 |
| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | fyllan; related to FULL1 |
| |||||||||
fill1 S1 W1
1 if a container or place fills, or if you fill it, enough of something goes into it to make it full : 
He poured her a drink, then filled his own glass.My job was filling the flour sacks. Take a deep breath and allow your lungs to fill. There was just enough wind to fill the sails. Miller's band was filling dancehalls (=attracting a lot of people) all over the country.
become/make full
also fill up [intransitive and transitive]He poured her a drink, then filled his own glass.My job was filling the flour sacks.Take a deep breath and allow your lungs to fill. fill something to the brim/to overflowing (=fill something completely) a bucket filled to the brim with ice
a bucket filled to the brim with iceThere was just enough wind to fill the sails.Miller's band was filling dancehalls (=attracting a lot of people) all over the country.2 if a thing or group fills something, there is no space left : Crowds of well-wishers filled the streets. His wartime experiences would fill a book! All the seats were filled and a number of people were standing.
large thing/number
[transitive]Crowds of well-wishers filled the streets.His wartime experiences would fill a book!All the seats were filled and a number of people were standing.3 if a sound, smell, or light fills a place, you notice it because it is very loud or strong : The smell of freshly baked bread filled the room.
sound/smell/light
[transitive]CThe smell of freshly baked bread filled the room.4 if you are filled with an emotion, or if it fills you, you feel it very strongly
emotions
[transitive]5 to provide something that is needed or wanted but which has not been available or present before
provide something
[transitive] fill a gap/hole/niche etc I spent most of the summer filling the gaps in my education. The company has moved quickly to fill the niche in the overnight travel market.
I spent most of the summer filling the gaps in my education.The company has moved quickly to fill the niche in the overnight travel market.6 if you fill a period of time with a particular activity, you spend that time doing it
spend time
[transitive]7 to perform a particular job, activity, or purpose in an organization, or to find someone or something to do this
perform a job
[transitive] fill a post/position/vacancy etc Women fill 35% of senior management positions. Thank you for your letter. Unfortunately, the vacancy has already been filled.
Women fill 35% of senior management positions.Thank you for your letter. Unfortunately, the vacancy has already been filled.8 to put a substance into a hole, crack etc to make a surface level : Fill in any cracks before starting to paint. materials developed to fill tooth cavities
crack/hole
also fill in [transitive]Fill in any cracks before starting to paint.materials developed to fill tooth cavities10 to supply the goods that a customer has ordered : The company is struggling to fill $11 million in back orders.
fill an order
BBTThe company is struggling to fill $11 million in back orders.11 to have exactly the right qualities [= fit the bill British English] We needed an experienced reporter and Willis fills the bill.
fill the bill
American EnglishWe needed an experienced reporter and Willis fills the bill.12 to do the work that someone else normally does, especially when this is difficult because they have set a high standard
fill somebody's shoes
fill in
phrasal verb1 to write all the necessary information on an official document, form etc : Don't forget to fill in your boarding cards.
document
fill something ↔ in
Don't forget to fill in your boarding cards.2 to tell someone about recent events, especially because they have been away from a place
tell somebody news
fill somebody ↔ in
3 to put a substance into a hole, crack etc so it is completely full and level
crack/hole
fill something ↔ in
4 to spend time doing something unimportant because you are waiting for something to happen : She flipped through a magazine to fill in the time.
fill in time
She flipped through a magazine to fill in the time.5 to paint or draw over the space inside a shape
space
fill something ↔ in
6 to do someone's job because they are not there
do somebody's job
fill out
phrasal verb2 if you fill out, or your body fills out, you become slightly fatter : Eric has filled out around the waist.
Eric has filled out around the waist.3 if a young person fills out, their body becomes more like an adult's body, for example by having bigger muscles, developing breasts etc : At puberty, a girl's body begins to fill out.
At puberty, a girl's body begins to fill out.4 to add more details to a description or story
fill something ↔ out
fill up
phrasal verb1 if a container or place fills up, or if you fill it up, it becomes full
3DF food that fills you up makes you feel as though you have eaten a lot when you have only eaten a small amount
