Search results for 'force':

force¹ noun 1 strength; power; impact or impetus. 2 compulsion, especially with threats or violence. 3 military power. 4 passion or earnestness. 5 strength or validity • the force of her argument • come into force. 6 meaning. 7 influence • by force of habit. 8 a person or thing seen as an influence • a force for good. 9 physics (SI unit newton) (abbreviation F) a any external agent that produces a change in the speed or direction of a moving object, or that makes a stationary object move • the force of gravity; b any external agent that produces a strain on a static object. 10 any irresistible power or agency • the forces of nature. 11 the term used in specifying an index between 0 and 12 on the Beaufort scale, each of which corresponds to a different wind speed • a gale of force 8 • a force-10 gale. 12 a a military body; b (the forces) a nation's armed services. 13 any organized body or workers, etc. 14 (the force) the police force. verb (forced, forcing) 1 to make or compel someone to do something. 2 to obtain something by effort, strength, threats, violence, etc • forced an admission from them. 3 to produce something with an effort. 4 to inflict, eg views, opinions etc (on someone) • force one's opinions on people. 5 to make (a plant) grow or (fruit) ripen unnaturally quickly or early so that it can appear on the market out of its normal season • Nowadays, tomatoes are often forced. 6 to strain • force one's voice. 7 cards to induce or make someone play a particular suit or in a particular way. forceless adj. forcer noun. force one's way to make progress by effort or ruthless determination. force someone's hand to compel them to act in a certain way. in force 1 said of a law, etc: valid; effective. 2 in large numbers • Protestors arrived in force. join forces to come together or unite for a purpose.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from Latin fortia strength.

force² noun, N Eng a waterfall.
ETYMOLOGY: 16c: from Norse fors.