force
Pronunciation: (fôrs, fōrs), [key] — n., v., forced, forc•ing.
—n. - physical power or strength possessed by a living being: He used all his force in opening the window.
- strength or power exerted upon an object; physical coercion; violence: to use force to open the window; to use force on a person.
- strength; energy; power; intensity: a personality of great force.
- power to influence, affect, or control; efficacious power: the force of circumstances; a force for law and order.
- unlawful violence threatened or committed against persons or property.
- persuasive power; power to convince: They felt the force of his arguments.
- mental or moral strength: force of character.
- might, as of a ruler or realm; strength for war.
- Often,the military or fighting strength, esp. of a nation.
- any body of persons combined for joint action: a sales force.
- intensity or strength of effect: the force of her acting.
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- an influence on a body or system, producing or tending to produce a change in movement or in shape or other effects.
- the intensity of such an influence. Symbol: F, f
- any influence or agency analogous to physical force: social forces.
- binding power, as of a contract.
- See
- value; significance; meaning.
- 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.
- This ancient rule is no longer in force.
- in operation; effective:This ancient rule is no longer in force.
- in large numbers; at full strength:They attacked in force.
—v.t. - to compel, constrain, or oblige (oneself or someone) to do something: to force a suspect to confess.
- to drive or propel against resistance: He forced his way through the crowd. They forced air into his lungs.
- to bring about or effect by force.
- to bring about of necessity or as a necessary result: to force a smile.
- to put or impose (something or someone) forcibly on or upon a person: to force one's opinions on others.
- to compel by force; overcome the resistance of: to force acceptance of something.
- to obtain or draw forth by or as if by force; extort: to force a confession.
- to enter or take by force; overpower: They forced the town after a long siege.
- to break open (a door, lock, etc.).
- to cause (plants, fruits, etc.) to grow or mature at an increased rate by artificial means.
- to press, urge, or exert (an animal, person, etc.) to violent effort or to the utmost.
- to use force upon.
- to rape.
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- 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.
- to cause (a base runner or run) to score, as by walking a batter with the bases full (often fol. by in).
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- to compel (a player) to trump by leading a suit of which the player has no cards.
- to compel a player to play (a particular card).
- to compel (a player) to play so as to make known the strength of the hand.
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- to develop (a print or negative) for longer than usual in order to increase density or bring out details.
- to bring out underexposed parts of (a print or negative) by adding alkali to the developer.
- to give force to; strengthen; reinforce.
—v.i. - to make one's way by force.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.