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fry

verb \ ˈfrī \
|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of fry

fried; frying
transitive verb
1 : to cook in a pan or on a griddle over heat especially with the use of fat
2 slang : electrocute 2
3 : to damage or destroy (an electrical device or its circuitry) by overheating especially as a result of unusually high voltage
intransitive verb
1 : to undergo frying
2 : to get very hot or burn as if being fried
  • bodies frying on the beach

See fry defined for English-language learners

See fry defined for kids

Examples of fry in a Sentence

  1. We had fried eggs and ham for breakfast.

  2. We could smell the onions frying.

Origin and Etymology of fry

Middle English frien, from Anglo-French frire, from Latin frigere to roast; akin to Greek phrygein to roast, fry, Sanskrit bhṛjjati he roasts

2

fry

noun

Definition of fry

plural fries
1 : a social gathering or picnic where food is fried and eaten
  • a fish fry
2 a : a dish of something fried
b : french fry —usually plural
  • a burger and fries
c : a vegetable prepared in the style of a french fry —usually plural
  • carrot fries

First Known Use of fry

1833

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year
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Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

3

fry

noun

Definition of fry

plural fry
1 a : recently hatched or juvenile fishes
b : the young of other animals
2 : very small adult fishes
3 : members of a group or class : individuals
  • small fry

Origin and Etymology of fry

Middle English, from Anglo-French frie, from freier, frier to rub, spawn — more at 2fray

Fry

biographical name \ ˈfrī \

Definition of Fry

Christopher 1907–2005 English dramatist

FRY Defined for English Language Learners

fry

verb

Definition of fry for English Language Learners

  • : to cook (food) in fat or oil

FRY Defined for Kids

1

fry

verb \ ˈfrī \

Definition of fry for Students

fried; frying
: to cook in fat
2

fry

noun

Definition of fry for Students

plural fries
: french fry
3

fry

noun

Definition of fry for Students

plural fry
: a recently hatched or very young fish —usually used in pl.
  • The salmon fry were released into the river.

Learn More about fry

  1. See words that rhyme with fry Spanish Central: Translation of fry Nglish: Translation of fry for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fry for Arabic speakers

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