| Title | force | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Text |
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary force
ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *fortia, from Latin fortis strong DATE 14th century 1. a. (1) strength or energy exerted or brought to bear : cause of motion or change : active power the forces of nature the motivating force in her life (2)capitalized — used with a number to indicate the strength of the wind according to the Beaufort scale a Force 10 hurricane b. moral or mental strength c. capacity to persuade or convince the force of the argument 2. a. military strength b. (1) a body (as of troops or ships) assigned to a military purpose (2)plural : the whole military strength (as of a nation) c. a body of persons or things available for a particular end a labor force the missile force d. an individual or group having the power of effective action join forces to prevent violence a force in politics e. often capitalized : police force — usually used with the 3. violence, compulsion, or constraint exerted upon or against a person or thing 4. a. an agency or influence that if applied to a free body results chiefly in an acceleration of the body and sometimes in elastic deformation and other effects b. any of the natural influences (as electromagnetism, gravity, the strong force, and the weak force) that exist especially between particles and determine the structure of the universe 5. the quality of conveying impressions intensely in writing or speech stated the objectives with force Synonyms: see power • • • - in force
transitive verb (forced ; forc·ing) DATE 14th century 1. to do violence to; especially : rape 2. to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means 3. to make or cause especially through natural or logical necessity forced to admit my error the last minute goal forced overtime 4. a. to press, drive, pass, or effect against resistance or inertia force your way through b. to impose or thrust urgently, importunately, or inexorably force unwanted attentions on a coworker 5. to achieve or win by strength in struggle or violence: as a. to win one's way into force a castle forced the mountain passes b. to break open or through force a lock 6. a. to raise or accelerate to the utmost forcing the pace b. to produce only with unnatural or unwilling effort forced a smile c. to wrench, strain, or use (language) with marked unnaturalness and lack of ease 7. a. to hasten the rate of progress or growth of b. to bring (as plants) to maturity out of the normal season forcing lilies for Easter 8. to induce (as a particular bid or play by another player) in a card game by some conventional act, play, bid, or response 9. a. to cause (a runner in baseball) to be put out on a force-out b. to cause (a run) to be scored in baseball by giving a base on balls when the bases are full • forc·er noun • • • - force one's hand Synonyms. force , compel , coerce , constrain , oblige mean to make someone or something yield. force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress forced to flee for their lives compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force compelled to admit my mistake coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure coerced into signing over the rights constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice constrained by conscience oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty felt obliged to go English Etymology force force (n.) c.1300, from O.Fr . force, from L.L. fortia, from neut. pl.of L. fortis "strong" (see fort). Meaning "body of armed men, army" first recorded late 14c. The verb is first attested early 14c.; its original sense was "to ravish" (a woman).http://O.Fr Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ force force / fC:s; NAmE fC:rs / nounVIOLENT ACTION 暴力行动 1. [U] violent physical action used to obtain or achieve sth 武力；暴力: The release of the hostages could not be achieved without the use of force. 不使用武力不可能使人质获释。 The rioters were taken away by force. 聚众闹事者被强行带走。 The ultimatum contained the threat of military force. 这份最后通牒含有武力威胁。 We will achieve much more by persuasion than by brute force. 我们通过说服会比使用暴力获得更多的成果。 PHYSICAL STRENGTH 力 2. [U] the physical strength of sth that is shown as it hits sth else 力；力量: the force of the blow / explosion / collision 打击/爆炸/碰撞力 The shopping centre took the full force of the blast. 购物中心承受了全部爆炸力。 STRONG EFFECT 强大效力 3. [U] the strong effect or influence of sth 强大效力；巨大影响: They realized the force of her argument. 他们领悟到了她那论据的威力。 He controlled himself by sheer force of will. 他全靠意志力自我控制。 She spoke with force and deliberation. 她讲话铿锵有力,字斟句酌。 SB / STH WITH POWER 具有力量的人/事物 4. [C] a person or thing that has a lot of power or influence 力量大的人(或事物)；影响大的人(或事物): economic / market forces 经济/市场力量 the forces of good / evil 善/恶的力量 Ron is the driving force (= the person who has the most influence) behind the project. 罗恩是这个计划的主心骨。 She's a force to be reckoned with (= a person who has a lot of power and influence and should therefore be treated seriously). 她是一个需要认真对待的有影响力的人物。 The expansion of higher education should be a powerful force for change. 高等教育的发展对变革应该是一个强大的推动力。 AUTHORITY 权威 5. [U] the authority of sth 权力；效力: These guidelines do not have the force of law. 这些指导原则不具有法律效力。 The court ruled that these standards have force in British law. 法院裁定,这些标准在英国法律中有效。 GROUP OF PEOPLE 一群人 6. [C + sing. / pl. v.] a group of people who have been organized for a particular purpose (为某目的组织起来的)一群人: a member of the sales force 推销人员中的一员 A large proportion of the labour force (= all the people who work in a particular company, area, etc.) is unskilled. 很大一部份劳动力是非熟练工。 ⇨ see also workforce MILITARY 武装力量 7. [C + sing. / pl. v.] a group of people who have been trained to protect other people, usually by using weapons 武装部队；部队: a member of the security forces 保安部队成员 rebel / government forces 反叛/政府武装力量 a peace-keeping force 维和部队 ⇨ see also air force , police force , task force 8. the forces [pl.] (BrE) the army, navy and air force 兵力,武装力量(陆海空三军): allied forces 盟军 ⇨ see also armed forces 9. forces [pl.] the weapons and soldiers that an army, etc. has, considered as things that may be used 武装力量: strategic nuclear forces 战略核部队 POLICE 警察 10. the force [sing.] (BrE) the police force 警察部门: He joined the force twenty years ago. 他二十年前加入了警队。 PHYSICS 物理 11. [C, U] an effect that causes things to move in a particular way 力: The moon exerts a force on the earth. 月球对地球有引力。 the force of gravity 重力 magnetic / centrifugal force 磁力；离心力 OF WIND 风 12. [C, usually sing.] a unit for measuring the strength of the wind 风力；风力等级: a force 9 gale 9 级大风 a gale force wind 一场大风级的风 ⇨ see also tour de force IDIOMS ▪ bring sth into 'force to cause a law, rule, etc. to start being used (使法律、规则等)开始生效,开始实施: They are hoping to bring the new legislation into force before the end of the year. 他们希望在年底前实施新法。 ▪ come / enter into 'force (of a law, rule, etc. 法律、规则等) to start being used 开始生效；开始实施: When do the new regulations come into force? 新规章什么时候开始执行？ ▪ force of 'habit if you do sth from or out of force of habit, you do it automatically and in a particular way because you have always done it that way in the past 习惯力量 ▪ the forces of 'nature the power of the wind, rain, etc., especially when it causes damage or harm (尤指造成损害的)自然力；大自然的力量 ▪ in 'force 1. (of people 人) in large numbers 大量；众多: Protesters turned out in force. 有很多抗议者出席。 2. (of a law, rule, etc. 法律、规则等) being used 已生效；在实施中: The new regulations are now in force. 新规章已生效。 ▪ join / combine 'forces (with sb) to work together in order to achieve a shared aim (同…)联合；(与…)合作: The two firms joined forces to win the contract. 两家公司联合起来争取合同。 ⇨ more at spent verbMAKE SB DO STH 使做某事 1. [often passive] ~ sb (into sth / into doing sth) to make sb do sth that they do not want to do 强迫,迫使(某人做某事) SYN compel
▪ [VN VN to inf] The President was forced into resigning. 总统被迫辞职。 The President was forced to resign. 总统被迫辞职。 ▪ [VN to inf] I was forced to take a taxi because the last bus had left. 最后一班公共汽车已经开走,所以我只好叫了一辆出租汽车。 She forced herself to be polite to them. 她对他们强装客气。 ▪ [VN] He didn't force me—I wanted to go. 他没有逼迫我,是我想去的。 Ill health forced him into early retirement. 他由于健康不佳不得不提前退休。 (informal, humorous) 'I shouldn't really have any more.' 'Go on— force yourself !' "我确实不应该再吃了。" "接着吃——再努力努力！" USE PHYSICAL STRENGTH 用体力 2. to use physical strength to move sb / sth into a particular position 用力,强行(把…移动): ▪ [VN] to force a lock / window / door (= to break it open using force) 强行打开锁/窗 / 门 He tried to force a copy of his book into my hand. 他硬要把他的一本书往我手里塞。 to force an entry (= to enter a building using force) 强行进入建筑物 She forced her way through the crowd of reporters. 她在记者群中挤出一条通路。 ▪ [VN-ADJ] The door had been forced open. 门被强行打开了。 MAKE STH HAPPEN 使发生 3. [VN] to make sth happen, especially before other people are ready 使发生(尤指趁他人尚未准备): He was in a position where he had to force a decision. 他现在的处境是,不得不强行通过一项决定。 Building a new road here will force house prices down. 在这里修建一条新道路将使房价下跌。 A SMILE / LAUGH 微笑；大笑 4. [VN] to make yourself smile, laugh, etc. rather than doing it naturally 强作笑颜；强装欢笑: She managed to force a smile. 她勉强笑笑。 FRUIT / PLANTS 果实；植物 5. [VN] to make fruit, plants, etc. grow or develop faster than normal by keeping them in special conditions 人工催长；加速(水果、植物等)生长；催熟: forced rhubarb 人工催长的大黄 (figurative) It is unwise to force a child's talent. 对儿童的才能拔苗助长是不明智的。 ▪ force sb's 'hand to make sb do sth that they do not want to do or make them do it sooner than they had intended 迫使某人做某事(或提前行动) ▪ 'force the issue to do sth to make people take a decision quickly 迫使从速决定 ▪ force the 'pace (especially BrE) 1. to run very fast in a race in order to make the other people taking part run faster 迫使(赛跑对手)加速 2. to make sb do sth faster than they want to 迫使(某人)加快速度: The demonstrations have succeeded in forcing the pace of change. 示威成功地促使改革进程加快。 ⇨ more at throat PHRASAL VERBS ▪ 7force sth ↔ 'back to make yourself hide an emotion 强忍(不表露情感): She swallowed hard and forced back her tears. 她使劲咽了一下口水,强忍住了眼泪。 ▪ 7force sth ↔ 'down 1. to make yourself eat or drink sth that you do not really want 强迫咽下(食物或饮料) 2. to make a plane, etc. land, especially by threatening to attack it 迫使(飞机等)降落 ▪ 'force sb / sth on / upon sb to make sb accept sth that they do not want 强迫接受；把…强加给: to force your attentions / opinions / company on sb 强行对(某人)献殷勤；把意见强加给(某人)；硬要陪伴(某人) ▪ 7force sth 'out of sb to make sb tell you sth, especially by threatening them 强使说出(尤其通过威胁): I managed to force the truth out of him. 我设法迫使他说出了真情。 WORD FAMILY force v. n.
forceful adj.
forced adj. ( ≠ unforced )
forcible adj.
enforce v.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English force noun 1 physical strength, power or violence ADJ. considerable, great, terrible, tremendous | full, maximum | brute, sheer | reasonable | sufficient | excessive | unlawful | deadly, lethal | explosive | physical | gale The wind was increasing to gale force. VERB + FORCE resort to, use In the end, we had to resort to brute force to get the door open. | take sth by The troops marched in and took the city by force. | feel Even the opposition MPs felt the force of the prime minister's argument. PREP. by ~ The king made laws and imposed them by force. PHRASES catch/experience/feel/meet/take the full force of sth Our shop took the full force of the bomb blast. I felt the full force of her criticism. | meet force with force The country's attempts to meet force with force (= resist an attack using force) led to the outbreak of war. | the use of force The regulations allow the use of force if necessary. 2 effect that causes sth to move ADJ. powerful, strong | weak | attractive | repulsive | balanced | external, internal Deep internal forces cause movements of the earth's crust. | lateral | centrifugal, centripetal, electromagnetic, electromotive, gravitational, mechanical, nuclear, tidal VERB + FORCE exert The sun exerts a force on the earth. | increase | decrease | balance The forces of expansion are balanced by forces of contraction. FORCE + VERB balance sth FORCE + NOUN field the force field of a magnet (figurative) It was as if an invisible force field kept us apart. PREP. ~ between the attractive and repulsive forces between individual particles PHRASES a balance of forces the balance of nuclear forces in atoms | the force of gravity3 authority of sth ADJ. binding, legal, statutory The contract was not signed and has no binding force. VERB + FORCE come into The new law comes into force as from midnight tomorrow. | bring sth into PREP. in ~ Some laws relating to obsolete customs are still in force. PHRASES the force of law Professional standards often do not have the force of law (= cannot be enforced). 4 sb/sth with power/influence ADJ. considerable, formidable, great, irresistible, major, overwhelming, potent, powerful, significant, strong | active, controlling, dominant, driving, moving | motivating | persuasive | constructive, creative, dynamic, positive, progressive | destructive, disruptive, negative, subversive She was seen as a potentially subversive force within the party. | cohesive, unifying | competitive, conflicting, countervailing, reactionary | internal | external, international, outside The play portrays a marriage torn apart by external forces. | natural powerful natural forces such as earthquakes and drought | spiritual, supernatural | dark, demonic, evil, malevolent ‘There are dark forces in the universe,’ he raved, ‘and we are powerless against them!’ | cultural, economic, intellectual, market, moral, political, productive, revolutionary, social powerful social and economic forces VERB + FORCE remain Though officially retired, she remains the creative force behind the design business. | balance This is a politician who does not like to balance market forces. PREP. ~ behind Local parents were the driving force behind the project. | ~ for Competition is a force for change in industry. PHRASES a balance of forces shifts in the balance of political forces in Europe | a force to be reckoned with With its new players, the team is now very much a force to be reckoned with. 5 group of people trained for a particular purpose ADJ. large | small, token a token force of only 300 men | 100-strong, etc. | crack, elite, special These elite forces are the best equipped and trained in the world. | combined, joint the combined forces of MI5 and Scotland Yard a joint task force | allied, coalition, multinational | strategic | labour, sales a company's labour force the country's labour force | armed, military, paramilitary | government, loyal | enemy, guerrilla, hostile, occupying, opposition, rebel | regular | reserve | volunteer | conventional | nuclear | assault, defence, expeditionary, fighting, invasion, peace, peacekeeping, police, security, strike (See also task force.) | air, airborne, amphibious, ground, land, naval VERB + FORCE assemble, create, form, mobilize, set up A large expeditionary force is now being assembled. | send the decision to send armed forces over the border | deploy, use A small peacekeeping force will be deployed in the area. | withdraw | demobilize | command, head (up), lead | join She decided to join the armed forces. | combine, join The two companies have joined forces to form a new consortium. FORCE + VERB control sth Rebel forces now control most of the capital. PREP. in a/the ~ people in the security forces PHRASES a member of a force, the withdrawal of a force a UN deadline for the withdrawal of forces Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition n. force on force upon tour de force vital force armed forces forcing bed forcing house n. Function: noun 1 Synonyms: POWER 4, arm, beef, energy, might, muscle, potency, sinew, strength, strong arm Related Words: pressure, strain, stress, tension; headway, impetus, momentum, speed, velocity; vigor 2 Synonyms: POINT 3, cogency, effectiveness, punch, validity, validness 3 forces plural Synonyms: TROOP 2, armed forces, military, servicemen 4 the exercise of power in order to impose one's will on a person or to have one's will with a thing FF1C;move a huge boulder by main forceFF1E; Synonyms: coercion, compulsion, constraint, duress, violence Related Words: fierceness, intensity, vehemence; effort, exertions, pains, trouble Contrasted Words: compliance, submission, yielding; impotence, powerlessness, weakness Antonyms: forcelessness n. Function: verb 1 Synonyms: RAPE , defile, deflorate, deflower, outrage, ravish, spoil, violate 2 to cause a person or thing to yield to pressure FF1C;hunger forced him to steal the foodFF1E; Synonyms: coerce, compel, concuss, constrain, make, oblige, shotgun Related Words: drive, impel, move; command, enjoin, order; demand, exact, require; press, pressure, sandbag; cause, occasion Contrasted Words: blandish, cajole, coax, wheedle; get, induce, persuade, prevail; entice, inveigle, lure, seduce, tempt n. Function: noun Synonyms: WATERFALL , cascade, cataract, chute, fall(s), sault, spoutWebster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged See forcé force I. \ˈfō(ə)rs, ˈfȯ(ə)rs, ˈfōəs, ˈfȯ(ə)s\ noun (-s) Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French force, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin fortia, from Latin fortis strong + -ia -y — more at fort 1. a. : strength or energy especially of an exceptional degree : active power : vigor b. : physical strength or vigor of a living being < drained of all force by his mighty effort > c. : power to affect in physical relations or conditions < the force of the blow was somewhat spent when it reached him > < the rising force of the wind > d. : moral or mental strength especially when manifested as power of effective action (as in the overcoming of opposition) < the force of his character had the impact of a physical pressure > < a man of great force and determination > e. : power or capacity to sway, convince, or impose obligation : validity , effect < the force of his arguments > < who could resist the force of such an appeal > often : legal efficacy : operative effect < that law is still in force > < an agreement having the force of law > 2. a. : might or greatness especially of a prince or state; often :strength in or capacity for waging war < the force of this lord was so great that no other would contest his right to rule > b. (1) : a group of individuals occupied with or ready for combat < the entire force of the fortress > usually : a body of troops, ships, airplanes, or combinations thereof especially when assigned to a particular military purpose or necessity < took a small force of infantrymen and searched the village > < the enemy assembled a great force for the spring offensive > — see task force (2) forces plural : the whole military strength (as of a nation) :armed forces c. : a body of persons available for or serving a particular end < a large available labor force > often : a more or less organized group or staff having a common responsibility or task < a conscientious police force > < the plantation force took a half-holiday > 3. a. : power, violence, compulsion, or constraint exerted upon or against a person or thing < conciliation may succeed where force completely fails > < those who will not respond to kindness must yield to force > b. : strength or power of any degree that is exercised without justification or contrary to law upon a person or thing c. : violence or such threat or display of physical aggression toward a person as reasonably inspires fear of pain, bodily harm, or death 4. dialect England : a large part, quantity, or number 5. : an agency or influence (as a push or pull) that if applied to a free body results chiefly in an acceleration of the body and sometimes in elastic deformation and other effects (as from overcoming cohesion or adhesion or sustaining weight) 6. : the quality of conveying impressions intensely in writing or speech (as by vividness, cogency, or passion) < a stimulating essay marked by force and cogency > 7. : an act (as of misdirection) or course (as of play) that forces the response of another (as in a play in a game) into a predetermined pattern < sometimes a force is useful for locating honors in the opponents' hands > 8. a. : the upper hollow embossing die : counter V 10b b. : a specially formed bar or plate attached to the underside of the slide of a punch press chiefly for use in riveting and seaming 9. : a billiards stroke made by striking a cue ball hard and just below the center so that it rebounds or stops sharply or goes off at a desired angle after striking the object ball Synonyms: violence , compulsion , coercion , duress , constraint , restraint : force is a general term for exercise of strength or power, especially physical, to overcome resistance < there is the force used by parents when … they compel their children to act or refrain from acting in some particular way. There is the force used by attendants in an asylum when they try to prevent a maniac from hurting himself or others. There is the force used by the police when they control a crowd … there is the force used in war — Aldous Huxley > violence is applicable to dynamic power showing great strength, power, intensity, fury, destructiveness < a wild nightmare of violence, noise, confusion, and pain — T.B.Costain > < force must not be confused with violence … the completely successful use of force implies the absence of violence, because those against whom force is used recognize the futility of resistance — P.M.Sweezy > compulsion is applicable to any power or agency that compels, that makes an individual follow a will not his own < compulsion exists where a being is inevitably determined by an external cause — Frank Thilly > < masterpieces I read under compulsion without the faintest interest — Bertrand Russell > coercion often suggests unethical, unjust compulsion, as by threat or deception < a promise obtained by coercion is hardly binding > < the amiable trait in his character of an intense dislike to coercion — G.B.Shaw > duress may suggest a stronger coercion in which the compelling is accomplished by confinement or violence, or dire threats of confinement or violence < our duress, his arrogance, our awful servitude — Edna S.V. Millay > < a fake declaration of love by the heroine under duress — Dyneley Hussey > constraint may apply to the action of any agency enjoining unwilling performance or avoidance of an action < the constraint of society had banished his former expression of easy good humor — G.B.Shaw > < prose is memorable speech set down without constraint of meter — A.T.Quiller-Couch > restraint suggests an agency which checks free activity or expression or an atmosphere in which such restriction is likely or common < long years of abstinence and restraint and an avoidance of physical contacts and emotional responses before marriage — A.C.Kinsey > < they rushed into freedom and enjoyment, into the unfettered use of their powers, with an energy proportional to their previous restraint — G.L.Dickinson > Synonym: see in addition power .• - by force of - in force II. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English forcen, from Middle French forcier, forcer to attack, rape, compel, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin fortiare, from Latin fortis strong transitive verb 1. : to do violence to; especially : rape < a maiden forced by the intruder > 2. : to constrain or compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means or by the exigencies of circumstances < forced by injuries to stay at home > < hunger forced him to forget his scruples > < such evidence forces conviction on the mind > < financial weakness forces many small businesses to the wall > 3. : to make, cause, make to be, or accomplish through natural or logical necessity < forces the diameters to be equal — Josiah Royce > 4. a. : to press, drive, attain to, or effect as indicated against resistance or inertia by some positive compelling force or action < force your way through > < much of the previously unobtainable oil is forced to the surface — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania > < basic problems forced on us by the age in which we live — J.B.Conant > b. : to press, impose, or thrust urgently, importunately, inexorably < he forced his personality upon his little world by organizing an army — L.C.Powys > < force his attentions on a woman > c. : to drive (as warm air) through or into a duct or channel by some impelling force (as a fan) < force the caulking compound into the crevices > 5. : to achieve or win by strength in struggle or violence: a. : to win one's way into : storm successfully : enter in attack < force a castle > b. : to effect a passage through by overcoming defenses < forced the mountain passes — O.L.Spaulding > c. : to break open or through < force a lock > < eventually the gate was forced > 6. a. : to raise, accelerate, or heighten to the utmost < forcing the pace > sometimes : to intensify the action and pressure in (as a game) < forced the game by a series of brilliant plays > b. : to give forth, emit, produce only with unnatural or unwilling effort, not freely, spontaneously < the laughter was forced and unnatural — Sherwood Anderson > c. : to wrench, strain, use with marked unnaturalness and lack of ease : press to an unusual use, past a usual limit, or into an unusual meaning or interpretation < to force, to dislocate if necessary, language into his meaning — T.S.Eliot > < a forced interpretation of the passage > 7. a. : to hasten the speed, growth, progress, developing, or maturing of (as through artificial means, maximum effort, close care, or individual attention) < a forced march > < children forced into early maturity by heavy responsibilities > b. : to bring (plants or their wanted parts, as flowers or fruit) to maturity out of the normal season (as by the use of heat and special lighting) < forcing lilies for the Easter trade > 8. a. archaic : reinforce , man < force with soldiers > b. : to increase the intake of (as fluids) beyond the normal bodily requirement < it is wise to force fluids when any systemic intoxication is present > 9. a. : to cause (a person) to respond in a particular way in a game or trick usually to one's own advantage (as by discarding a playing card that an opponent must take under the rules of the game) < card tricks that depend on misdirection to force the helper to take the intended card > b. : to induce (as a particular bid or play by another player) in a card game by some conventional act, play, bid, or response < doubled the opponent's bid to force a try for game from his partner > < hoped to force the trump ace out by leading the remaining club > 10. a. : to cause (a runner in baseball) to be put out by compelling him (as by a hit) to vacate the base he has been occupying and attempt to advance to the next base b. : to cause (a run) to be scored in baseball or (a runner) to score (as by giving a base on balls when the bases are full) 11. : to develop (photographic material) to the limit either in time or by chemical means or both in order to obtain detail in the shadow portions of an underexposed negative or the highlights of an underexposed print intransitive verb 1. : to advance or progress by force < our troops forcing ahead > 2. : to grow, advance, mature by being forced < these plants force well > 3. a. : to make a series of shots intended to put an opponent in a racket game out of position for a subsequent shot b. : to make a bid or play in a card game that forces another player or a particular response Synonyms: compel , coerce , constrain , oblige : force is a general term indicating use of strength, power, weight, stress, duress in overcoming resistance < the editors were forced to flee for their lives and the newspaper plant was burned — American Guide Series: Arkansas > < American pressure had been sufficient to force Germany to suspend unrestricted submarine warfare — C.E.Black & E.C.Helmreich > < those yield data and force the mind to put many queries — H.O.Taylor > compel may more strongly indicate irresistible overcoming of unwillingness or resistance < yellow fever was raging in Charleston, and for this reason the Scots were compelled to remain on board — W.P.Webb > < the discovery of new facts compels the rational thinker to reexamine the adequacy of his previous generalizations — M.R.Cohen > coerce implies domineering and overriding resistance by notably unethical tactics like violence, intimidation, pressure, duress < no one can claim that he was coerced by bribery. This is reserved for threats and direct pleas — W.D.Falk > constrain suggests forcing by something that either does or seems to constrict, press, confine, compress < tied him to the wall, where he was constrained to stay till a kind passerby released him — John Galsworthy > < constrained through poverty to live in the houses of others — Edith Sitwell > oblige , although it may apply to any binding force, is common in situations involving ethical, social, or intellectual necessity, through the effect of codes or principles < the Protestant missionary felt obliged to give the Indian a book religion — American Guide Series: Minnesota > < obliged to receive and grind grain for his fellow townsmen — American Guide Series: Rhode Island > • - force a safeguard - force one's hand III. noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English fors, force, from Old Norse fors, foss; akin to Sanskrit pṛṣat drop, Old Slavic prachŭ dust dialect : waterfall , cascade IV. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: alteration (influenced by force) (II) of farce (I) archaic : farce , stuff < malice forced with wit — Shakespeare > V. noun 1. usually capitalized — used with a number to indicate the strength of the wind according to the Beaufort scale < a Force 10 hurricane > 2. : any of the natural influences (as electromagnetism, gravity, the strong force, and the weak force) that exist especially between particles and determine the structure of the universe |
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Forbid to order verb command authority implies forbidden
Previous card: Forecast to verb future noun forecast fore·cast predict
Up to card list: English learning