fɔ:ls adj. & adv. --adj. 1
not according with fact;
wrong,
incorrect (a false idea). 2 a
spurious,
sham,
artificial (false gods; false
teeth; false modesty). b
acting as
such; appearing to be such,
esp. deceptively (a false lining). 3
illusory; not
actually so (a false economy). 4 improperly so called (false acacia). 5
deceptive. 6 (foll. by to)
deceitful,
treacherous, or
unfaithful. 7
illegal (false imprisonment). --adv. in a false
manner (esp.
play false). øfalse
acacia see ACACIA. false
alarm an alarm
given needlessly. false
bedding Geol. =
CROSS-BEDDING. false colours deceitful
pretence. false
dawn a
transient light in
the east before dawn. false
gharial see GHARIAL. false pretences misrepresentations
made with
intent to
deceive (esp.
under false pretences). false
rib =
floating rib. false
start 1 an invalid or disallowed start in a race. 2 an
unsuccessful attempt to
begin something. false
step a slip; a
mistake. false
topaz =
CITRINE. øøfalsely adv. falseness n. falsity n. (pl. -ies). [OE fals
and OF fals, faus f. L falsus
past part. of fallere deceive]