fog

[ fog, fawg ]

/ fɒg, fɔg /

noun

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

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

a state of mental confusion or unawareness; daze; stupor: The survivors were in a fog for days after the catastrophe.

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.

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

verb (used with object), fogged, fog·ging.

to cover or envelop with or as if with fog: The steam in the room fogged his glasses.

to confuse or obscure: The debate did little else but fog the issue.

to bewilder or perplex: to fog the mind.

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

verb (used without object), fogged, fog·ging.

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

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

Nearby words

foetid, foetiparous, foetology, foetor, foetus, fog, fog bank, fog drip, fog fever, fog forest, fog gun

Origin of fog

1535–45; perhaps by back formation from foggy. See fog²

SYNONYMS FOR fog

3 obfuscation. See cloud.

7 becloud, obfuscate, dim, blur, darken.

8 daze, befuddle, muddle, mystify.

ANTONYMS FOR fog

3 clarity.

7 clarify.

10 clear.

Related formsfog·less, adjectiveun·fogged, adjectiveun·fog·ging, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fogging

It is fogging the essential issue, which is the forgotten and neglected kingship of God.
War and the Future|H. G. Wells
His mind was fogging and he had difficulty in finding the words.
The Next Time We Die|Robert Moore Williams
With a certain tightening of the nerves, Peter followed his glance, but made out nothing through the fogging dust.
Birthright|T.S. Stribling
Photographers must know that fogging and blurring the image is curtailing the experience of it.
Adventures in the Arts|Marsden Hartley

If fogging is noticed, of course additional precautions should be taken at once.
Bromide Printing and Enlarging|John A. Tennant

British Dictionary definitions for fogging (1 of 2)

fog

/ (fɒɡ) /

noun

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

a cloud of any substance in the atmosphere reducing visibility

a state of mental uncertainty or obscurity

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

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

verb fogs, fogging or fogged

to envelop or become enveloped with or as if with fog

to confuse or become confusedto fog an issue

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

Word Origin for fog

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

British Dictionary definitions for fogging (2 of 2)

fog

/ (fɒɡ) /

noun

a second growth of grass after the first mowing
grass left to grow long in winter

Word Origin for fog

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

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

Medicine definitions for fogging

fogging

[ fŏg′ĭng ]

n.

A method of refracting the eye in which accommodation is relaxed by overcorrection with a convex spherical lens, used in testing vision.

Science definitions for fogging

fog

[ fôg ]

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.

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

Idioms and Phrases with fogging

fog

see in a fog.

fog

noun

verb (used with object), fogged, fog·ging.

verb (used without object), fogged, fog·ging.

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Nearby words

Origin of fog

Examples from the Web for fogging

British Dictionary definitions for fogging (1 of 2)

fog

noun

verb fogs, fogging or fogged

Word Origin for fog

British Dictionary definitions for fogging (2 of 2)

fog

noun

Word Origin for fog

Medicine definitions for fogging

fogging

n.

Science definitions for fogging

fog

Idioms and Phrases with fogging

fog