English Explanatory Dictionary

fancy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The imagination.
  2. An image or representation of anything formed in the mind.
  3. An opinion or notion formed without much reflection.
  4. A whim.
  5. Love or amorous attachment.
  6. Liking.
  7. The object of inclination or liking.
  8. Any sport or hobby pursued by a group.
  9. The enthusiasts of such a pursuit.
  10. A diamond with a distinctive colour.
  11. That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value.
  12. A bite-sized sponge cake, with a layer of cream, covered in icing.
adj
  1. Decorative, or featuring decorations, especially intricate or diverse ones.
  2. Of a superior grade.
  3. Executed with skill.
  4. Unnecessarily complicated.
  5. Extravagant; above real value.
adv
  1. In a fancy manner; fancily.
verb
  1. To appreciate without jealousy or greed.
  2. Would like; have a desire for.
  3. To be sexually, aesthetically or romantically attracted to.
  4. To imagine, suppose.
  5. To form a conception of; to portray in the mind.
  6. To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners.
  7. To breed (animals) as a hobby.
name
  1. A surname from Old English

Pronunciation

/ˈfæn.si/ en-us-fancy.ogg

Word forms

fancy fancies fancie fansie phancie phancy fancier fanciest fancying fancied Fancys Yancy Yancey Yantcy Yantzy Wauncy Wauncey Wancy Wancey Wanceio Vanci

Etymology

From Middle English fansy, fantsy, a contraction of fantasy, fantasye, fantasie, from Old French fantasie, from Medieval Latin fantasia, from Late Latin phantasia (“an idea, notion, fancy, phantasm”), from Ancient Greek φαντασία (phantasía), from φαντάζω (phantázō, “to render visible”), from φαντός (phantós, “visible”), from φαίνω (phaínō, “to make visible”); from the same root as φάος (pháos, “light”); ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰh₂nyéti, from the root *bʰeh₂- (“to shine”). Doublet of fantasia, fantasy, phantasia, and phantasy.

Synonyms

conception thought idea impression boutade caprice capriccio conceit crotchet delirament fancy fangle figary flisk freak kink lark maggot megrim spleen toy vagary whim whim-wham whimsy affinity bag bent cup of coffee cup of joe cup of tea dish liking partiality penchant predilection predisposition preference proclivity propension propensity shine taste thing hobby amusement avocation diversion divertisement kill-time pastime pursuit sport admirer aficionado buff connoisseur enthusiast devotee maniac

Antonyms

plain simple

Related words

fantasy fancy man fancypants fancy woman fancy is as fancy does

Derived words

blood-red fancy border fancy catch someone's fancy fanciful fancy-free fancy mouse fancy rat fancy-sick flight of fancy strike someone's fancy take a fancy to take someone's fancy tickle someone's fancy fancible fancify fanciless fanciness fancy ball fancy bread fancy Dan fancy dress Fancy Dutch fancy fair fancy girl fancy goods fancy house fancy ketchup fancy line fancy maid fancy man fancy meat fancymonger fancy-pants fancy pants fancy roller fancy sauce fancy-schmancy fancy shop fancy stitch fancy stock fancy trade fancywork fancy work footloose and fancy free hyperfancy nonfancy overfancy schmancy superfancy unfancy disfancy fanciable fancier fancy is as fancy does fancy one's chances fancy seeing you here fancy that fancy up I don't fancy yours
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on F Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary