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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary firm
ETYMOLOGY Middle English ferm, from Anglo-French, from Latin firmus; akin to Greek thronos chair, throne DATE 14th century 1. a. securely or solidly fixed in place b. not weak or uncertain : vigorous c. having a solid or compact structure that resists stress or pressure 2. a. (1) not subject to change or revision (2) not subject to price weakness : steady b. not easily moved or disturbed : steadfast c. well-founded 3. indicating firmness or resolution a firm mouth • firm·ly adverb • firm·ness noun
adverb DATE 14th century : in a firm manner : steadfastly , fixedly
verb DATE 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to make secure or fast : tighten firming her grip on the racquet — often used with up b. to make solid or compact firm the soil 2. to put into final form : settle firm a contract firm up plans 3. to give additional support to : strengthen — usually used with upintransitive verb 1. to become firm : harden — often used with up2. to recover from a decline : improve the market is firming
noun ETYMOLOGY German Firma, from Italian, signature, ultimately from Latin firmare to make firm, confirm, from firmus DATE 1744 1. the name or title under which a company transacts business 2. a partnership of two or more persons that is not recognized as a legal person distinct from the members composing it 3. a business unit or enterprise English Etymology firm 1. firm (adj.) late 14c., from O.Fr . ferme, from L. firmus "firm, stable," from PIE base *dher(e)- "to hold, support" (cf. Skt.dharmah "custom, law," Gk. thronos "seat," Lith. dirzmas"strong," Welsh dir "hard," Breton dir "steel"). The return in late 1500s to -i- from M.E. ferme was modeled on the L.http://O.Fr 2. firm (n.) "business house," 1744, from Ger. Firma "a business,name of a business," originally "signature," from It. firma"signature," from firmare "to sign," from L. firmare "make firm, affirm, confirm (by signature)," from firmus "firm, stable" (see firm (adj.)). Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ firm firm / fE:m; NAmE fE:rm / noun a business or company 商行；商号；公司: an engineering firm 工程公司 a firm of accountants 会计事务所 adjective(firm·er, firm·est) 1. fairly hard; not easy to press into a different shape 坚固的；坚硬的；结实的: a firm bed / mattress 结实的床/床垫 These peaches are still firm. 这些桃子还很硬。 Bake the cakes until they are firm to the touch. 把糕饼烤到摸来有硬感为止。 2. not likely to change 坚定的；确定的；坚决的: a firm believer in socialism 坚定信仰社会主义的人 a firm agreement / date / decision / offer / promise 巩固的协议；确定的日期；不能更改的决定；实盘；坚决的保证 firm beliefs / conclusions / convictions / principles 坚定不移的信仰；定论；坚定的信念/原则 She is a firm favourite with the children. 孩子们着实喜欢她。 We have no firm evidence to support the case. 我们没有确凿的证据支持这个论点。 They remained firm friends. 他们依然友情甚笃。 3. strongly fixed in place 牢固的；稳固的 SYN secure :
Stand the fish tank on a firm base. 把鱼缸放在牢固的基座上。 No building can stand without firm foundations, and neither can a marriage. 没有稳固的基础,建筑就不牢靠,婚姻也是如此。 4. (of sb's voice or hand movements 声音或手势) strong and steady 强有力的；坚决的: 'No,' she repeated, her voice firmer this time. "不。"她重复说,这次语气较前坚决。 With a firm grip on my hand, he pulled me away. 他紧握我的手把我拉开。 Her handshake was cool and firm. 她握手镇定而有力。 5. (of sb's behaviour, position or understanding of sth 行为、处境或理解) strong and in control 牢牢控制的；严格的；掌握的: to exercise firm control / discipline / leadership 实施严格的控制/纪律/领导 Parents must be firm with their children. 父母必须对子女严格。 The company now has a firm footing in the marketplace. 现在这家公司在市场上已稳稳站住脚跟。 This book will give your students a firm grasp of English grammar. 这本书将使学生牢固地掌握英语语法。 We need to keep a firm grip on the situation. 我们需要牢牢地掌握局面。 6. [usually before noun] ~ (against sth) (of a country's money, etc. 货币等) not lower than another 坚挺的: The euro remained firm against the dollar, but fell against the yen. 欧元对美元依然坚挺,但对日元的汇率则下跌。 ⇨ see also firmly • firm·ness noun [U] IDIOMS ▪ be on firm 'ground to be in a strong position in an argument, etc. because you know the facts (在辩论等中)立场坚定,对事实确信无疑: Everyone agreed with me, so I knew I was on firm ground. 每个人都同意我的意见,所以我知道自己立场稳固了。 ▪ a firm 'hand strong control or discipline 牢固控制；严格纪律；铁腕: Those children need a firm hand to make them behave. 那些孩子得严加管教。 ▪ take a firm 'line / 'stand (on / against sth) to make your beliefs known and to try to make others follow them (对…)采取坚定的立场(或态度): We need to take a firm line on tobacco advertising. 我们需要对烟草广告采取强硬的态度。 They took a firm stand against drugs in the school. 他们坚决反对校园吸毒现象。 adverb▪ hold 'firm (to sth) (formal) to believe sth strongly and not change your mind 坚信；坚持: She held firm to her principles. 她坚持自己的原则。 ▪ stand 'fast / 'firm to refuse to move back; to refuse to change your opinions 坚定不移；不让步；坚持自己的观点verb1. [VN] to make sth become stronger or harder 使强壮；使坚固；使坚实: Firm the soil around the plant. 把植物周围的土弄紧实。 This product claims to firm your body in one weeks. 这个产品据称能在六周内使身体强壮。 2. [V] ~ (to / at...) (finance 财) (of shares, prices, etc. 股票、物价等) to become steady or rise steadily 坚挺；稳步上涨: Rank's shares firmed 3p to 696p. 兰克公司的股票涨了 3 便士,升至 696 便士。 PHRASAL VERBS ▪ 7firm 'up to become harder or more solid 变坚固；变坚实: Put the mixture somewhere cool to firm up. 把混合物放在一个地方冷却变硬。 ▪ 7firm 'up sth 1. to make arrangements more final and fixed 最后落实；敲定: The company has not yet firmed up its plans for expansion. 公司的扩大计划尚未最后落实。 The precise details still have to be firmed up. 准确的细节仍需最后敲定。 2. to make sth harder or more solid 使坚固；使坚硬；使坚实: A few weeks of aerobics will firm up that flabby stomach. 几个星期的有氧健身运动将使松弛的腹部结实。 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English firm adj. 1 solid/strong VERBS be, feel, look, seem | remain, stay Exercise is important if you want your muscles to stay firm. | make sth Use extra stuffing to make the cushions firmer. | keep sth exercises to keep your muscles firm ADV. very | fairly, quite, reasonably 2 not likely to change VERBS be, sound | hold, remain, stand Jo held firm: nothing else would do. We stand firm on these principles. ADV. very | fairly, quite PREP. with I have always been quite firm with my children. OLT firm adj. ⇨ firm (a firm base)⇨ final (firm beliefs)⇨ solid (firm ground)⇨ strict (firm discipline)⇨ tight (a firm grip) firm noun ⇨ company Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged firm I. \ˈfərm, -ə̄m, -əim\ adjective (-er/-est) Etymology: alteration (influenced by Latin firmus) of Middle English ferm, ferme, from Middle French ferm, from Latin firmus; akin to Latin fretus trusting, daring, Greek thrēsasthai to sit down, thronos chair, throne, Sanskrit dhārayati he holds, carries, keeps; basic meaning: holding, supporting 1. a. : securely or solidly fixed in place : not loose : immovable < his teeth were firm — D.B.Chidsey > < firm in the saddle > < the gate and its pillars were firm, but at one side the fence had fallen — John Glassco > b. (1) : not weak, wavering, or uncertain : solid , robust < walked with a firm tread > < a firm handshake > < a firm steady touch on the piano > (2) : sound , healthy < her mind was still firm; but her limbs trembled … violently — Ellen Glasgow > c. : having a solid or compact structure or texture : withstanding stress or pressure : not flabby or soft < firm flesh > < firm muscles > < the snow was firm, not powdery > < the creek has a firm bottom > 2. a. (1) : not subject to change, revision, or withdrawal : fixed , settled , definite , established < at this meeting … two firm decisions were taken — New York Times > < I cannot quote you a firm price > < is this a firm offer > < like a mother with no baby-sitter and a firm date at the theater — E.B.White > (2) : not subject to price weakness on an increase in offerings : steady — used especially of commodities, securities, and interest rates (3) of electric power : dependable or flowing steadily because supplemented by a reserve source b. (1) : not easily moved, shaken, excited, or disturbed : unshaken , convinced , determined < firm nerves > < a firm believer in democracy > < firm confidence in his own ability > (2) : not fickle or vacillating : steadfast , loyal , constant < a firm friend > < firm in his devotion > (3) : making no concessions : showing no weakness : unyielding , rigorous , inflexible , severe , hard < a firm and even tough diplomacy — Hugh Gaitskell > < when a strong hand must be used, be impersonal but firm — Dorothy Barclay > < firm discipline — L.C.Douglas > c. (1) : not easily challenged or undone : assured , secure , strong < took firm possession of the enemy's trenches > < holds a firm position as the country's leading poet > < this horse is a firm favorite for the big race > (2) : well-founded , certain < the fuller and firmer account would have set several facts in clearer … perspective — A.S.P.Woodhouse > : thorough < he has a firm knowledge of the subject > (3) : marked by solidity, precision, or clarity : convincingly, realistically, or solidly drawn < the plot is thin, but the atmosphere is firm — Nicola Chiaromonte > < the deep richness of the book … and its firm design — W.T.Scott > 3. : indicating firmness or resolution < the firm almost arrogant voice of a vigorous young man — E.K.Genn > < a firm mouth > Synonyms: hard , solid : firm may apply to a resistant tight compactness or resilient consistency of substance withstanding strain, stress, or pressure; it may imply stability or resolution < a firm weave > < a firm foundation > < the snow, far from being soft and powdery, was firm and hard — John Hunt & Edmund Hillary > < only the pier actually hit was demolished; the adjoining piers stood firm — O.S.Nock > < he stood firm on recommendations he believed were to the city's benefit, often in the face of popular opposition — Current Biography > < she was firm and determined with a firmness that was impervious to assault > hard may apply to a strong and rigid resistance to pressure or a sound unyielding stability; it may imply unyielding or harsh obduracy < hard coal > < hard wood > < hard cash > < a hard man to deal with > < the oppressive conflict between esthetic values and a hard materialistic view of nature and human nature — Victor Lowe > solid , as opposed to fluid, indicates a density and coherence giving fixed form; as opposed to flimsy or unsubstantial, it indicates strong sound stability; in reference to persons, it may imply complete reliability or sobriety < a solid substance > < the bungalow was a very solid one — Rudyard Kipling > < courses that are solid in purpose and preparation and that are backed up with a maximum of good scholarship — Elizabeth Jacobs > < all we knew was that there was something of force and majesty and authority, solid, consistent, and beautiful — R.A.Cram > II. adverb (-er/-est) Etymology: Middle English ferm, ferme, from ferm, ferme, adjective : fixedly , steadfastly , solidly , firmly — used chiefly in the phrases stand firm and hold firm < if England had not stood firm … our way of life would have gone up the flue — Richard Joseph > < begged his men to hold firm till relief came > III. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English fermen, firmen, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French fermer, from Latin firmare, from firmus transitive verb 1. a. (1) : to cause to become firm in texture or consistency : made solid or compact < firm cheese > < firming a light soil by rolling or harrowing — F.D.Smith & Barbara Wilcox > < a new face cream that firms your skin > (2) : to make fast or secure : set firmly : tighten < firm a post in the ground > < firming the grip on the sword — Tom Lea > b. : to bolster the courage or resources of : strengthen in some way : encourage < firmed herself with great care for the day — R.O.Bowen > — often used with up < voted a state of siege to firm up his government — Time > < unless other factors firm up the … price index substantially, it goes down — Wall Street Journal > < his failure to firm up his materialism … with data from the natural and social sciences — P.B.Rice > c. : settle < firm a contract > : confirm , establish 2. obsolete : sign , validate intransitive verb 1. : to become firm in some way : take clear, definite, or fixed shape : harden , crystallize , jell < his face firmed and he spoke with restrained anger > < confidence is firming that the slump will be of short duration > — often used with up < opinion on this is firming up, and it's more optimistic than it was — Kiplinger Washington Letter > < the cheese is firming > < diplomats said more informal soundings must take place before things firm up — New York Herald Tribune > 2. : to recover from a decline : expand or rise after a contraction or fall < after a long decline prices are firming again > — often used with up < cattle prices are firming up > < the market firmed up a bit > IV. noun (-s) Etymology: Spanish firma, from firmar to affirm, confirm, sign, from Latin firmare 1. obsolete : signature ; especially : official signature of state papers2. [German firma, from obsolete German, signature, from Italian, from firmare to sign, from Latin firmare to make firm, confirm] a. : the name, title, or style under which a company transacts business : the firm name b. : a partnership of two or more persons not recognized as a legal person distinct from the members composing it — compare company 3 c. : a business unit or enterprise < the organizational framework within which the Soviet firmoperates — Holland Hunter > |
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