force

force
1.
n. & v.
—n.
1 power; exerted strength or impetus; intense effort.
2 coercion or compulsion, esp. with the use or threat of violence.
3 a military strength. b (in pl.) troops; fighting resources. c an organized body of people, esp. soldiers, police, or workers.
4 binding power; validity.
5 effect; precise significance (the force of their words).
6 a mental or moral strength; influence, efficacy (force of habit). b vividness of effect (described with much force).
7 Physics a an influence tending to cause the motion of a body. b the intensity of this equal to the mass of the body and its acceleration.
8 a person or thing regarded as exerting influence (is a force for good).
—v.
1 tr. constrain (a person) by force or against his or her will.
2 tr. make a way through or into by force; break open by force.
3 tr. (usu. with prep. or adv.) drive or propel violently or against resistance (forced it into the hole; the wind forced them back).
4 tr. (foll. by on, upon) impose or press (on a person) (forced their views on us).
5 tr. a cause or produce by effort (forced a smile). b attain by strength or effort (forced an entry; must force a decision).
6 tr. strain or increase to the utmost; overstrain.
7 tr. artificially hasten the development or maturity of (a plant).
8 tr. seek or demand quick results from; accelerate the process of (force the pace).
9 intr. Cards make a play that compels another particular play.
Phrases and idioms:
by force of by means of. force the bidding (at an auction) make bids to raise the price rapidly. forced labour compulsory labour, esp. under harsh conditions. forced landing the unavoidable landing of an aircraft in an emergency. forced march a long and vigorous march esp. by troops. force-feed force (esp. a prisoner) to take food. force field (in science fiction) an invisible barrier of force. force a person's hand make a person act prematurely or unwillingly. force the issue render an immediate decision necessary. force-land land an aircraft in an emergency. force-pump a pump that forces water under pressure. in force
1 valid, effective.
2 in great strength or numbers. join forces combine efforts.
Derivatives:
forceable adj. forceably adv. forcer n.
Etymology: ME f. OF force, forcer ult. f. L fortis strong
2.
n. N.Engl. a waterfall.
Etymology: ON fors

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • force — [ fɔrs ] n. f. • 1080; bas lat. fortia, plur. neutre substantivé de fortis → 1. fort; forcer I ♦ La force de qqn. 1 ♦ Puissance d action physique (d un être, d un organe). Force physique; force musculaire. ⇒ résistance, robustesse, vigueur. Force …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • forcé — force [ fɔrs ] n. f. • 1080; bas lat. fortia, plur. neutre substantivé de fortis → 1. fort; forcer I ♦ La force de qqn. 1 ♦ Puissance d action physique (d un être, d un organe). Force physique; force musculaire. ⇒ résistance, robustesse, vigueur …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • force — Force, Vis, Neruositas, Fortitudo, Virtus. Il se prend quelquesfois pour le dessus d une entreprinse ou affaire, comme, Il combatit si vaillamment que la force fut sienne, c est à dire, que le dessus du combat et la victoire fut à luy. Item,… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • force — 1 n 1: a cause of motion, activity, or change intervening force: a force that acts after another s negligent act or omission has occurred and that causes injury to another: intervening cause at cause irresistible force: an unforeseeable event esp …   Law dictionary

  • force — Force. subst. fem. Vigueur, faculté naturelle d agir vigoureusement. Il se dit proprement du corps. Force naturelle. grande force. force extraordinaire. force de corps. force de bras, la force consiste dans les nerfs. frapper de toute sa force, y …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Force — Force, n. [F. force, LL. forcia, fortia, fr. L. fortis strong. See {Fort}, n.] 1. Capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect; strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigor; might; often, an unusual degree of strength or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • forcé — forcé, ée (for sé, sée) part. passé de forcer. 1°   À quoi on a fait violence, qu on a tordu, brisé avec violence. Un coffre forcé. Une serrure forcée. •   Ils [les Juifs] répandirent dans le monde que le sépulcre [de Jésus] avait été forcé ;… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • force — n 1 *power, energy, strength, might, puissance Analogous words: *stress, strain, pressure, tension: *speed, velocity, momentum, impetus, headway 2 Force, violence, compulsion, coercion, duress, constraint, restraint denote the exercise or the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • force — [fôrs, fōrs] n. [ME < OFr < VL * fortia, * forcia < L fortis, strong: see FORT1] 1. strength; energy; vigor; power 2. the intensity of power; impetus [the force of a blow] 3. a) physical power or strength exerted against a person or… …   English World dictionary

  • Force — Force, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Forced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Forcing}.] [OF. forcier, F. forcer, fr. LL. forciare, fortiare. See {Force}, n.] 1. To constrain to do or to forbear, by the exertion of a power not resistible; to compel by physical, moral,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • force — ► NOUN 1) physical strength or energy as an attribute of action or movement. 2) Physics an influence tending to change the motion of a body or produce motion or stress in a stationary body. 3) coercion backed by the use or threat of violence. 4)… …   English terms dictionary

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