fog

fog

fog¹ [fôg, fäg]

n.

[prob. < Scand, as in ON fok, Dan (sne)fog, driving snow, Norw dial. fuka, sea mist < IE base * pū-, to puff up, blow, of echoic orig.]

1. a large mass of water vapor condensed to fine particles, at or just above the earth's surface; thick, obscuring mist

2. a similar mass of smoke, dust, etc. obscuring the atmosphere

3. a vaporized liquid, as insecticide, dispersed over a large area

4. a state of mental dimness and confusion; blurred, bewildered state

5. a grayish area on a photograph or film

vi.

fogged, fogging

1. to become surrounded or covered by fog

2. to be or become blurred, dimmed, or obscured

vt.

1. to surround or cover with fog

2. to blur; dim; obscure

3. to confuse; bewilder

4. Slang to hurl (a baseball, etc.)

5. to make (a photograph, etc.) grayish in certain areas

SYN.- MIST

fog² [fôg, fäg]

n.

[ME fogge, prob. < Scand as in Norw dial. fogg, long grass in moist place, akin to Ger feucht, damp: see FEN¹]

1. a new growth of grass after cutting or grazing

2. long, rank grass left uncut or left standing

3. Scot. moss