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REFERENCE

fresh

adj. · adv.
US //ˈfɹɛʃ// UK //fɹˈɛʃ// fresh
  1. 1 new or recent (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    made, received, or finished very recently.

    newly produced, obtained, or experienced; having occurred or been made only a short time ago.

    Example

    The bakery sells fresh bread every morning at six o'clock.

    Example

    The detective looked for fresh tracks in the mud, hoping the rain hadn't yet washed away the suspect's trail.
  2. 2 not preserved or spoiled (adj.)
    A2 Elementary Cooking

    food that is not frozen, canned, or starting to go bad.

    referring to food in its natural state; not preserved by canning, freezing, or drying, and not showing signs of decay.

    Example

    I prefer using fresh tomatoes instead of the ones from a tin.

    Example

    The chef insists on sourcing fresh seafood daily from local markets to ensure the highest quality for the evening service.
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  1. 3 not salty (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate Science

    water that does not contain salt, like the water in a lake or river.

    of water: not containing salt; non-saline.

    Example

    Many animals live in fresh water and cannot survive in the ocean.

    Example

    The expedition struggled to find a reliable source of fresh water after their primary desalination unit failed mid-journey.
  2. 4 rested and energetic (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    feeling full of energy and ready to start again after a rest.

    rested and invigorated; having regained energy after a period of sleep or relaxation.

    Example

    I feel fresh and ready for work after my holiday in the mountains.

    Example

    After a brief nap and a cup of coffee, the pilot felt fresh enough to complete the final leg of the long-haul flight.
  3. 5 cool and clean (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    air or weather that is cool, clean, and pleasant.

    of weather or air: invigoratingly cool, clean, and refreshing.

    Example

    She opened the window to let some fresh air into the stuffy room.

    Example

    The morning was bright and fresh, with a light breeze that carried the scent of pine from the nearby forest.
  4. 6 rude or cheeky (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    behaving in a way that is a bit rude or shows a lack of respect.

    behaving in a disrespectful, cheeky, or overly confident manner. Often used to describe a younger person's attitude toward an elder.

    Example

    Don't get fresh with me, young man; watch your tone.

    Example

    The teacher warned the student that getting fresh in class would result in an immediate detention.
  5. 7 cool or fashionable (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    very good, stylish, or impressive.

    excellent, stylish, or highly fashionable. This sense is heavily associated with hip-hop culture and urban slang.

    Example

    Those new trainers you bought are really fresh.

    Example

    The DJ played a selection of fresh tracks that kept the crowd dancing until the early hours of the morning.
  6. 8 very recently (adv.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    just recently happened.

    recently or newly; used to indicate that an action has just been completed.

    Example

    Be careful where you sit; that is fresh painted wood.

    Example

    The fresh baked aroma of the pastries drew customers in from the street before the shop had even officially opened.

    Usage

    Usually placed before a past participle acting as an adjective.
Etymology 1

From Middle English fressh, from Old English fersċ (“fresh, pure, sweet”), from Proto-West Germanic frisk (“fresh”), from Proto-Germanic friskaz (“fresh”), from Proto-Indo-European *preysk- (“fresh”). The verb is from Middle English freshen (“to freshen”), from the adjective. Cognate with Scots fresch (“fresh”), West Frisian farsk (“fresh”), Dutch vers (“fresh”), Walloon frexh (“fresh”), German frisch (“fresh”), French frais (“fresh”), Norwegian and Danish frisk (“fresh”), fersk, Icelandic ferskur (“fresh”), Lithuanian prėskas (“unflavoured, tasteless, fresh”), Russian пре́сный (présnyj, “sweet, fresh, unleavened, tasteless”). Doublet of fresco and frisk. Slang sense possibly shortened form of “fresh out the pack”, 1980s routine by Grand Wizzard Theodore.

Etymology 2

First use appears c. 1848, US slang, probably from German frech (“impudent, cheeky, insolent”), from Middle High German vrech (“bold, brave, lively”), from Old High German freh (“greedy, eager, avaricious, covetous”), from Proto-West Germanic frek, from Proto-Germanic frekaz (“greedy, outrageous, courageous, capable, active”), from Proto-Indo-European *preg- (“to be quick, twitch, sprinkle, splash”). Cognate with Old English frec (“greedy; eager, bold, daring; dangerous”) and Danish fræk (“naughty”). More at freak.

Word family
Idioms7 entries

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