What does "forge" mean?

1. (to create a relationship or agreement) to create something strong or lasting, like a friendship or a deal, through hard work. 2. (to make a fake copy) to make an illegal copy of something, like a signature or money, to trick people. 3. (to shape metal) to heat metal until it is soft and then hit it with a hammer to change its shape. 4. (a metal workshop) a place where metal is heated and shaped by a blacksmith. 5. (software platform) a website or system where many people work together to write and share computer code.

forge

v. · n.

US //ˈfɔɹdʒ// UK //fˈɔːdʒ// forge

1 to create a relationship or agreement (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to create something strong or lasting, like a friendship or a deal, through hard work.

to form or create something through concerted effort, often used for relationships, alliances, or agreements.

Example

The two countries worked hard to forge a new peace treaty after years of conflict.

Example

After months of intense negotiations, the two tech giants managed to forge a strategic alliance that redefined the market landscape.
- destroy
- break
2 to make a fake copy (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Law

to make an illegal copy of something, like a signature or money, to trick people.

to produce a fraudulent copy or imitation of a document, signature, or banknote with the intent to deceive.

Example

He was arrested after he tried to forge his manager's signature on a check.

Example

The criminal syndicate was found to have forged thousands of passports using sophisticated printing equipment stolen from a government facility.
- counterfeit
- fake
- falsify

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3 to shape metal (v.)
C1 Advanced Technical

to heat metal until it is soft and then hit it with a hammer to change its shape.

to shape metal by heating it in a fire and hammering or pressing it into a desired form.

Example

The blacksmith used a heavy hammer to forge the glowing iron into a horseshoe.

Example

The master craftsman continued to forge the blade using traditional methods, ensuring the steel reached the precise temperature required for durability.
4 a metal workshop (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a place where metal is heated and shaped by a blacksmith.

a furnace or workshop where metals are heated and shaped by hammering.

Example

The heat inside the forge was intense as the workers prepared the steel.

Example

The historical museum features a working forge where visitors can watch a blacksmith demonstrate nineteenth-century ironworking techniques.
- smithy
- workshop
5 software platform (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

a website or system where many people work together to write and share computer code.

a web-based collaborative platform for hosting, developing, and sharing software projects.

Example

The developers uploaded their new project to the community forge for others to test.

Example

By hosting the source code on a public forge, the organization encouraged global contributions and transparent peer reviews.
- repository
- platform

Etymology 1

From Middle English forge, from Old French forge, early Old French faverge, from Latin fabrica (“workshop”), from faber (“workman in hard materials, smith”) (genitive fabri). Cognate with Franco-Provençal favèrge. Doublet of fabric and fabrica. Computing sense perhaps derived from the early SourceForge service, launched in 1999.

Etymology 2

From Middle English forgen, from Anglo-Norman forger and Old French forgier, from Latin fabrico (“to frame, construct, build”). Doublet of fabricate.

Etymology 3

Make way, move ahead, most likely an alteration of force, but perhaps from forge (n.), via notion of steady hammering at something. Originally nautical, in reference to vessels.

Word family

Verbforge
Nounforgery