Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: freond

friend

 noun
     
friend S1 W1 [countable]
1

person you like

someone who you know and like very much and enjoy spending time withCOLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
a friend of mine/yours/Billy's etc best friend (=the friend you like the most) good/close friend (=one of the friends you like the most) old friend (=a friend you have known for a long time) trusted friend lifelong friend (=someone who is your friend for the whole of your life) friend of a friend circle of friends (=all the friends someone has) a mutual friend (=someone who is a friend of both you and someone else) a childhood/boyhood/girlhood friend
Jerry, this is my friend Sue.
Is this man a friend of yours?
Mia was the wife of his best friend.
One of her closest friends died at the weekend.
I didn't expect this treatment from my father's oldest friend.
She told this to only a few trusted friends.
I met Jim through a friend of a friend.
Few people smoke in my circle of friends.
Jill is a mutual friend of ours.
2

be friends (with somebody)

to be someone's friend:
I've been friends with the Murkets for twenty years.
3
a)

make friends

to become friendly with people:
Jenny has always found it easy to make friends at school.
b)

make friends with somebody

to become friendly with someone:
He made friends with an old fisherman.
4

be just (good) friends

used to say that you are not having a romantic relationship with someone:
I'm not going out with Nathan - we're just good friends.
5

supporter

someone who supports an organization such as a theatre, art gallery, charity etc by giving money or help
friend of
the Friends of the Tate
6

not an enemy

someone who has the same beliefs, wants to achieve the same things etc as you, and will support you:
our friends and allies around the world
She shot him a quick glance as if unsure whether he was friend or foe.
Don't worry, you're among friends.
7

parliament/court of law

British English
a)

my honourable friend

used by a member of parliament when speaking about another member of parliament
b)

my learned friend

used by a lawyer when speaking about another lawyer in a court of law
8

be no friend of something

to not like or be a supporter of something:
I'm no friend of socialism, as you know.
9

Friend

RRC a member of the Society of Friends [= quaker]
10

our/your friend

spoken used humorously to talk about someone you do not know, who is doing something annoying:
Our friend with the loud voice is back.
11

have friends in high places

to know important people who can help you
12

a friend in need

someone who helps you when you need it
WORD FOCUS: friend WORD FOCUS: friend
similar words: mate BrE informal, buddy AmE informal, pal informal, chum BrE informal, crony disapproving
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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