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firms - 5 dictionary results

firm

1[furm] adjective, -er, -est, verb, adverb, -er, -est.
–adjective
1. not soft or yielding when pressed; comparatively solid, hard, stiff, or rigid: firm ground; firm texture.
2. securely fixed in place.
3. not shaking or trembling; steady: a firm voice.
4. not likely to change; fixed; settled; unalterable: a firm belief.
5. steadfast or unwavering, as persons or principles: firm friends.
6. indicating firmness or determination: a firm expression.
7. not fluctuating much or falling, as prices, values, etc.: The stock market was firm today.
–verb (used with object)
8. to make firm; tighten or strengthen (sometimes fol. by up): to firm up one's hold on something.
9. to steady or fix (sometimes fol. by up): to firm up prices.
–verb (used without object)
10. to become firm or fixed (sometimes fol. by up): Butter firms by churning.
11. (of prices, markets, etc.) to recover; become stronger, as after a decline (sometimes fol. by up): Stock prices firmed again today.
–adverb
12. firmly: He stood firm.

Origin:
1300–50; < L firmus; r. ME ferm < MF < L


firmly, adverb
firmness, noun


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.


1. yielding, soft.

firm

2[furm]
–noun
1. a partnership or association for carrying on a business.
2. the name or title under which associated parties transact business: the firm of Smith & Jones.

Origin:
1565–75; < Sp firma signature (hence, legal name of a partnership, etc.), n. deriv. firmar to sign < L firmāre to strengthen, confirm, deriv. of firmus firm 1


1. company, business, concern, house.
firm 1   (fûrm)   
adj.   firm·er, firm·est
  1. Resistant to externally applied pressure.
  2. Marked by or indicating the tone and resiliency of healthy tissue: firm muscles.
  3. Securely fixed in place: Despite being hit by the car, the post was still firm.
  4. Indicating or possessed of determination or resolution: a firm voice.
  5. Constant; steadfast: a firm ally.
    1. Not subject to change; fixed and definite: a firm bargain; a firm offer.
    2. Unfluctuating; steady: Stock prices are still firm.
  6. Strong and sure: a firm grasp.
tr. & intr.v.   firmed, firm·ing, firms
To make or become firm. Often used with up.
adv.   firmer, firmest
Without wavering; resolutely: stand firm.

[Middle English ferm, from Old French, from Latin firmus; see dher- in Indo-European roots.]
firm'ly adv., firm'ness n.
firm 2   (fûrm)   
n.  
  1. A commercial partnership of two or more persons, especially when unincorporated.
  2. The name or designation under which a company transacts business.

[Italian firma, from firmare, to ratify by signature, from Medieval Latin firmāre, from Latin, to confirm, from firmus, firm; see dher- in Indo-European roots.]

Firms

Firms\, n. pl. [From Firm, a.] (Arch.) The principal rafters of a roof, especially a pair of rafters taken together. [Obs.]
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