fool

fool · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A person who acts unwisely or imprudently.

  2. 2.

    To trick or deceive someone.

  3. 3.

    (Historical) A jester or entertainer at a royal court.

  4. 4.

    To act in a playful or silly manner.

  5. 5.

    (British) A cold dessert made of pureed fruit mixed with cream or custard.

Forms

plural: fools

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    fool's gold — iron pyrite; something deceptively valuable
  • •
    April Fool — a person tricked on April 1st
  • •
    fool around — behave frivolously or have an affair
  • •
    nobody's fool — a shrewd, sensible person
  • •
    make a fool of — cause someone to appear stupid

Related words

Antonyms: genius, sage, wise_person
See also: folly, foolish, foolishness
Synonyms: dunce, idiot, jester, simpleton

Etymology

From Old French fol ("mad, insane, stupid"), from Latin follis ("bellows, windbag"). The court jester sense developed because fools were licensed to speak freely.