Etymology
Origin uncertain; but probably of North Germanic origin. Probably from or related to Danish fog (“spray, shower, drift, storm”), related to Icelandic fok (“spray, any light thing tossed by the wind, snowdrift”), Icelandic fjúka (“to blow, drive”), from Proto-Germanic *feukaną (“to whisk, blow”), from Proto-Indo-European *pug- (“billow, bulge, drift”), from *pew-, *pow- (“to blow, drift, billow”), in which case related to German fauchen (“to hiss, spit, spray”).
Noun
fog (countable and uncountable, plural fogs)
- (uncountable) A thick cloud that forms near the ground; the obscurity of such a cloud
- a bank of fog
- (uncountable) A mist or film clouding a surface.
- (figuratively) A state of mind characterized by lethargy and confusion.
- He did so many drugs, he was still in a fog three months after going through detox.
- (photography) A silver deposit or other blur on a negative or developed photographic image.
Usage notes
- For the sense thick cloud, "bank of fog" is usually used.
- For the sense clouding a surface, "foggy patch" is usually used.
Derived terms
- brain fog
- fog bank
- foggy
- fog horn
- fog lamp
- ground fog
- smog
Verb
fog (third-person singular simple present fogs, present participle fogging, simple past and past participle fogged)
- (intransitive) To become covered with or as if with fog.
- (intransitive) To become obscured in condensation or water.
- The mirror fogged every time he showered.
- (intransitive, photography) To become dim or obscure.
- (transitive, photography) To make dim or obscure.
- (transitive) To cover with or as if with fog
- (transitive) To disperse insecticide into (a forest canopy) so as to collect organisms.
- (transitive) To obscure in condensation or water.
- (transitive) To make confusing or obscure
Derived terms
- pettifog
- fog up
Credits
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