noun1. any of a class of naturally occurring soft greasy solids that are esters of glycerol and certain fatty acids. They are present in some plants and in the adipose tissue of animals, forming a reserve energy source, and are used in making soap and paint and in the food industry
See also oil (sense 1) 2. vegetable or animal tissue containing fat
▶ Related adjectives:
adipose, lipoid, stearic 3. corpulence, obesity, or plumpness
4. the best or richest part of something
5. a part in a play that gives an actor a good opportunity to show his or her talents
6. chew the fat
7. the fat is in the fire
8. the fat of the land
adjectiveWord forms: fatter or fattest9. having much or too much flesh or fat
10. consisting of or containing fat; greasy
fat pork
11. profitable; lucrative
a fat year
12. affording great opportunities
a fat part in the play
13. fertile or productive
a fat land
14. thick, broad, or extended
a fat log of wood
15. having a high content of a particular material or ingredient, such as resin in wood or oil in paint
16. plentifully supplied
a fat larder
17. slang empty; stupid
get this into your fat head
18. slang very little or none; minimal (in phrases such as a fat chance, a fat lot of good, etc)
verbWord forms: fats, fatting or fatted19. to make or become fat; fatten
Word origin
Old English
fǣtt, past participle of
fǣtan to cram; related to Old Norse
feita, Old High German
feizen to fatten; compare Gothic
fētjan to adorn