false
Use False in a sentence
adjective
1.
not true or correct; erroneous: a false statement.
2.
uttering or declaring what is untrue: a false witness.
3.
not faithful or loyal; treacherous: a false friend.
4.
tending to deceive or mislead; deceptive: a false impression.
5.
not genuine; counterfeit.
6.
based on mistaken, erroneous, or inconsistent impressions, ideas, or facts: false pride.
7.
used as a substitute or supplement, especially temporarily: false supports for a bridge.
8.
9.
not properly, accurately, or honestly made, done, or adjusted: a false balance.
10.
inaccurate in pitch, as a musical note.
adverb
11.
dishonestly; faithlessly; treacherously: Did he speak false against me?
00:10
False
is always a great word to know.
So is photoautotroph. Does it mean:
| the primary subdivision of a taxonomic kingdom, grouping together all classes of organisms that have the same body plan |
| any organism that derives its energy for food synthesis from light and is capable of using carbon dioxide as its principal source of carbon |
12.
play someone false, to betray someone; be treacherous or faithless.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English, Old English fals < Latin falsus feigned, false, orig. past participle of fallere to deceive; reinforced by or reborrowed from Anglo-French, Old French fals, feminine false < Latin
before 1000; Middle English, Old English fals < Latin falsus feigned, false, orig. past participle of fallere to deceive; reinforced by or reborrowed from Anglo-French, Old French fals, feminine false < Latin
Related forms
false·ly, adverb
false·ness, noun
half-false, adjective
qua·si-false, adjective
qua·si-false·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. mistaken, incorrect, wrong, untrue. 2. untruthful, lying, mendacious. 3. insincere, hypocritical, disingenuous, disloyal, unfaithful, inconstant, perfidious, traitorous. 4. misleading, fallacious. 5. artificial, spurious, bogus, forged. False, sham, counterfeit agree in referring to something that is not genuine. False is used mainly of imitations of concrete objects; it sometimes implies an intent to deceive: false teeth; false hair. Sham is rarely used of concrete objects and usually has the suggestion of intent to deceive: sham title; sham tears. Counterfeit always has the implication of cheating; it is used particularly of spurious imitation of coins, paper money, etc.
1. mistaken, incorrect, wrong, untrue. 2. untruthful, lying, mendacious. 3. insincere, hypocritical, disingenuous, disloyal, unfaithful, inconstant, perfidious, traitorous. 4. misleading, fallacious. 5. artificial, spurious, bogus, forged. False, sham, counterfeit agree in referring to something that is not genuine. False is used mainly of imitations of concrete objects; it sometimes implies an intent to deceive: false teeth; false hair. Sham is rarely used of concrete objects and usually has the suggestion of intent to deceive: sham title; sham tears. Counterfeit always has the implication of cheating; it is used particularly of spurious imitation of coins, paper money, etc.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To false
Collins
World English Dictionary
false (fɔːls) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | not in accordance with the truth or facts |
| 2. | irregular or invalid: a false start |
| 3. | untruthful or lying: a false account |
| 4. | not genuine, real, or natural; artificial; fake: false eyelashes |
| 5. | being or intended to be misleading or deceptive: a false rumour |
| 6. | disloyal or treacherous: a false friend |
| 7. | based on mistaken or irrelevant ideas or facts: false pride; a false argument |
| 8. | (prenominal) (esp of plants) superficially resembling the species specified: false hellebore |
| 9. | serving to supplement or replace, often temporarily: a false keel |
| 10. | music |
| a. (of a note, interval, etc) out of tune | |
| b. (of the interval of a perfect fourth or fifth) decreased by a semitone | |
| c. (of a cadence) interrupted or imperfect | |
| —adv | |
| 11. | in a false or dishonest manner (esp in the phrase play (someone) false) |
| [Old English fals, from Latin falsus, from fallere to deceive] | |
| 'falsely | |
| —adv | |
| 'falseness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
false
c.1200, from O.Fr. fals, faus, from L. falsus "deceived, erroneous, mistaken," pp. of fallere "deceive, disappoint," of uncertain origin. Adopted into other Gmc. languages (cf. Ger. falsch, Dan. falsk), though English is the only one in which the active sense of "deceitful" (a secondary sense in L.)
has predominated. Related: Falsely. Falsies "padded brassiere" first recorded 1943.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
FALSE definition
A small, compiled extensible language with lambda abstractions by W. van Oortmerssen.
For Amiga (ftp://ftp.cso.uiuc.edu/pub/amiga/fish/ff885).
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
false
In addition to the idioms beginning with false, also see lull into (false sense of security); play false; ring false.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Her personal budgeting rang false to many students, especially the ones who were living the sort of life she was play-acting.
Twice, my colleague thought it would be the last time she would see him and it turned out to be a false alarm.
Unnecessary feature, and sure enough, a false rumor.
Captured this image while a couple of false clown fish were inquisitive over my strobe lights.
Idioms & Phrases
Nearby Words
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