fog
fog Lexical Profile
fog Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the earth's surface that obscures or restricts visibility.
"The morning fog over the harbor was so dense that the ferries had to delay their departure."
A state of mental confusion, bewilderment, or lack of clarity.
"After working through the night, he walked into the morning meeting in a complete mental fog."
• verb
To cover or become covered with steam, condensation, or mist, especially on a glass surface.
"The warm air inside the car caused the windshield to fog within minutes."
To make someone bewildered, confused, or unable to think clearly.
"Exhaustion and stress began to fog her judgment during the final hours of the negotiation."
Word Nuance & Usage
In meteorology, 'fog' is distinguished from 'mist' by density: fog reduces horizontal visibility to less than one kilometer, whereas mist allows visibility of one kilometer or more.
• Rhymes for fog
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the 16th century, likely a back-formation from the adjective 'foggy' or of Scandinavian origin (compare Danish 'fog', meaning spray or driving snow).