph Waldo Emerson Essays: First Series]
"Of two close friends, one is always the slave of the other" [Mikhail Lermontov A Hero of Our Time]
Proverbs
"A friend in need is a friend indeed"
"A friend in need is a friend indeed"
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
friend
noun1. A person whom one knows well, likes, and trusts:
Slang: sidekick.
2. A person whom one knows casually:
3. A person who supports or champions an activity, cause, or institution, for example:
Informal: angel.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
صَديقصَدِيقنَصير
přítelpřítelkyněholkakamarádkluk
vendyrevenkammerat
sõber
ystäväkaveri
दोस्तमित्र
prijateljprijateljicaprijateljudečkodjevojka
barátbarát1barátnőpártolója
vinurvinkonavinstúlka
友だち友人友達
친구
amicaamicus
be draugųdraugassusidraugauti
draugslabvēlis
bevriend zijn metvriend
amiciubitprieten
prijateljprijateljica
vänväninnaflickvängynnahjälpa
เพื่อน
دوست
bạn
friend
[frend] N → amigo/a m/f; (at school, work etc) → compañero/a m/ffriend! (Mil) → ¡gente de paz!
a friend of mine → un amigo mío
he's no friend of mine → no es mi amigo, no es amigo mío
a friend of the family → un amigo de la familia
let's be friends → hagamos las paces
to be friends with sb → ser amigo de algn
we're the best of friends → somos muy amigos
we're just good friends → somos sólo amigos → somos amigos nada más
to make friends with sb → hacerse amigo de algn, trabar amistad con algn
he makes friends easily → hace amigos con facilidad
he is no friend to violence → no es partidario de la violencia
to have a friend at court (fig) → tener enchufe
the Society of Friends (Rel) → los cuáqueros
Friends of the Earth → Amigos mpl de la Tierra
Friends of the National Theatre → Asociación f de Amigos del Teatro Nacional
a friend in need is a friend indeed → en las malas es cuando se conoce a los amigos
see also learned
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
friend
[ˈfrɛnd] n [person] → ami(e) m/f
to be friends → être amis(amies)
to be friends with sb → être ami(e) avec qn
to make friends → se faire des amis
to make friends with sb → se lier avec qn, se lier d'amitié avec qn
to be friends → être amis(amies)
to be friends with sb → être ami(e) avec qn
to make friends → se faire des amis
to make friends with sb → se lier avec qn, se lier d'amitié avec qn
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
friend
n
→ Freund(in) m(f); (less intimate) → Bekannte(r) mf; to become or make friends with somebody → sich mit jdm anfreunden, mit jdm Freundschaft schließen; to make a friend of somebody → sich (dat) → jdn zum Freund machen; he makes friends easily → er findet leicht Freunde; she’s a friend of mine → sie ist eine Freundin/eine Bekannte von mir; he’s no friend of mine → er ist nicht mein Freund; to be friends with somebody → mit jdm befreundet sein, jds Freund(in) sein; I’m not friends with her any more → sie ist nicht mehr meine Freundin; be a friend → sei so lieb; we’re just (good) friends → da ist nichts, wir sind nur gut befreundet; my honourable (Brit Parl) /learned (Jur) friend → mein verehrter (Herr) Kollege, meine verehrte (Frau) Kollegin; a friend at court (fig) → ein einflussreicher Freund; a friend in need is a friend indeed (Prov) → Freunde in der Not gehen tausend auf ein Lot (Prov)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
friend
[frɛnd] n → amico/a; (at school) → compagno/a; (at work) → collega m/fa friend of mine → un(a) mio/a amico/a
to make friends with sb → fare amicizia con qn
let's be friends → facciamo pace
we're just good friends → siamo solo buoni amici
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
friend
(frend) noun1. someone who knows and likes another person very well. He is my best friend.
2. a person who acts in a friendly and generous way to people etc he or she does not know. a friend to animals.
ˈfriendless adjective without friends. alone and friendless.
ˈfriendly adjective kind and willing to make friends. She is very friendly to everybody.
ˈfriendship noun1. the state of being friends. Friendship is a wonderful thing.
2. a particular relationship between two friends. Our friendship grew through the years.
make friends (with) to start a friendly relationship; to become friends with someone. The child tried to make friends with the dog.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
friend
→ صَدِيق přítel ven Freund φίλος amigo ystävä ami prijatelj amico 友だち 친구 vriend venn przyjaciel amigo друг vän เพื่อน arkadaş bạn 朋友Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
friend
n amigo -ga mfEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.