fox

¹

[foks]

noun

plural

foxes ,

plural

fox .

1. any of several carnivores of the dog family, especially those of the genus Vulpes, smaller than wolves, having a pointed, slightly upturned muzzle, erect ears, and a long, bushy tail.

2. the fur of this animal.

3. a cunning or crafty person.

4. Fox a member of a tribe of North American Algonquian Indians, formerly in Wisconsin, later merged with the Sauk tribe.

5. Fox the Algonquian language of the Fox, Sauk, and Kickapoo Indians.

6. Bible.,  a scavenger, perhaps the jackal.

7. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter F: replaced by Foxtrot.

8. Slang.,  an attractive young woman or young man.

verb (used with object)

1. to deceive or trick.

2. to repair or make (a shoe) with leather or other material applied so as to cover or form part of the upper front.

3. Obsolete.,  to intoxicate or befuddle.

verb (used without object)

1. to act cunningly or craftily.

2. (of book leaves, prints, etc.) to become foxed.

Fox

²

[foks]

noun

1. Charles James, 1749–1806, British orator and statesman.

2. George, 1624–91, English religious leader and writer: founder of the Society of Friends.

3. John. John Foxe.

4. John William, Jr., 1863–1919, U.S. novelist.

5. Margaret, 1833–93, and her sister Katherine (“Kate” ), 1839–92, U.S. spiritualist mediums, born in Canada.

6. Sir William, 1812–93, New Zealand statesman, born in England: prime minister 1856, 1861–62, 1869–72, 1873.

fox

¹

/ fɒks /

noun

1. any canine mammal of the genus Vulpes and related genera. They are mostly predators that do not hunt in packs and typically have large pointed ears, a pointed muzzle, and a bushy tail

2. the fur of any of these animals, usually reddish-brown or grey in colour

3. a person who is cunning and sly

4. slang,  a sexually attractive woman

5. Bible

   1. a jackal

   2. an image of a false prophet

6. nautical small stuff made from yarns twisted together and then tarred

verb

1. (tr) to perplex or confound

   to fox a person with a problem

2. to cause (paper, wood, etc) to become discoloured with spots, or (of paper, etc) to become discoloured, as through mildew

3. (tr) to trick; deceive

4. (intr) to act deceitfully or craftily

5. informal,  (tr) to pursue stealthily; tail

6. informal,  (tr) to chase and retrieve (a ball)

7. obsolete,  (tr) to befuddle with alcoholic drink

Fox

²

/ fɒks /

noun

1. Charles James . 1749–1806, British Whig statesman and orator. He opposed North over taxation of the American colonies and Pitt over British intervention against the French Revolution. He advocated parliamentary reform and the abolition of the slave trade

2. George . 1624–91, English religious leader; founder (1647) of the Society of Friends (Quakers)

3. Terry , full name Terrance Stanley Fox (1958–81). Canadian athlete: he lost a leg to cancer and subsequently attempted a coast-to-coast run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research

4. Vicente ( Spanish viˈθɛnte). born 1942, Mexican politician; president of Mexico (2000-06)

5. Sir William . 1812–93, New Zealand statesman, born in England: prime minister of New Zealand (1856; 1861–62; 1869–72; 1873)

Fox

³

/ fɒks /

noun

1. a member of a North American Indian people formerly living west of Lake Michigan along the Fox River

2. the language of this people, belonging to the Algonquian family

Other Word Forms

• foxlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fox¹

First recorded before 900; 1960–65 fox for def. 8; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old Saxon vohs, Middle Low German vos, Old High German fuhs ( German Fuchs ); vixen

Word History and Origins

Origin of fox¹

Old English; related to Old High German fuhs , Old Norse fōa fox, Sanskrit puccha tail; see _vixen

Idioms and Phrases

see crazy like a fox.

Example Sentences

In truth, the tie-wearing fox only became a cop because of his fondness for Judy, not out of a sense of dutiful conviction.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Along the way, she forges an unexpected partnership with Nick, a solitary fox whose past as a con artist proves to be a valuable asset in uniform.

Read more on Barron's

Avian flu infects birds and sometimes other animals, such as foxes, seals and otters.

Read more on BBC

The company has been known as Pinkfong since 2022, a name inspired by a cheerful and curious fox that featured in one of its early cartoons.

Read more on BBC

“The old schemer was hiding in the woods. I flushed him out of the bushes like a hound flushes out a fox. A merry hunt it was, wouldn’t you say, Eddie, old boy?”

Read more on Literature

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