fill
v. · n.-
1 to make full (v.) A1 Beginnerto put something into a container until there is no more space.
to occupy the whole of a space or container; can be used transitively with an object or intransitively to describe a space becoming full.
ExamplePlease fill the kettle with water and put it on the stove.
ExampleThe workers began to fill the deep trench with gravel to ensure proper drainage before the heavy rains arrived.
PitfallI filled the glass by water.I filled the glass with water.Use the preposition 'with' to indicate the substance used to fill a container.
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2 to complete an order or job (v.) B1 Intermediateto do what is asked in an order, or to give someone a job that was empty.
to satisfy a requirement or supply what is requested; also to appoint a person to a vacant position.
ExampleThe pharmacy will fill your prescription in about ten minutes.
ExampleThe company struggled to fill the senior management role after the previous director resigned unexpectedly.
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3 to repair a tooth (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Medicineto put a special material into a hole in a tooth to fix it.
to treat a dental cavity by inserting a restorative material.
ExampleThe dentist had to fill two small cavities during my check-up.
ExampleModern dental practices often use composite resin to fill cavities, as it matches the natural colour of the patient's teeth.
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4 enough of something (n.) B1 Intermediateas much of something as you want or can handle.
an amount that satisfies a desire or need; frequently used in the phrase 'to have one's fill'.
ExampleI have had my fill of this cold weather and I am ready for summer.
ExampleAfter a week of rich holiday meals, the guests had finally had their fill of chocolate and heavy desserts.
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5 construction material (n.) C1 Advanced Technicalsoil or rocks used to fill a hole in the ground.
material such as earth, stones, or waste used to raise the level of the ground or fill a depression.
ExampleThe builders used clean fill to level the backyard before laying the grass.
ExampleThe structural integrity of the embankment depends heavily on the quality and compaction of the fill used during the initial phase.
- backfill
- rubble
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6 music/drums (n.) C1 Advanced Technical Musica short piece of music played in the gap between parts of a song.
a short musical passage, riff, or drum sequence that fills a pause between main melodic phrases.
ExampleThe drummer played a loud fill just before the chorus started.
ExampleThe jazz pianist inserted a subtle melodic fill to bridge the transition between the verse and the improvised solo.
From Middle English fillen, fullen, from Old English fyllan (“to fill, fill up, replenish, satisfy; complete, fulfill”), from Proto-West Germanic fullijan, from Proto-Germanic fullijaną (“to make full, fill”), from fullaz (“full”), from Proto-Indo-European pl̥h₁nós (“full”). Cognate with Scots fill (“to fill”), West Frisian folje (“to fill”), Low German füllen (“to fill”), Dutch vullen (“to fill”), German füllen (“to fill”), Danish fylde (“to fill”), Swedish fylla (“to fill”), Norwegian fylle (“to fill”), Icelandic fylla (“to fill”) and Latin plenus (“full”)
From Middle English fille, vülle, fülle, from Old English fyllu, from Proto-West Germanic fullī, from Proto-Germanic fullį̄ (“fullness”). Cognate with German Fülle.
See thill.