F
fabrication(FAB ri KAY shuhn) n.1. something being constructed or manufac-
tured; 2. a made-up thing, especially a falsehood; false excuse; lie
- The fabricationwas completed on-site and would serve as office space for
the workers. - The new cabinets were the fabricationof a fine craftsman.
- Archie’s story about having been asked out by Veronica was a fabrication.
factor(FAK tir)n.1. any of the conditions, circumstances, etc. that bring on a
certain result; 2. (math) any of two or more quantities that are multiplied together
to form a product —vt. (math) to resolve an expression into its component factors - Weather is one factorthat might cause the postponement of tomorrow’s
picnic. - Multiplying the factors2 and 6 always produces 12.
- When dealing with a trinomial of the form ax^2 + bx+ c, it always pays to
try to factorout an a.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. element, agent]
fallacious*(fuh LAY shus) adj.1. containing an error; mistaken; 2. misleading
or deceptive - Your logic in this matter is fallacious.
- It is fallaciousto think that putting insect-repelling candles by the edge of
a marsh will prevent mosquito bites.
[-ly adv.]
fallible(FAL i bl) adj. 1. capable of making a mistake; 2. apt to be erroneous or
less than accurate - One person is toofallibleto be trusted to make all the important decisions.
- A pencil-and-paper calculation of a difficult problem is likely to be more
falliblethan one made using a calculator or computer.
[fallibly adv., fallibility n.]
falsification*(FAWL si fi KAY shun) n.1. a deliberately misleading account;
misrepresentation; 2. a fraudulently altered record; something proven untrue
•A falsificationof the account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn had Custer’s
forces winning the day.
- Some people are mistakenly spending time in prison for crimes they did
not commit, because of falsificationson the part of certain witnesses.
[falsity n., falsify vi.]
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