fill

views updated Jun 11 2018

fill / fil/ • v. [tr.] put someone or something into (a space or container) so that it is completely or almost completely full: I filled up the bottle with water. ∎  [intr.] (fill with) become full of. ∎  become an overwhelming presence in: the smell of garlic filled the air. ∎  cause (someone) to have an intense experience of an emotion or feeling: his presence filled us with foreboding. ∎  appoint a person to hold (a vacant position). ∎  hold and perform the expected duties of (a position or role). ∎  occupy or take up (a period of time): the next few days were filled with meetings. ∎  be supplied with the items described in (a prescription or order): she needed to fill a prescription. ∎  [intr.] (of a sail) curve out tautly as the wind blows into it. ∎  [tr.] (of the wind) blow into (a sail), causing it to curve outward.• n. (one's fill) an amount of something that is as much as one wants or can bear: I've had my fill of surprises for one day. ∎  an amount of something that will occupy all the space in a container. ∎  material, loose or compacted, that fills a space, esp. in building or engineering work: loose polystyrene fill. ∎  the action of filling something, esp. of shading or color in a region of a computer graphics display.PHRASES: fill someone's shoes inf. take over someone's function or duties and fulfill them satisfactorily.PHRASAL VERBS: fill in act as a substitute for someone when they are unable to do their job.fill someone in inform someone more fully of a matter, giving all the details: the cab driver filled me in on the latest gossip.fill something in put material into a hole, trench, or space so that it is completely full: the canal is now disused and partly filled in. ∎  complete a drawing by adding color or shade to the spaces within an outline.fill something out add information to complete an official form or document: he filled out the requisite forms. ∎  give more details to add to someone's understanding of something: he filled out the background by going into historical questions.fill up become completely full: the dining car filled up. ∎  fill the fuel tank of a car.

fill

views updated May 23 2018

fill1
A. full supply of food OE.;

B. quantity that fills XVI. OE. fyllu = OHG. fülle (G. fülle), ON. fyllr, Goth. (ufar)fullei :- Gmc., *fullīn, f. *fullaz FULL. In B. f. FILL2, with which this sb. has always been associated.

fill

views updated May 21 2018

fill2 make full. OE. fyllan = OS. fullian (Du. vullen), OHG. fullen (G. füllen), ON. fylla, Goth. (= Gmc.) fulljan; f. Gmc. *fullaz FULL.

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