Definition of fool
(Entry 1 of 3)
1
: a person lacking in judgment or prudence
Only a fool would ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet.
2a
: a retainer (see retainer entry 1 sense 1) formerly kept in great households to provide casual entertainment and commonly dressed in motley with cap, bells, and bauble
3a
: a harmlessly deranged person or one lacking in common powers of understanding
b
: one with a marked propensity or fondness for something
a dancing fool a fool for candy
4
: a cold dessert of pureed fruit mixed with whipped cream or custard
fool
adjectivefool
verb
fooled; fooling; fools
Definition of fool (Entry 3 of 3)
1a
: to behave foolishly
told the children to stop their fooling
— see also fool around
b
: to meddle, tamper, or experiment especially thoughtlessly or ignorantly
Don't fool with that drill.
— see also fool around with
2a
: to play or improvise a comic role
b
: to speak in jest : joke
I was only fooling
3
: to contend or fight without serious intent or with less than full strength : toy
a dangerous man to fool with
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for fool
The first known use of fool was in the 13th century
See more words from the same century