1 fell | Definition of fell
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

fell

noun (1)
\ ˈfel How to pronounce fell (audio) \

Definition of fell

 (Entry 1 of 5)

1 : skin, hide, pelt
2 : a thin tough membrane covering a carcass directly under the hide

fell

verb
felled; felling; fells

Definition of fell (Entry 2 of 5)

transitive verb

1a : to cut, knock, or bring down fell a tree
b : kill Her father was felled by a heart attack.
2 : to sew (a seam) by folding one raw edge under the other and sewing flat on the wrong side

fell

Definition of fell (Entry 3 of 5)

past tense of fall

fell

adjective

Definition of fell (Entry 4 of 5)

1a : fierce, cruel, terrible
b : sinister, malevolent a fell purpose
c : very destructive : deadly a fell disease
2 Scotland : sharp, pungent

fell

noun

Definition of fell (Entry 5 of 5)

dialectal British
: a high barren field or moor
Other Words from fell Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about fell

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from fell

Verb

fellable \ ˈfe-​lÉ™-​bÉ™l How to pronounce fellable (audio) \ adjective
feller noun

Adjective

fellness noun
felly \ ˈfel-​lÄ“ How to pronounce felly (audio) \ adverb

Examples of fell in a Sentence

Verb

 using an ax to fell a tree He's strong enough to fell an ox.

Adjective

 planning in the event that the enemy resorted to biological warfare and released some fell virus on the civilian population war crimes committed by a fell and barbarous enemy
See More

First Known Use of fell

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for fell

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German fel skin, Latin pellis

Verb

Middle English, from Old English fellan; akin to Old English feallan to fall — more at fall

Adjective

Middle English fel, from Anglo-French — more at felon

Noun

Middle English, from Old Norse fell, fjall mountain; akin to Old High German felis rock

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for fell

fell

verb

English Language Learners Definition of fell

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: to cut down (a tree)
: to beat or knock down (someone or something)

fell

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of fell (Entry 2 of 2)

formal + literary : very fierce or cruel

See the full definition for fell in the English Language Learners Dictionary

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!