Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - fit

I. [c red]BEING RIGHT OR GOING IN THE RIGHT PLACE (fits, fitting, fitted) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. Note: In American English the form 'fit' is used in the present tense and sometimes also as the past tense and past participle of the verb. Please look at category 13 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword. 1. If something fits, it is the right size and shape to go onto a person’s body or onto a particular object. The sash, kimono, and other garments were made to fit a child... She has to go to the men’s department to find trousers that fit at the waist... Line a tin with lightly-greased greaseproof paper, making sure the corners fit well. VERB: V n, V prep/adv, V prep/adv 2. If something is a good fit, it fits well. Eventually he was happy that the sills and doors were a reasonably good fit. N-SING: adj N 3. If you are fitted for a particular piece of clothing, you try it on so that the person who is making it can see where it needs to be altered. She was being fitted for her wedding dress. VERB: usu passive, be V-ed for n 4. If something fits somewhere, it can be put there or is designed to be put there. ...a pocket computer which is small enough to fit into your pocket... He folded his long legs to fit under the table... VERB: V prep/adv, V prep/adv 5. If you fit something into a particular space or place, you put it there. She fitted her key in the lock... When the crown has been made you go back and the dentist will fit it into place. VERB: V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv 6. If you fit something somewhere, you attach it there, or put it there carefully and securely. Fit hinge bolts to give extra support to the door lock... Peter had built the overhead ladders, and the next day he fitted them to the wall... VERB: V n, V n prep 7. If something fits something else or fits into it, it goes together well with that thing or is able to be part of it. Her daughter doesn’t fit the current feminine ideal... Fostering is a full-time job and you should carefully consider how it will fit into your career... There’s something about the way he talks of her that doesn’t fit. VERB: V n, V in/into n, V 8. You can say that something fits a particular person or thing when it is appropriate or suitable for them or it. The punishment must always fit the crime. = match VERB: V n 9. If something is fit for a particular purpose, it is suitable for that purpose. Of the seven bicycles we had, only two were fit for the road. ...safety measures intended to reassure consumers that the meat is fit to eat... ADJ: oft ADJ for n, ADJ to-inf, ADJ n to-inf, ADJ n for n 10. If someone is fit to do something, they have the appropriate qualities or skills that will allow them to do it. You’re not fit to be a mother!... He was not a fit companion for their skipper that particular morning. ADJ: oft ADJ to-inf, ADJ for n, ADJ n for n, ADJ n to-inf • fitness There is a debate about his fitness for the highest office... N-UNCOUNT: N for n, N to-inf 11. If something fits someone for a particular task or role, it makes them good enough or suitable for it. (FORMAL) ...a man whose past experience fits him for the top job in education... It is not a person’s gender that fits them to be a vicar but what is in their hearts. VERB: V n for n, V n to-inf 12. If you say that someone sees fit to do something, you mean that they are entitled to do it, but that you disapprove of their decision to do it. (FORMAL) He’s not a friend, you say, yet you saw fit to lend him money. PHRASE: V inflects c darkgreen]disapproval 13. fit the bill: see bill to fit like a glove: see glove not in a fit state: see state see also fitted, fitting II. [c red]HEALTHY (fitter, fittest) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. Please look at category 2 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword. 1. Someone who is fit is healthy and physically strong. An averagely fit person can master easy ski runs within a few days. ? unfit ADJ • fitness Squash was once thought to offer all-round fitness. N-UNCOUNT: oft N n 2. fit as a fiddle: see fiddle fighting fit: see fight III. [c red]UNCONTROLLABLE MOVEMENTS OR EMOTIONS (fits) 1. If someone has a fit they suddenly lose consciousness and their body makes uncontrollable movements. About two in every five epileptic fits occur during sleep... = seizure N-COUNT 2. If you have a fit of coughing or laughter, you suddenly start coughing or laughing in an uncontrollable way. Halfway down the cigarette she had a fit of coughing... N-COUNT: with supp, N of n 3. If you do something in a fit of anger or panic, you are very angry or afraid when you do it. Pattie shot Tom in a fit of jealous rage. N-COUNT: N of n 4. If you say that someone will have a fit when they hear about something, you mean that they will be very angry or shocked. (INFORMAL) He’d have a fit if he knew what we were up to! = go mad PHRASE: V inflects 5. Something that happens in fits and starts or by fits and starts keeps happening and then stopping again. My slimming attempts tend to go in fits and starts... Military technology advances by fits and starts. PHRASE: PHR after v