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firm

[furm]

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adjective

not soft or yielding when pressed; comparatively solid, hard, stiff, or rigid: firm ground; firm texture.

securely fixed in place.

not shaking or trembling; steady: a firm voice.

not likely to change; fixed; settled; unalterable: a firm belief.

steadfast or unwavering, as persons or principles: firm friends.

EXPAND

indicating firmness or determination: a firm expression.

not fluctuating much or falling, as prices, values, etc.: The stock market was firm today.

COLLAPSE

verb (used with object)

to make firm; tighten or strengthen (sometimes followed by up): to firm up one's hold on something.

to steady or fix (sometimes followed by up): to firm up prices.

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Firm is one of our favorite verbs.

So is peculate. Does it mean:

to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.

to run away hurriedly; flee.

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verb (used without object)

10.

to become firm or fixed (sometimes followed by up): Butter firms by churning.

11.

(of prices, markets, etc.) to recover; become stronger, as after a decline (sometimes followed by up): Stock prices firmed again today.

adverb

12.

firmly: He stood firm.

Origin:
1300–50; < Latin firmus; replacing Middle English ferm < Middle French < Latin

Related forms

firm·ly, adverb

firm·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. Firm, hard, solid, stiff are applied to substances that tend to retain their form unaltered in spite of pressure or force. Firm often implies that something has been brought from a yielding state to a fixed or elastic one: An increased amount of pectin makes jellies firm. Hard is applied to substances so resistant that it is difficult to make any impression upon their surface or to penetrate their interior: as hard as a stone. Solid is applied to substances that without external support retain their form and resist pressure: Water in the form of ice is solid. It sometimes denotes the opposite of hollow: a solid block of marble. Stiff implies rigidity that resists a bending force: as stiff as a poker. 2. fast, stable, immovable. 4. established, confirmed. 5. determined, immovable, staunch, reliable.

Antonyms
1. yielding, soft.

Example Sentences

Up to this point the drawing of character, though light rather than profound, has been firm and persuasive.

There is a widely held, simplistic definition of faith as firm belief.

Producing free research especially helps young consultants prove their worth, both to clients and to others within the firm.

EXPAND

Up to this point the drawing of character, though light rather than profound, has been firm and persuasive.

There is a widely held, simplistic definition of faith as firm belief.

Producing free research especially helps young consultants prove their worth, both to clients and to others within the firm.

Attention to marine conservation science lags far behind that paid to conservation of firm ground, says a scientist.

So the next time you're faced with a choice that takes self-control, clench your fist or firm that bicep.

Look for clams with siphons that appear fresh, plump and firm.

You'll be surprised by how many lovers of firm scrambled eggs are converted by this approach.

Because of the litigation, the firm will not comment, except to say that the teen's death was a tragedy.

At one time, the breakup of a big, prestigious law firm was rare.

For example, my consulting firm recently conducted a search for a dean.

As a result, nobody has a firm grip on the total jaguar population.

The firm relies on plastic tubes-filter-fabric straws as thin as human hair.

California-based research firm focused on the intersection between faith and culture.

Bake these thick cookies for a shorter time at a high temperature to firm them quickly and minimize spreading.

Initially, the shoe's firm ride was a little off-putting.

Inc-the same architectural firm that built the museum's original building.

Sliced fresh firm tomatoes with drizzled with olive oil and black pepper.

Paint the gold mixture onto the firm chocolate leaves.

But, make no mistake about it-there is a big difference between firm and abusive.

Hold the plant upright as you firm soil around its roots.

Men exchange a firm handshake, followed by a few brisk pats on the back and a lingering one-arm embrace.

But even for firm fish, as well as others that are more delicate, a little support works wonders.

Stuff the pillow filling into the open side until the pillow is firm.

Slip the plant out of its container, loosen roots with your fingers, and set it on the central plateau of firm soil.

The firm used the results for beach-restoration projects and environmental studies.

If it becomes sticky as you work, return it to the refrigerator to firm up again.

When you shop, look for plump, firm bulbs that feel heavy for their size.

When his firm decided to go natural, he asked the garden's owners for permission to make their landscape sustainable as well.

Harvest them when the fruit fills the husk but is still firm and green.

Firm the soil around the roots, then water each plant gently.

Tofu holds up beautifully on the grill as long as you use the firm nigari kind.

If they're alive, their bodies should be firm and tight, not droopy.

The firm was one of the first to supply nurseries with starter plants, giving gardeners a faster option than sowing seeds.

Firm the medium around the cuttings and water with a fine spray.

It's a great time to be a young lawyer at a top firm.

If one person, firm or country can produce more of something with the same amount of effort and resources.

In particular, he studied economic activity within a firm in the context of conflict resolution.

Insert rootball through an x into the soil press to firm the plant in place then smooth down.

The firm has used this approach on parts of its other projects but never for an entire structure.

The university has hired a search firm that will present its candidates to the search committee next month.

The firm faces battles in courtrooms as well as in the court of public opinion.

Yet this fear would have been coupled with a certain pride and a firm belief that they were joining the gods.

Harvest fruit while they're still firm in early fall.

The firm started its existence looking to add efficiency to the solar installation process.

He is convinced that the firm would be much more valuable as part of a drugs giant rather than an independent firm.

Houdin eventually left his architecture firm to pursue the inside-out theory full-time.

Now that the conjecture has some firm backing, it is likely to be applied more widely than before.

The firm will remain private, family-owned and devoted to menswear.

Gives legs a firm youthful look and a wonderful feel.

The firm sought to convey the impression that its clientele essentially remained the famous.

We dress quickly and begin walking while the snow is still firm.

Even after fairly firm reminders from others, it was yatta-da-yatta-da all day long.

The family firm isn't dying in this environment, it is thriving.

But during the past few years there have been only three or four weeks when the ice has been firm and the hunting good.

The first is a stand-alone and, until lately, extremely successful business which the firm wants to develop.

Elkan's team will do more surveys in the coming years to firm up the data.

Roots do not knit soil together in a firm root ball, and they are highly sensitive to disturbance.

To firm loose gravel, he watered it with a hose and.

Spread roots out over the central plateau of firm soil.

Poke a hole in the new container's planting mix, place the seedling in the hole, and firm soil around it.

Dig out the wick from the wax and reform into firm string.

COLLAPSE

Dictionary.com Unabridged

noun

a partnership or association for carrying on a business.

the name or title under which associated parties transact business: the firm of Smith & Jones.

Origin:
1565–75; < Spanish firma signature (hence, legal name of a partnership, etc.), noun derivative firmar to sign < Latin firmāre to strengthen, confirm, derivative of firmus firm¹

Synonyms
1. company, business, concern, house.

Link To firm

Collins

World English Dictionary

firm¹ (fɜːm)

—*adj*
1.	not soft or yielding to a touch or pressure; rigid; solid
2.	securely in position; stable or stationary
3.	definitely established; decided; settled
4.	enduring or steady; constant
5.	having determination or strength; resolute
6.	(of prices, markets, etc) tending to rise

—*adv*
7.	in a secure, stable, or unyielding manner: he stood firm over his obligation to pay

—vb
8.	(sometimes foll by up) to make or become firm
9.	(Austral) (intr) horse racing (of a horse) to shorten in odds

[C14: from Latin firmus]

'firmly¹

—*adv*

'firmness¹

—n

firm² (fɜːm)

—n
1.	a business partnership
2.	any commercial enterprise
3.	a team of doctors and their assistants
4.	slang (Brit)
	a. a gang of criminals
	b. a gang of football hooligans

[C16 (in the sense: signature): from Spanish firma signature, title of a partnership or business concern, from firmar to sign, from Latin firmāre to confirm, from firmus firm]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

firm

late 14c., from O.Fr. ferme, from L. firmus "firm, stable," from PIE base *dher(e)- "to hold, support" (cf. Skt. dharmah "custom, law," Gk. thronos "seat," Lith. dirzmas "strong," Welsh dir "hard," Breton dir "steel"). The return in late 1500s to -i- from M.E. ferme was modeled on the Latin. Related:

EXPAND

Firmly; firmness.

firm

"business house," 1744, from Ger. Firma "a business, name of a business," originally "signature," from It. firma "signature," from firmare "to sign," from L. firmare "make firm, affirm, confirm (by signature)," from firmus "firm, stable" (see firm (adj.)).

firm

c.1300, fermen "make firm, establish," from O.Fr. fermer, from L. firmare, from firmus (see firm (adj.)). Related: Firmed; firming.

COLLAPSE

American Heritage

Abbreviations & Acronyms

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Matching Quote

"Pop" Wyman ruled here with a firm but gentle hand; no drunken man was ever served at the bar; no married man was allowed to play at the tables; across the face of the large clock was written "Please Don't Swear," and over the orchestra appeared the gentle admonition, "Don't Shoot the Pianist—He's Doing His Damndest."

-Administration in the State of Colo

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