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fit2

Syllabification: (fit)
Pronunciation: /fit/

Translate fit | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of fit

noun

  • a sudden uncontrollable outbreak of intense emotion, laughter, coughing, or other action or activity:in a fit of temper he got coughing fits
  • a sudden attack of convulsions and/or loss of consciousness, typical of epilepsy and some other medical conditions:he thought she was having a fit

Phrases

have (or throw) a fit

informal be very surprised or angry:my mother would have a fit if she heard that

in fits (of laughter)

informal highly amused:he had us all in fits

in (or by) fits and starts

with irregular bursts of activity:the machine tends to go forward in fits and starts

Origin:

Old English fitt 'conflict', in Middle English 'position of danger or excitement', also 'short period'; the sense 'sudden attack of illness' dates from the mid 16th century

fit in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of fit in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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