fog

¹

[fog, fawg]

noun

1. a cloudlike mass or layer of minute water droplets or ice crystals near the surface of the earth, appreciably reducing visibility.

2. any darkened state of the atmosphere, or the diffused substance that causes it.

3. a state of mental confusion or unawareness; daze; stupor.

   The survivors were in a fog for days after the catastrophe.

   Synonyms: dim, darken, blur, cloud, trance, muddle, haze
   Antonyms: clarity

4. Photography.,  a hazy effect on a developed negative or positive, caused by light other than that forming the image, by improper handling during development, or by the use of excessively old film.

5. Physical Chemistry.,  a mixture consisting of liquid particles dispersed in a gaseous medium.

verb (used with object)

fogged, fogging 

1. to cover or envelop with or as if with fog.

   The steam in the room fogged his glasses.

2. to confuse or obscure.

   The debate did little else but fog the issue.

   Synonyms: obfuscate, obscure, muddy, confuse, befog, becloud
   Antonyms: clarify

3. to bewilder or perplex.

   to fog the mind.

   Synonyms: befuddle, daze, mystify, muddle

4. Photography.,  to produce fog on (a negative or positive).

verb (used without object)

fogged, fogging 

1. to become enveloped or obscured with or as if with fog.

   Antonyms: clear

2. Photography.,  (of a negative or positive) to become affected by fog.

fog

²

[fog, fawg]

noun

U.S. and British Dialect.

1. a second growth of grass, as after mowing.

2. long grass left standing in fields during the winter.

fog

¹

/ fɒɡ /

noun

1. 1. a second growth of grass after the first mowing

   2. grass left to grow long in winter

fog

²

/ fɒɡ /

noun

1. a mass of droplets of condensed water vapour suspended in the air, often greatly reducing visibility, corresponding to a cloud but at a lower level

2. a cloud of any substance in the atmosphere reducing visibility

3. a state of mental uncertainty or obscurity

4. photog a blurred or discoloured area on a developed negative, print, or transparency caused by the action of extraneous light, incorrect development, etc

5. a colloid or suspension consisting of liquid particles dispersed in a gas

verb

1. to envelop or become enveloped with or as if with fog

2. to confuse or become confused

   to fog an issue

3. photog to produce fog on (a negative, print, or transparency) or (of a negative, print, or transparency) to be affected by fog

fog

1. A dense layer of cloud lying close to the surface of the ground or water and reducing visibility to less than 1 km (0.62 mi). Fog occurs when the air temperature becomes identical, or nearly identical, to the dew point.

2. An opaque or semiopaque condensation of a substance floating in a region or forming on a surface.

Other Word Forms

• fogless adjective
• unfogged adjective
• unfogging adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fog¹

First recorded in 1535–45; perhaps by back formation from foggy; fog ²

Origin of fog²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English fogge, from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian fogg “long, scattered grass on damp ground”; further origin uncertain; foggy

Word History and Origins

Origin of fog¹

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian fogg rank grass

Origin of fog²

C16: perhaps back formation from foggy damp, boggy, from _fog ²

Idioms and Phrases

see in a fog.

Synonym Study

See cloud.

Example Sentences

Time begins to warp anyway in that fog between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, so you might as well give in.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

With dense fog and transculent pink lights, the whole set started to fuse into a unifying dreamy moment.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Fatigue, joint pain, rashes, brain fog or tingling in the hands and feet can seem like normal signs of aging—but they may also point to an autoimmune disease.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“What do you do if you’re driving in the fog?” he asked.

Read more on Barron's

For the Fed, the lack of government numbers supposedly engulfed policymakers in a statistical fog.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• cloud 
• gloom 
• smog 
• smoke 
• steam 
• vapor