firm
//fɜːm//
Forms
- Plural
- firms
- Comparative
- firmer
- Superlative
- firmest
- present (v1)
- firm
- past (v2)
- firmed
- past participle (v3)
- firmed
- present participle
- firming
- 3rd person singular
- firms
Definitions
1.A business partnership; the name under which it trades.
2.A business enterprise, however organized.
3.A criminal gang, especially based around football hooliganism.(slang)
1.Steadfast, secure, solid (in position)
- It's good to have a firm grip when shaking hands.
2.Fixed (in opinion).
- With such constant off-field turmoil Hughton’s work has been remarkable and this may have been his last game in charge. West Bromwich Albion, searching for a replacement for Roy Hodgson, are firm admirers.
3.Insistent upon something, not accepting dissent.
- He wanted to stay overnight, but I was firm with him and said he had to leave today.
4.Durable, rigid (material state).
- Biblical criteria of sexual seductiveness include a white skin, black hair, or henna-dyed, scarlet lips, a prominent nose, rosy temples, long straight neck, firm breasts, round thighs, an erect posture.
1.To make firm or strong; fix securely.
- Stolz said the move by ClubsNSW had only firmed his resolve to keep fighting for the right to disclose information in the public interest about money laundering in registered clubs.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1202
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Italian firma (“signature”), from firmare (“to sign”), from Latin firmāre (“to make firm, to confirm (by signature)”), from firmus (“firm, stable”).
The contemporary sense developed in the 18th century simultaneously with German Firma (“business, name of business”).