FULL

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does full mean? 

• FULL (noun)
  The noun FULL has 1 sense:

1. the time when the Moon is fully illuminated

  Familiarity information: FULL used as a noun is very rare.

• FULL (adjective)
  The adjective FULL has 8 senses:

1. containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

2. constituting the full quantity or extent; complete

3. complete in extent or degree and in every particular

4. filled to satisfaction with food or drink

5. (of sound) having marked deepness and body

6. having the normally expected amount

7. being at a peak or culminating point

8. having ample fabric

  Familiarity information: FULL used as an adjective is common.

• FULL (verb)
  The verb FULL has 3 senses:

1. beat for the purpose of cleaning and thickening

2. make (a garment) fuller by pleating or gathering

3. increase in phase

  Familiarity information: FULL used as a verb is uncommon.

• FULL (adverb)
  The adverb FULL has 1 sense:

1. to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; ('full' in this sense is used as a combining form)

  Familiarity information: FULL used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FULL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The time when the Moon is fully illuminated

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

full; full-of-the-moon; full moon; full phase of the moon

Context example:

the moon is at the full

Hypernyms ("full" is a kind of...):

phase of the moon (a time when the Moon presents a particular recurring appearance)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "full"):

harvest moon (the full moon nearest the September equinox)

Holonyms ("full" is a part of...):

month (a time unit of approximately 30 days)

• FULL (adjective)

Comparative: fuller   
Superlative: fullest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

Context example:

the auditorium was full to overflowing

Similar:

glutted; overfull (exceeding demand)

heavy; weighed down (full of; bearing great weight)

instinct; replete ((followed by 'with') deeply filled or permeated)

laden; ladened; loaded (filled with a great quantity)

overladen; overloaded (loaded past capacity)

riddled (spread throughout)

sperm-filled (filled with sperm)

stuffed (filled with something)

stuffed (crammed with food)

untasted; untouched (still full)

well-lined (full of money)

fraught; pregnant (filled with or attended with)

filled ((usually followed by 'with' or used as a combining form) generously supplied with)

egg-filled (full of eggs)

congested; engorged (overfull as with blood)

chock-full; chockablock; chockful; choke-full; chuck-full; cram full (packed full to capacity)

brimful; brimfull; brimming (filled to capacity)

air-filled (full of air)

afloat; awash; flooded; inundated; overflowing (covered with water)

gas-filled (full of a gas)

Attribute:

fullness (the condition of being filled to capacity)

Antonym:

empty (holding or containing nothing)

Derivation:

fullness (the condition of being filled to capacity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Constituting the full quantity or extent; complete

Synonyms:

entire; full; total

Context example:

a total failure

Similar:

whole (including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Complete in extent or degree and in every particular

Synonyms:

full; total

Context example:

a total disaster

Similar:

complete (having every necessary or normal part or component or step)

Derivation:

fullness (completeness over a broad scope)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Filled to satisfaction with food or drink

Synonyms:

full; replete

Context example:

a full stomach

Similar:

nourished (being provided with adequate nourishment)

Sense 5

Meaning:

(of sound) having marked deepness and body

Context example:

a full voice

Similar:

booming; stentorian ((used of the voice or sound) deep and resonant)

grumbling; rumbling (continuous full and low-pitched throbbing sound)

plangent (loud and resounding)

rich (pleasantly full and mellow)

orotund; pear-shaped; rotund; round ((of sounds) full and rich)

heavy; sonorous (full and loud and deep)

sounding (having volume or deepness)

Antonym:

thin ((of sound) lacking resonance or volume)

Derivation:

fullness (the property of a sensation that is rich and pleasing)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Having the normally expected amount

Synonyms:

full; good

Context example:

a good mile from here

Similar:

ample (more than enough in size or scope or capacity)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Being at a peak or culminating point

Synonyms:

broad; full

Context example:

full summer

Similar:

high (greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Having ample fabric

Synonyms:

full; wide; wide-cut

Context example:

a full skirt

Similar:

ample (more than enough in size or scope or capacity)

Derivation:

fullness (greatness of volume)

• FULL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they full    ... he / she / it fulls   
Past simple: fulled   
Past participle: fulled   
-ing form: fulling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Beat for the purpose of cleaning and thickening

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

full the cloth

Hypernyms (to "full" is one way to...):

beat (hit repeatedly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

fuller (a workman who fulls (cleans and thickens) freshly woven cloth for a living)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make (a garment) fuller by pleating or gathering

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "full" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Increase in phase

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

full; wax

Context example:

the moon is waxing

Hypernyms (to "full" is one way to...):

increase (become bigger or greater in amount)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence example:

The moon will soon full

• FULL (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

To the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; ('full' in this sense is used as a combining form)

Synonyms:

full; fully; to the full

Context example:

full-fledged

Domain usage:

combining form (a bound form used only in compounds)

 Context examples 

With a sudden change of position he turned his eyes full upon me and regarded me thoughtfully.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

To us he was full of potentiality.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

You seem most fortunate in having an employé who comes under the full market price.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is all dark and horrid to me, for I can remember nothing; but I am full of vague fear, and I feel so weak and worn out.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He was full of joy and attention.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Then for the first time the horror of my situation came in its full force.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His brain was just as full of knowledge as theirs, though it was a different kind of knowledge.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Mr. Holmes, if ever you put forward your full powers, I implore you to do so now, for never in your life could you have a case which is more worthy of them.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"It can't seem so without Marmee and little Pip," sighed Beth, glancing with full eyes at the empty cage above her head.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She approached more cautiously, and the cub had full opportunity to observe her lean, snakelike body, and her head, erect, eager, and snake-like itself.

(White Fang, by Jack London)