ferr(um)
31Fermi — /ferr mee/; It. /ferdd mee/, n. Enrico /en ree koh/; It. /en rddee kaw/, 1901 54, Italian physicist, in the U.S. after 1939: Nobel prize 1938. * * * …
32Fermi-Dirac statistics — /ferr mee deuh rak /, Physics. quantum statistics defining the possible arrangements of particles in a given system in terms of the exclusion principle. Also, Fermi statistics. Cf. fermion. [1925 30; named after E. FERMI and A. M. DIRAC] * * * In …
33fermion — /ferr mee on /, n. Physics. any particle that obeys the exclusion principle and Fermi Dirac statistics; fermions have spins that are half an odd integer: 1/2, 3/2, 5/2, . ... [1945 50; FERMI + (MES)ON] * * * Any of a group of subatomic particles… …
34fermium — /ferr mee euhm/, n. Chem., Physics. a transuranic element. Symbol: Fm; at. no.: 100. [1950 55; named after E. FERMI; see IUM] * * * ▪ chemical element (Fm), synthetic chemical element of the actinoid series of the periodic table, atomic number… …
35fernery — /ferr neuh ree/, n., pl. ferneries. 1. a collection of ferns in a garden or a potted display. 2. a place or a glass case in which ferns are grown for ornament. [1830 40; FERN + ERY] * * * …
36ferny — /ferr nee/, adj., fernier, ferniest. 1. pertaining to, consisting of, or like ferns: ferny leaves. 2. abounding in or overgrown with ferns: ferny undergrowth. [1515 25; FERN + Y1] * * * …
37fertilizer — /ferr tl uy zeuhr/, n. 1. any substance used to fertilize the soil, esp. a commercial or chemical manure. 2. a person, insect, etc., that fertilizes an animal or plant: Bees are fertilizers of flowers. [1655 65; FERTILIZE + ER1] * * * Natural or… …
38fervency — /ferr veuhn see/, n. warmth or intensity of feeling; ardor; zeal; fervor. [1375 1425; late ME < LL ferventia (see FERVENT, ENCY); r. fervence < MF < L ferventia] * * * …
39Fervidor — /ferr vi dawr /; Fr. /ferdd vee dawrdd /, n. Thermidor. [ < F, appar. b. ferv(eur) FERVOR and (therm)idor THERMIDOR] * * * …
40fervor — /ferr veuhr/, n. 1. great warmth and earnestness of feeling: to speak with great fervor. 2. intense heat. Also, esp. Brit., fervour. [1350 1400; ME fervo(u)r < AF < L fervor heat (see FERVENT, OR1)] Syn. 1. ardor, passion, zeal. * * * …
