fry

¹

[ frahy ]

verb (used with object)

, fried, fry·ing.

1. to cook in a pan or on a griddle over direct heat, usually in fat or oil.
2. Slang. to execute by electrocution in an electric chair.

verb (used without object)

, fried, fry·ing.

1. to undergo cooking in fat or oil.
2. Slang. to die by electrocution in an electric chair.

noun

, plural fries.

1. a dish of something fried.
2. a piece of french-fried potato.
3. a party or gathering at which the chief food is fried, frequently outdoors:

   a fish fry.

fry

²

[ frahy ]

noun

, plural fry fry or fries

1. a young fish:

   a salmon fry.

2. a young animal of certain other kinds, as frogs and oysters.
3. a person, especially a young or unimportant one:

   The prime minister had to bank on the cooperation of lesser fry.

Fry

³

[ frahy ]

noun

1. Christopher, 1907–2005, English playwright.

Fry

¹

/ fraɪ /

noun

1. FryChristopher19072005MEnglishTHEATRE: dramatist Christopher . 1907–2005, English dramatist; author of the verse dramas A Phoenix Too Frequent (1946), The Lady's Not For Burning (1948), and Venus Observed (1950)
2. FryElizabeth17801845FEnglishPOLITICS: prison reformerRELIGION: Quaker Elizabeth . 1780–1845, English prison reformer and Quaker
3. FryRoger Eliot18661934MEnglishARTS AND CRAFTS: criticARTS AND CRAFTS: painter Roger Eliot . 1866–1934, English art critic and painter who helped to introduce the postimpressionists to Britain. His books include Vision and Design (1920) and Cézanne (1927)
4. FryStephen (John)1957MBritishWRITING: writerTHEATRE: actorTHEATRE: comedian Stephen ( John ). born 1957, British writer, actor, and comedian; his novels include The Liar (1991) and The Stars' Tennis Balls (2000)

fry

²

/ fraɪ /

plural noun

1. the young of various species of fish
2. the young of certain other animals, such as frogs
3. See small fry
   young children See also small fry

fry

³

/ fraɪ /

verb

1. whentr, sometimes foll by up to cook or be cooked in fat, oil, etc, usually over direct heat
2. informal.
   intr to be excessively hot
3. slang.
   to kill or be killed by electrocution, esp in the electric chair

noun

1. a dish of something fried, esp the offal of a specified animal

   pig's fry

2. a social occasion, often outdoors, at which the chief food is fried
3. informal.
   the act of preparing a mixed fried dish or the dish itself

Other Words From

• frya·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fry¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; 1925–30 fry ¹fordef 2; Middle English frien, from Anglo-French, Old French frire, from Latin frīgere “to roast”

Origin of fry²

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English frie, fry “seed, descendant,” perhaps from Old Norse frjō “seed”; cognate with Swedish frö, Gothic fraiw “seed”

Word History and Origins

Origin of fry¹

C14 (in the sense: young, offspring): perhaps via Norman French from Old French freier to spawn, rub, from Latin fricāre to rub

Origin of fry²

C13: from Old French frire , from Latin frīgere to roast, fry

Example Sentences

At one of the tables next to me, Zoé, a 23-year-old medical student from Grenoble, gingerly picks up a fry and dips it into a small container of unknown sauce.

From Eater

It comes with a non-stick fry basket and a recipe guide, and it features an automatic temperature control system and timed cooking with an automatic shutoff feature.

From Popular-Science

It plans to continue its focus on core products like Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, McNuggets, and fries, which make up about 70% of its menu.

From Fortune

The machine makes super crispy fries and comes in multiple sizes and models with more cooking functions.

From Popular-Science

If “freedom fries” taught us anything it is that Americans are true innovators in the art of politicization.

From Voice of San Diego

This same outlet worked the phrase “engagement to toyboy lover” into the headline of their article on Fry.

From The Daily Beast

And yes, someone has already called Spencer a “Small Fry,” har har.

From The Daily Beast

For his part, Bratton is disappointed but not surprised that the same narrative is already being mapped onto Fry and Spencer.

From The Daily Beast

Fry had previously confirmed the news to his army of followers on Twitter.

From The Daily Beast

In October, he traveled to Denver with Fry to support his work with LGBT rights organization The Matthew Sheppard Foundation.

From The Daily Beast

The sailors sometimes use it to fry their meat, for want of butter, and find it agreeable enough.

From Project Gutenberg

There was no one who could make such excellent coffee or fry a chicken so golden brown as she.

From Project Gutenberg

In the meantime, Colonel Fry had died suddenly from an accidental fall, and Washington had succeeded to the command.

From Project Gutenberg

I could understand Orma Fry's doing it, because she's always wanted to get me out of here ever since the first day.

From Project Gutenberg

He's hired Carrick Fry's team to take him to Hepburn, but he ain't going to start for another hour.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• sauté