\ ˈfȯrs
\
1a(1)
: strength or energy exerted or brought to bear : cause of motion or change : active power
the forces of nature the motivating force in her life
(2)
capitalized
—used with a number to indicate the strength of the wind according to the Beaufort scale a Force 10 hurricane
b
: moral or mental strength
I was impressed by the force of his character.
c
: capacity to persuade or convince
the force of the argument
2a
: military strength
b(1)
: a body (as of troops or ships) assigned to a military purpose
a force of 20,000 soldiers
(2)
forces plural
: the whole military strength (as of a nation)
c
: a body of persons or things available for a particular end
a labor force the missile force
d
: an individual or group having the power of effective action
join forces to prevent violence a force in politics
e
often capitalized
: police force
—usually used with the After his military service, he joined the force.
3
: violence, compulsion, or constraint exerted upon or against a person or thing
Those who do not respond to kindness must yield to force.
4a
: an agency or influence that if applied to a free body results chiefly in an acceleration of the body and sometimes in elastic deformation and other effects
b
: any of the natural influences (such as electromagnetism (see electromagnetism sense 2a), gravity, the strong force, and the weak force) that exist especially between particles and determine the structure of the universe
5
: the quality of conveying impressions intensely in writing or speech
stated the objectives with force
in force
1
: in great numbers
picnickers were out in force
transitive verb
1
: to do violence to
especially
: rape
2
: to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means
3
: to make or cause especially through natural or logical necessity
forced to admit my error the last minute goal forced overtime
4a
: to press, drive, pass, or effect against resistance or inertia
force your way through
b
: to impose or thrust urgently, importunately, or inexorably
force unwanted attentions on a coworker
5
: to achieve or win by strength in struggle or violence: such as
a
: to win one's way into
force a castle forced the mountain passes
b
: to break open or through
force a lock
6a
: to raise or accelerate to the utmost
forcing the pace
b
: to produce only with unnatural or unwilling effort
forced a smile
c
: to wrench, strain, or use (language) with marked unnaturalness and lack of ease
7a
: to hasten the rate of progress or growth of
b
: to bring (plants) to maturity out of the normal season
forcing lilies for Easter
8
: to induce (a particular bid or play by another player) in a card game by some conventional act, play, bid, or response
9a
: to cause (a runner in baseball) to be put out on a force-out
b
: to cause (a run) to be scored in baseball by giving a base on balls when the bases are full
force one's hand
: to cause one to act precipitously : force one to reveal one's purpose or intention
