font

¹ American  

[font] / fɒnt /

noun

1. a receptacle, usually of stone, as in a baptistery or church, containing the water used in baptism.

2. a receptacle for holy water; stoup.

3. a productive source.

   The book is a font of useful tips for travelers.

4. the reservoir for oil in a lamp.

5. Archaic. a fountain.

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font ² American  

[font] / fɒnt /

noun

Printing.

1. a complete assortment of type of one style and size.

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font ¹ British  

/ fɒnt /

noun

1. 1. a large bowl for baptismal water, usually mounted on a pedestal

   2. a receptacle for holy water

2. the reservoir for oil in an oil lamp

3. archaic a fountain or well

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font ² British  

/ fɒnt /

noun

1. Also called: fount.  printing a complete set of type of one style and size

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Other Word Forms

• fontal adjective

Etymology

Origin of font¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English font, fant, from Latin font-, stem of fōns “baptismal font, spring, fountain”

Origin of font²

First recorded in 1570–80; from Middle French fonte, from Vulgar Latin funditus (unrecorded) “a pouring, molding, casting,” verbal noun from Latin fundere “to pour”; found ³

Example Sentences

There were dates stamped in different colors and fonts, but one specific name leapt out at him.

From Literature

She described begging ICE to comply with court orders, emailing in 24-point font and threatening to name names in filings.

From Salon

AI has enhanced the process by being able to recognize different types of documents and fonts, and by learning how to classify or categorize the data so it can enter it into a tax return.

From Barron's

Then he turned for emphasis to the fonts available on the printing press of his day.

From Salon

The font was also different to the official logo.

From BBC

Related Words

• fount