noun
    
    plural fools
    
    [count] a person who lacks good sense or judgment :a stupid or silly person
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    A smart or clever person can be described as no fool or as nobody's fool.
    
    
    
    
    
    US informal :a person who enjoys something very much
    
    
    
    
    
    chiefly Brit :a dessert made with cooked fruit and cream or a thick sauce
    
    
    
    jester - see also april fools' day
    
    act/play the fool
    
    to behave in a silly or foolish way
    
    
    
    make a fool of yourself
    
    to behave in a very foolish or silly way
    
    
    
    
    
    make a fool (out) of
    
    to cause (someone) to look stupid or foolish
    
    
    
    verb
    
    fools; fooled; fooling
    
    [no obj] :to speak or act in a way that is not serious :joke, kid
    
    
    
    
    
    [+ obj] :to make (someone) believe something that is not true :to trick (someone)
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    fool around
    
    also Brit fool about
    
    [phrasal verb] informal
    
    to do things that are not useful or serious :to waste time
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    to have sex with someone who is not your husband, wife, or regular partner
    
    
    
    
    
    fool around/about with (something)
    
    to use or do (something) in a way that is not very serious
    
    
    
    to handle or play with (something) in a careless or foolish way
    
    
    
    
    
    fool with
    
    [phrasal verb] informal
    
    fool with (something)
    
    to handle or play with (something) in a careless way :to fool around with (something)
    
    
    
    to deal with or be involved with (something that causes or that could cause trouble)
    
    
    
    fool with (someone) :to deal with (someone) in a way that may cause anger or violence
    
    
    
    adjective
    
    always used before a noun
    
    US informal :foolish