fog
1 Americannoun
-
a cloudlike mass or layer of minute water droplets or ice crystals near the surface of the earth, appreciably reducing visibility.
-
any darkened state of the atmosphere, or the diffused substance that causes it.
-
a state of mental confusion or unawareness; daze; stupor.
The survivors were in a fog for days after the catastrophe.
- Antonyms:
- clarity
-
Photography. a hazy effect on a developed negative or positive, caused by light other than that forming the image, by improper handling during development, or by the use of excessively old film.
-
Physical Chemistry. a mixture consisting of liquid particles dispersed in a gaseous medium.
verb (used with object)
-
to cover or envelop with or as if with fog.
The steam in the room fogged his glasses.
-
to confuse or obscure.
The debate did little else but fog the issue.
- Antonyms:
- clarify
-
to bewilder or perplex.
to fog the mind.
-
Photography. to produce fog on (a negative or positive).
verb (used without object)
-
to become enveloped or obscured with or as if with fog.
- Antonyms:
- clear
-
Photography. (of a negative or positive) to become affected by fog.
noun
-
a second growth of grass, as after mowing.
-
long grass left standing in fields during the winter.
noun
-
a mass of droplets of condensed water vapour suspended in the air, often greatly reducing visibility, corresponding to a cloud but at a lower level
-
a cloud of any substance in the atmosphere reducing visibility
-
a state of mental uncertainty or obscurity
-
photog a blurred or discoloured area on a developed negative, print, or transparency caused by the action of extraneous light, incorrect development, etc
-
a colloid or suspension consisting of liquid particles dispersed in a gas
verb
-
to envelop or become enveloped with or as if with fog
-
to confuse or become confused
to fog an issue
-
photog to produce fog on (a negative, print, or transparency) or (of a negative, print, or transparency) to be affected by fog
noun
-
A dense layer of cloud lying close to the surface of the ground or water and reducing visibility to less than 1 km (0.62 mi). Fog occurs when the air temperature becomes identical, or nearly identical, to the dew point.
-
An opaque or semiopaque condensation of a substance floating in a region or forming on a surface.
Related Words
See cloud.
Other Word Forms
- fogless adjective
- unfogged adjective
- unfogging adjective
Etymology
Origin of fog1
First recorded in 1535–45; perhaps by back formation from foggy; fog 2
Origin of fog1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fogge, from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian fogg “long, scattered grass on damp ground”; further origin uncertain; foggy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Don’t be alarmed that the stock market is about to fall off a cliff amid a fog of dizzying headlines,” writes Christopher Smart, managing partner of the investment strategy consultancy Arbroath Group.
From Barron's
“Don’t be alarmed that the stock market is about to fall off a cliff amid a fog of dizzying headlines,” writes Christopher Smart, managing partner of the investment strategy consultancy Arbroath Group.
From Barron's
Clouds, smoke, and fog can block sunlight in the sky, but beneath the ocean surface, very different forces can plunge the seafloor into darkness.
From Science Daily
She had a high fever, fatigue and brain fog.
From Salon
He often steps out of the fog with a clear thought and dashes off an email about it.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
