acid n. Colourless irritant volatile acid contained in fluid emitted by ants; methanoic acid. [latin formica ant]

fuel n. Natural fuel extracted from the ground.

- —n. - remains or impression of a (usu. Prehistoric) plant or animal hardened in rock.

- colloq. Antiquated or unchanging person or thing. —attrib. Adj. Of or like a fossil; antiquated. fossilize v. (also -ise) (-zing or -sing). Fossilization n. [latin fodio foss- dig]

—v. - a promote the growth or development of. B encourage or harbour (a feeling).

- a bring up (another's child). B (of a local authority etc.) Assign (a child) to be fostered.

- (of circumstances) be favourable to. —attrib. Adj. - having a family connection by fostering (foster-brother; foster-parent).

- concerned with fostering a child (foster care; foster home). [old english: related to *food]

past and past part. Of *fight.

n. Muddle, bungle.

adj. & n. - next after third.

- any of four equal parts of a thing. fourthly adv. [old english: related to *four]

- estate n. The press.

n. (pl. Same) noisy disturbance or quarrel. [french from italian]

comb. Form french and (franco-german). [latin: related to *frank]

adj. Iced, cooled. [french]

—v. (-zing; past froze; past part. Frozen) 1 a turn into ice or another solid by cold. B make or become rigid from the cold.

- be or feel very cold.

- cover or become covered with ice.

- (foll. By to, together) adhere by frost.

- refrigerate (food) below freezing point.

- a make or become motionless through fear, surprise, etc. B (as frozen adj) devoid of emotion (frozen smile).

- make (assets etc.) Unrealizable.

- fix (prices, wages, etc.) At a certain level.

- stop (the movement in a film). —n. - period or state of frost.

- fixing or stabilization of prices, wages, etc.

- (in full freeze-frame) still film-shot. freeze up obstruct or be obstructed by ice. [old english]