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firm

/fɜɹm/
nounadjectiveverb

A business partnership; the name under which it trades.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Noun 2 meanings

  1. A business partnership; the name under which it trades.

  2. A business enterprise, however organized.

Adjective 4 meanings

  1. Steadfast, secure, solid (in position)

    “It's good to have a firm grip when shaking hands.”

  2. Fixed (in opinion).

    “a firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent”

  3. Insistent upon something, not accepting dissent.

    “He wanted to stay overnight, but I was firm with him and said he had to leave today.”

  4. Durable, rigid (material state).

    “firm flesh; firm muscles, firm wood; firm land (i.e. not soft and marshy)”

Verb 4 meanings

  1. To make firm or strong; fix securely.

  2. To make compact or resistant to pressure; solidify.

  3. To become firm; stabilise.

  4. To improve after decline.

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Italian firma (“signature”), from firmare (“to sign”), from Latin firmāre (“to make firm, to confirm (by signature)”), from firmus (“firm, stable”). The contemporary sense developed in the 18th century simultaneously with German Firma (“business, name of business”).

Similar and opposite words

FIRM at a glance

FIRM has 4 letters and scores 9 points in Scrabble (F 4 + I 1 + R 1 + M 3) and 10 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #1,647 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.

Rhymes with firm

All rhymes
  • CONFIRM14
  • AFFIRM14
  • REAFFIRM16
  • SQUIRM17
  • INFIRM11
  • RECONFIRM16
  • DISCONFIRM18
  • UNFIRM11
  • THAIRM11
  • CHIRM12
  • DISAFFIRM18
  • INTERFIRM14

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