fa

[ fah ]

/ fɑ /

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noun Music.

the syllable used for the fourth tone of a diatonic scale.

(in the fixed system of solmization) the tone F.Compare sol-fa (def. 1).

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of fa

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at gamut

Other definitions for fa (2 of 2)

fā

[ fah ]

/ fɑ /

noun

the twentieth letter of the Arabic alphabet.

Origin of fā

From Arabic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fa in a sentence

Except for nine of them are musical words: do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti—and si—are musical.
Well, La Ti Da: Stephin Merritt’s Winning Little Words of Scrabble|David Bukszpan|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Last year, at the less than spry age of 34, he broke two bones in his back while leading his Everton team to an FA Cup win.
Team USA Lost, but Tim Howard Is a Winner|Emily Shire|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He's hitting her on the face every time she tries to rise an' gaein' her anither kick aye when she fa's doon again.
The Underworld|James C. Welsh
Lip to Lip while were young—then the Lip to the Glass, fa, la, &c.
The Beggar's Opera|John Gay

Fair fa' the wife, and weel may she spin, that counts aye the lawin' wi' a pint to come in.
The Proverbs of Scotland|Alexander Hislop
Sweeft as the eagle fa'ing upon his prey, fa's MacMuller, a licht o' joy in his een, his bullets twangin' like hairp-strings.
Tam O' The Scoots|Edgar Wallace
Affable, af′fa-bl, adj. condescending: easy to be spoken to (used with to).
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for fa (1 of 3)

/ (fɑː) /

noun

music a variant spelling of fah

British Dictionary definitions for fa (2 of 3)

abbreviation for

military field artillery

(in Britain) Football AssociationSee also FA Cup

British Dictionary definitions for fa (3 of 3)

f.a.

FA

abbreviation for

fanny adams

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012