firm 
firm (fʉrm)
adjective
- not yielding easily under pressure; solid; hard
- not moved or shaken easily; fixed; stable
- continued steadily; remaining the same a firm friendship
- unchanging; resolute; constant a firm faith
- showing determination, strength, etc. a firm command
- legally or formally concluded; definite; final a firm contract, a firm order
- Commerce not rising or falling very much; steady: said of prices, etc.
Etymology: ME ferm < OFr < L firmus < IE base *dher-, to hold, support > Sans dhárma, precept, law, Gr thronos, armchair
transitive verb, intransitive verb
to make or become firm, or solid, steady, stable, definite, etc.: often with up
stand firm
or hold firmto be or remain steadfast in conviction despite attack, efforts to persuade, etc.
firm (fʉrm)
noun
- a business company or partnership of two or more persons
- popularly any business company, whether or not unincorporated
Etymology: It firma, signature, hence title of a business < L firmare, to strengthen < firmus: see firm
firm
modif.
Stable
fixed, solid, rooted, immovable, fastened, motionless, secured, steady, substantial, durable, rigid, bolted, welded, riveted, soldered, embedded, nailed, tightened, screwed, spiked, anchored, moored, fast, secure, sound, immobile, unmovable, mounted, unmoving, stationary, set, petrified, settled. Firm in texture
solid, dense, compact, hard, stiff, impenetrable, close-grained, fine-grained, impervious, rigid, inelastic, hardened, inflexible, congealed, unyielding, thick, compressed, substantial, heavy, nonporous, close, condensed, thickset, impermeable, refractory. Settled in purpose
determined, steadfast, constant, unwavering; see resolute 2.Definite
specific, explicit, fixed, confirmed; see definite 1, determined 1.Indicating firmness
strong, vigorous, steady, determined, adamant, hard, cold, sound, stout, sturdy, staunch. Antonyms
weak*, irresolute*, unsteady.
firm, in referring to material consistency, suggests a compactness that does not yield easily to, or is very resilient under, pressure a firm mattress; hard is applied to that which is so firm that it is not easily penetrated, cut, or crushed hard as rock; solid suggests a dense consistency throughout a mass or substance that is firm or hard and often connotes heaviness or substantiality solid brick; stiff implies resistance to bending or stretching a stiff collar
stand<strong> (<em>or</em> </strong>hold) firm
Converse of object
- stand: Yet it too has stood firm, shoulder to shoulder with its neighbors, resolute in its defiance of the Dark.
Adjective modifier
- leading: There are 500 vacancies from the leading global firms.
- small: In a smaller firm the price may be much lower.
- private: The priority of private sector firms is to maximize shareholder value even at the expense of reduced safety.
- medium-sized: Fifteen per cent of small and medium-sized firms said export orders were up, 37 per cent said they were down.
Modifies a noun
- believer: I am a firm believer in... Like Razor has said.
- foundation: Adoption of FTA's five action points would provide a firm foundation.
- favorite: The cottage, which sleeps 6, is a firm favorite with families.
- grip: The rubber covering itself only helps to protect against accidental knocks and provides a firmer non-slip grip if the hands are wet.
- footing: The time has come to put consumer and public interest representation onto a firmer footing.
- conclusion: The Committee did not reach a firm conclusion on how to resolve these issues.
Noun used with modifier
- accountancy: The mothers were working in a hospital or in an accountancy firm.
- law: Ruth Boardman is a partner at law firm Bird & Bird.
- consulting: My favorites were from the consulting firms: " You will learn to implement strategic management protocol decisions, " et cetera.
- accounting: This top 25 accounting firm are currently looking for a Corporate Tax Supervisor/Assistant Manager to join their division of 45 tax professionals.
- consultancy: They are carrying out a new IS strategy study through a consultancy firm, following the Roads Service reorganization.
Possessives
- solicitor: Arrangements are in place with consortia of solicitors ' firms in Bath, Swindon and Exeter for the presentation of " in-house " courses.
Preposition: of
- accountant: In general, they will to continue to use professional firms of accountants to prepare these accounts.
- solicitor: Respondents ' lawyers Respondents are frequently represented by firms of solicitors.
- surveyor: Nationally and internationally recognized firms of chartered surveyors recruit regularly from our courses, enabling us to achieve a high level of recruitment.
Wyrd oft nereth unf×gne eorl thonne his ellen deah. Fate often preserves the undoomed warrior when his courage holds firm.
Rentacrowd Ltdöthe enterprising firm that supplies crowds for all occasions, and has done so much to keep progressive causes in the public eye.
Efficiencyis measured at the extremities.You do not find the efficiency of an army at headquarters, nor of a firminhead office.It isattheremotest pointötheprivate soldier or humble legionary on the distant frontier, the girl at the counter or the branch-office junior salesman öthat the really decisive test of an army or a firm is made.It istherethat all theinstructionand knowledge of relevant facts and procedural disciplines bear fruitöor wither on the tree.
'The firm'öa proud Victorian word.It evokes the lost sense of Victorian regard for the pride of people in their daily trade.
Browse dictionary entries near firm
- ‹ firkin
- ‹ firing pin
- ‹ firing order
- ‹ firing line
- ‹ firing
- ‹ fireworks
- ‹ firewood
- ‹ FireWire
- ‹ fireweed
- ‹ firewater
- firm commitment underwriting ›
- firmament ›
- firmer ›
- firmly ›
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- first ›
- first aid ›
- first base ›
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