Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Topic: CURRENCIES

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: Latin firmus

firm

2 adjective
     
firm2 S2 W2
1 not completely hard, but not soft, and not easy to bend into a different shape:
The sofa cushions are fairly firm.
a firm green apple
Most doctors recommend sleeping on a firm mattress.
2 strongly fixed in position, and not likely to move [= secure]:
Make sure the ladder feels firm before you climb up.
A concrete foundation was poured after digging down to firm ground.
Mount the tanks side by side on a firm base.
3 not likely to change
firm conviction/commitment/belief etc
Our client hasn't reached a firm decision on the matter yet.
Blackpool remains a firm favourite with holiday makers from Northern Ireland.
Corey was always a firm believer in prayer.
They made a firm offer (=offered to pay a particular amount) on the house over the weekend.
Diana and Laura have been firm friends (=close friends) since their early teens.
4 showing in the way that you behave or speak that you are the person in control and that you are not likely to change your answer, belief etc:
Cal replied with a polite but firm 'no'.
What this country needs is firm leadership.
be firm with somebody
You need to be firm with her or she'll try to take advantage of you.
5

hand

a firm grip/hold/grasp etc

if you have something in a firm grip etc, you are holding it tightly and strongly:
He took a firm grip of my arm and marched me towards the door.
a firm handshake
6

take a firm stand/line

to state your opinion clearly and not be persuaded to change it
7

stand/hold firm

to not change your actions or opinions
stand/hold firm against
Jones is urging Christians to stand firm against abortion.
8

firm hand

a strict way of dealing with someone:
These children need a firm hand.
9

money

PEC [not before noun] if the value of a particular country's money is firm, it does not fall in value
firm against
The pound is still firm against the dollar.
—firmly adverb
—firmness noun [uncountable]
WORD FOCUS: hard WORD FOCUS: hard
hard and not bending: solid, firm, stiff, rigid
meat that is too hard: tough
skin that is old and hard: leathery, calloused
hard and easily broken: brittle

➔ See also hard
Definition of firm from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
the topic CURRENCIES

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bob cent change coin coinage convertible crown currency d. denomination dime dinar dollar dough exchange rate fifty firm float foreign exchange Fr franc gold guilder guinea krona krone lira mark mill mint(n) mint(v) money money supply nickel note p. paper money parity pence penny piece quarter quid rand riyal rouble ruble rupee shekel shilling silver single sixpence sovereign sterling strong weaken yen yuan

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