force

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Derived terms 1.2.1.2 Translations 1.2.2 Verb 1.2.2.1 Translations 1.2.2.2 Derived terms 1.2.3 See also 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Noun 1.3.1.1 Translations 1.4 External links 2 French 2.1 Etymology 2.2 Pronunciation 2.3 Noun 2.3.1 Synonyms 2.3.2 Derived terms 2.4 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /fɔː(ɹ)s/, SAMPA: /fO:(r\)s/
• (GenAm) IPA: /fɔɹs/, /foʊɹs/, SAMPA: /fOr\s/, /fOUr\s/

   Audio (US)^{help, file}

• Rhymes: -ɔː(r)s

[edit] Etymology 1

From Old French force, from Late Latin fortia, from neuter plural of Latin fortis (“‘strong’”)

[edit] Noun

force (countable and uncountable; plural forces)

1. (countable) Anything that is able to make a big change in a person or thing.

Wikipedia

1. (uncountable, physics) A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn)
2. (countable) A group that aims to attack, control, or constrain.

   police force

3. (uncountable) The ability to attack, control, or constrain.

   show of force

4. (countable) A magic trick in which the outcome is known to the magician beforehand, especially one involving the apparent free choice of a card by another person.
5. A fictional semi-sentient phenomenon that certain individuals can call upon for assistance as in in the Star Wars stories. See also Force.
   • May the force be with you.
6. (law) Legal validity.
   • The law will come into force in January.
7. (law) Either unlawful violence, as in a "forced entry", or lawful compulsion.

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to force (third-person singular simple present forces, present participle forcing, simple past and past participle forced)

1. (transitive) To exert violence, compulsion, or constraint upon or against a person or thing.
   • force a spike into the ground
   • force a moving object to alter its course
   • force one's opponent to retreat
2. (transitive) To cause to occur, overcoming inertia or resistance.
   • force a decision
3. (transitive) To violate (a woman); to rape.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book V:

     He hath murthered that mylde withoute ony mercy – he forced hir by fylth of hymself, and so aftir slytte hir unto the navyll.

4. (transitive, baseball) To create an out by touching a base in advance of a runner who has no base to return to while in possession of a ball which has already touched the ground.
   • Jones forced the runner at second by stepping on the bag.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Derived terms

• enforce
• forceful
• forcible

[edit] See also

• Imperial unit: foot pound
• metric unit: newton
• coerce: To control by force.

[edit] Etymology 2

From Old Norse fors (“‘waterfall’”). Cognate with Swedish fors (“‘waterfall’”)

[edit] Noun

force (plural forces)

1. (countable, Northern England) A waterfall or cascade

[edit] Translations

[edit] External links

• force in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• force in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

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[edit] French

[edit] Etymology

From Late Latin neuter plural fortia < adjective fortis.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /fɔʀs/, X-SAMPA: /fORs/

   Audio (France, Paris)^{help, file}

• Rhymes: -ɔʀs
• Homophones: forcent, forces

[edit] Noun

force f. (plural forces)

1. force.

[edit] Synonyms

• pouvoir
• puissance
• violence

[edit] Derived terms

• à force
• à la force du poignet
• coup de force
• camisole de force
• de gré ou de force
• de force
• de vive force
• en force
• forcé
• force majeure
• force vive
• forces vives
• forcément
• forcer
• tour de force

[edit] Verb

force

1. First-person singular present indicative of forcer.
2. Third-person singular present indicative of forcer.
3. First-person singular present subjunctive of forcer.
4. Third-person singular present subjunctive of forcer.
5. Second-person singular imperative of forcer.