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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | fætt |
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fat1 S2 W3
comparative fatter, superlative fattest
comparative fatter, superlative fattest1 weighing too much because you have too much flesh on your body [≠ thin]: 
Are you suggesting I'm too fat?a short fat man in his early fifties He looks much fatter than in his photo.
flesh
Are you suggesting I'm too fat?a short fat man in his early fiftiesHe looks much fatter than in his photo.2 thick or wide [≠ thin]: Dobbs was smoking a fat cigar. a big fat book
object
Dobbs was smoking a fat cigar.a big fat book3 containing or worth a large amount of money :
money
[only before noun] informal5 not at all useful or helpful : Fat lot of use you are in the kitchen.
(a) fat lot of good/use
spokenFat lot of use you are in the kitchen.6 someone who has too much money, especially someone who is paid too much for their job - used in order to show disapproval : the fat cats at the top who have recently been given obscene pay increases
fat cat
informalthe fat cats at the top who have recently been given obscene pay increases8 to become rich because of something used to show disapproval : The finance men had grown fat on managing other people's money.
grow fat on something
The finance men had grown fat on managing other people's money.9 a lip that is swollen because it has been hit : My friend was badly injured with bruised ribs and a fat lip.
a fat lip
informalMy friend was badly injured with bruised ribs and a fat lip.10 another spelling of phat; used to show approval, especially of someone or something that is fashionable, interesting, or attractive
approval
informal —fatness noun [uncountable] a rise in fatness in children
WORD CHOICE: a rise in fatness in childrenWORD CHOICE: fat, overweight, obese, chubby, plump, big, well-builtIn general, people do not like to be called fat. But some ways to say 'fat' are less rude than others.fat is a very direct word. You might use it about yourself but it will usually cause offence if you use it about someone else • I'm so fat at the moment!overweight is a more polite way to say that someone is fatter than they usually are or than they should be • She is a little overweight.obese is a word used especially by doctors to describe people who are very fat, in a way that is bad for their health.chubby is a more informal word and is used especially of children or of rounded body parts such as cheeks or knees.plump means fat and rounded in a pleasant way • a plump, motherly womanbig and well-built are fairly polite ways to describe someone with a large, strong, or fat body • For big men like him, air travel can be uncomfortable.
