Billiards. a stroke in which the cue ball is forcibly struck directly below the center in such a manner as to cause it to stop abruptly, bound back, or roll off to one side after hitting the object ball.
–verb (used with object)
18.
to compel, constrain, or oblige (oneself or someone) to do something: to force a suspect to confess.
19.
to drive or propel against resistance: He forced his way through the crowd. They forced air into his lungs.
20.
to bring about or effect by force.
21.
to bring about of necessity or as a necessary result: to force a smile.
22.
to put or impose (something or someone) forcibly on or upon a person: to force one's opinions on others.
23.
to compel by force; overcome the resistance of: to force acceptance of something.
24.
to obtain or draw forth by or as if by force; extort: to force a confession.
25.
to enter or take by force; overpower: They forced the town after a long siege.
26.
to break open (a door, lock, etc.).
27.
to cause (plants, fruits, etc.) to grow or mature at an increased rate by artificial means.
28.
to press, urge, or exert (an animal, person, etc.) to violent effort or to the utmost.
29.
to use force upon.
30.
to rape.
31.
Baseball.
a.
to cause (a base runner) to be put out by obliging the runner, as by a ground ball, to vacate a base and attempt to move to the next base in order to make room for another runner or the batter.
b.
to cause (a base runner or run) to score, as by walking a batter with the bases full (often fol. by in).
32.
Cards.
a.
to compel (a player) to trump by leading a suit of which the player has no cards.
b.
to compel a player to play (a particular card).
c.
to compel (a player) to play so as to make known the strength of the hand.
33.
Photography.
a.
to develop (a print or negative) for longer than usual in order to increase density or bring out details.
b.
to bring out underexposed parts of (a print or negative) by adding alkali to the developer.
34.
Archaic. to give force to; strengthen; reinforce.
–verb (used without object)
35.
to make one's way by force.
—Idiom
36.
in force,
a.
in operation; effective: This ancient rule is no longer in force.
b.
in large numbers; at full strength: They attacked in force.
[Origin: 1250–1300; (n.) ME < MF < VL *fortia, deriv. of L fortis strong; (v.) ME forcen < AF, OF forcer, deriv. of the n.]
The capacity to do work or cause physical change; energy, strength, or active power: the force of an explosion.
Power made operative against resistance; exertion: use force in driving a nail.
The use of physical power or violence to compel or restrain: a confession obtained by force.
Intellectual power or vigor, especially as conveyed in writing or speech.
Moral strength.
A capacity for affecting the mind or behavior; efficacy: the force of logical argumentation.
One that possesses such capacity: the forces of evil.
A body of persons or other resources organized or available for a certain purpose: a large labor force.
A person or group capable of influential action: a retired senator who is still a force in national politics.
Military strength.
The entire military strength, as of a nation. Often used in the plural.
A unit of a nation's military personnel, especially one deployed into combat: Our forces have at last engaged the enemy.
Intellectual power or vigor, especially as conveyed in writing or speech.
Moral strength.
A capacity for affecting the mind or behavior; efficacy: the force of logical argumentation.
One that possesses such capacity: the forces of evil.
A body of persons or other resources organized or available for a certain purpose: a large labor force.
A person or group capable of influential action: a retired senator who is still a force in national politics.
Military strength.
The entire military strength, as of a nation. Often used in the plural.
A unit of a nation's military personnel, especially one deployed into combat: Our forces have at last engaged the enemy.
A body of persons or other resources organized or available for a certain purpose: a large labor force.
A person or group capable of influential action: a retired senator who is still a force in national politics.
Military strength.
The entire military strength, as of a nation. Often used in the plural.
A unit of a nation's military personnel, especially one deployed into combat: Our forces have at last engaged the enemy.
Military strength.
The entire military strength, as of a nation. Often used in the plural.
A unit of a nation's military personnel, especially one deployed into combat: Our forces have at last engaged the enemy.
Law Legal validity.
Physics A vector quantity that tends to produce an acceleration of a body in the direction of its application.
Baseball A force play.
tr.v.
forced, forc·ing, forc·es
To compel through pressure or necessity: I forced myself to practice daily. He was forced to take a second job.
To gain by the use of force or coercion: force a confession.
To move or effect against resistance or inertia: forced my foot into the shoe.
To inflict or impose relentlessly: He forced his ideas upon the group.
To put undue strain on: She forced her voice despite being hoarse.
To increase or accelerate (a pace, for example) to the maximum.
To produce with effort and against one's will: force a laugh in spite of pain.
To use (language) with obvious lack of ease and naturalness.
To move, open, or clear by force: forced our way through the crowd.
To break down or open by force: force a lock.
To put (a runner) out on a force play.
To allow (a run) to be scored by walking a batter when the bases are loaded.
To put undue strain on: She forced her voice despite being hoarse.
To increase or accelerate (a pace, for example) to the maximum.
To produce with effort and against one's will: force a laugh in spite of pain.
To use (language) with obvious lack of ease and naturalness.
To move, open, or clear by force: forced our way through the crowd.
To break down or open by force: force a lock.
To put (a runner) out on a force play.
To allow (a run) to be scored by walking a batter when the bases are loaded.
To move, open, or clear by force: forced our way through the crowd.
To break down or open by force: force a lock.
To put (a runner) out on a force play.
To allow (a run) to be scored by walking a batter when the bases are loaded.
To rape.
Botany To cause to grow or mature by artificially accelerating normal processes.
Baseball
To put (a runner) out on a force play.
To allow (a run) to be scored by walking a batter when the bases are loaded.
Games To cause an opponent to play (a particular card).
[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin fortia, from neuter pl. of Latin fortis, strong; see bhergh-2 in Indo-European roots.]
force'a·ble adj., forc'er n.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to cause a person or thing to follow a prescribed or dictated course. Force, the most general, usually implies the exertion of physical power or the operation of circumstances that permit no options: Tear gas forced the fugitives out of their hiding place. Compel applies especially to an act dictated by one in authority: Say nothing unless you're compelled to. Coerce invariably implies the use of strength or harsh measures in securing compliance: "The man of genius rules . . . by persuading an efficient minority to coerce an indifferent and self-indulgent majority" (James Fitzjames Stephen).
Constrain suggests that one is bound to a course of action by physical or moral means or by the operation of compelling circumstances: "I will never be by violence constrained to do anything" (Elizabeth I).
Oblige implies the operation of authority, necessity, or moral or ethical considerations: "Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do" (Mark Twain).
Obligate applies when compliance is enforced by a legal contract or by the dictates of one's conscience or sense of propriety: I am obligated to repay the loan. See Also Synonyms at strength.
Any of various factors that cause a body to change its speed, direction, or shape. Force is a vector quantity, having both magnitude and direction. Contributions of force from different sources can be summed to give the net force at any given point.
Any of the four natural phenomena involving the interaction between particles of matter. From the strongest to the weakest, the four forces are the strong nuclear force, the electromagnetic force, the weak nuclear force, and gravity.
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