fat
gb/fˈæt/ us/fˈæt/
A1
English
~ 2900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
greasy substance from tissue
A soft, greasy part of animals or plants used for energy or cooking.
Usage pattern:
[amount] of fat
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fat' as a noun meaning the substance with 'fat' as an adjective meaning overweight.
Synonyms
lipid (Technical term used in biology and chemistry for fats and related molecules.)
Antonyms
protein (Another main nutrient type, chemically and nutritionally different from fat.)
Collocations
body fat
|low-fat diet
|saturated fat
|burn fat
Themes
food
|health
|science
|food_drink
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Olive oil contains healthy unsaturated fat.
- Too much saturated fat can increase cholesterol levels.
- The meat had a thick layer of fat around the edges.
- Nuts are a good source of healthy fat.
Learner examples
- Butter has a lot of fat.
- Fish has less fat than beef.
- She eats food with low fat.
- Fat gives the body energy.
adjective
A1
property
2
overweight in body size
Weighing too much because of extra body flesh.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is fat
Common mistake:
Learners may use 'fat' to describe objects when 'thick' or 'wide' would be more accurate.
Synonyms
overweight (More neutral and polite, often used in medical or formal contexts.)
Antonyms
thin (Describes someone with little body fat or slim build.)
Collocations
fat person
|get fat
|too fat
Themes
health
|appearance
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He became fat after years of overeating.
- The cat is getting fat because it eats too much.
- Some people are naturally thin, while others are fat.
Learner examples
- The dog is very fat.
- I feel fat after eating a lot.
- She is fat but very happy.
Noun
technical
B1
entity
3
nutrient that provides energy
A nutrient in food that gives the body energy, along with protein and carbohydrates.
Synonyms
macronutrient (General category for nutrients needed in large amounts, including fats.)
Antonyms
micronutrient (Nutrients needed in small amounts, such as vitamins and minerals.)
Collocations
dietary fat
|essential fat
|trans fat
Themes
health
|science
|food_drink
Examples
- Fat is essential for absorbing certain vitamins.
- Nutritionists recommend limiting trans fats in your diet.
- Dietary fat helps maintain healthy skin and hair.
Learner examples
- Fat is one of three main nutrients.
- Fat gives energy to the body.
- We need some fat to be healthy.
adjective
informal
B2
property
4
large amount, valuable
Big and rich in amount, often talking about money or prizes.
Usage pattern:
a fat [sum/deal/chance]
Synonyms
substantial (More formal term meaning large in amount.)
Antonyms
small (Describes an amount that is not large or profitable.)
Collocations
fat paycheck
|fat contract
|fat bonus
Themes
business
|daily life
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He landed a fat contract with the publishing company.
- They received a fat bonus at the end of the year.
- Investors are chasing the next fat opportunity.
Learner examples
- He got a fat prize.
- She won a fat sum of money.
- They signed a fat deal.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fat
IPA
GB/fˈæt/
US/fˈæt/
Syllables & stress
fat (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (fat)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: fat
- Comparative: fatter
- Superlative: fattest
Noun
- Base: fat
- Plural: fat, fats
Word family
Forms
fats
noun
fatter
adjective
fattest
adjective
Core family
fatten
verb
Related words
Highlights
- Irregular comparative: fatter Adjective
- Irregular superlative: fattest Adjective
Expressions
chew the fat
1/t͡ʃˈu ðə fˈæt/
idiom
informal
chat informally with someone
To talk in a relaxed way with someone for fun, not about serious topics.
Examples
- We sat on the porch and chewed the fat until midnight.
- Old friends love to meet and chew the fat over coffee.
cut the fat
1/kˈʌt ðə fˈæt/
idiom
remove excess or waste
To take away things that are not needed, especially to save time or money.
Examples
- The company cut the fat by reducing extra staff and expenses.
- We need to cut the fat from this project plan.
live off the fat of the land
1/lˈɪv ˈɔf ðə fˈæt əv ðə lˈænd/
idiom
literary
live richly from nature's bounty
To live well by using rich natural resources without working hard.
Examples
- They settled by the river and lived off the fat of the land.
- Farmers here live off the fat of the land thanks to fertile soil.
trim the fat
1/tɹˈɪm ðə fˈæt/
idiom
Remove unnecessary parts or costs
To remove things that are not needed, especially to save money, time, or effort.
Examples
- The editor trimmed the fat from the article to make it clearer.
- The new manager wants to trim the fat from the project budget.
- We need to trim the fat from our budget.
- We trimmed the fat from our schedule and focused on the most important tasks.