# fill

Pronunciation: say "FIL" /fɪl/

## Verb

1. To put something into a container, space, or hole until it is full, or to become full.
   - Simple: To make something full, or to become full.
   - _Workers filled the trench with gravel before paving the road._
   - _Fill the tank completely before the long drive north._
2. To take up all or most of a space, or to spread through it completely, as crowds fill a hall or smoke fills a room.
   - Simple: To take up all the space in a place, or spread all through it.
   - _Tall shelves fill the library's main hall from wall to wall._
   - _The exhibition filled three entire floors of the museum._
3. To gradually become pervaded with something as a feeling or substance spreads throughout.
   - Simple: To become full of something that spreads through a place or person.
   - _His chest filled with dread as the footsteps approached._
   - _Reading his father's old letters, he felt himself slowly fill with regret._
4. To place someone in a position or office, removing a vacancy.
   - Simple: To give a job or place to someone so it is no longer empty.
   - _The committee filled the vacant seat with a local candidate._
   - _They hope to fill the directorship by the end of the quarter._
5. To satisfy or carry out an order, request, or requirement.
   - Simple: To do what an order or request asks for.
   - _The pharmacist filled the prescription within the hour._
   - _Suppliers must fill every order exactly as specified._
9. To treat a decayed tooth by packing the cleaned cavity with restorative material.
   - Simple: To repair a tooth by putting special material into a hole in it.
   - _The dentist filled two molars during the appointment._
   - _Modern practice lets dentists fill cavities without much discomfort._
7. To supply fully with food so as to satisfy hunger; to feed and sate.
   - Simple: To give someone enough food so they are no longer hungry.
   - _A single loaf filled the whole family that evening._
   - _A bowl of oatmeal will fill me better than any cereal does._
11. To block or obstruct a passage or opening by packing it solid.
   - Simple: To block or close up an opening by packing it with material.
   - _Silt gradually filled the channel until boats could no longer pass._
   - _Falling debris can fill a culvert and cause flooding upstream._

## Noun

10. As much of something as one needs or desires; enough or more than enough.
   - Simple: As much of something as you need or want.
   - _After hours of hiking, we ate our fill at the lodge._
   - _She had finally had her fill of the endless complaints._
6. The act of filling a container or area, or the amount that does so.
   - Simple: The act of filling a container or space, or the amount it takes to do so.
   - _Each fill of the reservoir took most of the afternoon._
   - _The mechanic charged a flat rate per fill of refrigerant._
8. Loose material such as soil, rubble, or debris that occupies a hole, trench, or low area, whether placed there in building work or uncovered by excavation.
   - Simple: Soil, stones, or other loose material that fills a hole, ditch, or low area of ground.
   - _Engineers specified compacted fill to support the new roadbed._
   - _The contractor ordered another load of fill for the foundation._
12. A brief riff, passage, or rhythmic figure played in a gap between melodic phrases to hold the listener's attention.
   - Simple: A short piece of music played in the gap between the main parts of a tune to hold the listener's attention.
   - _The guitarist's fill carried the song through the pause between verses._
   - _A tasteful drum fill announced the return of the main riff._
13. Short for fill light: extra light used to lighten shadows in photos or films. — Ellipsis of fill light.
   - Simple: Short for fill light. It means the extra soft light used to soften shadows on a subject.
   - _The gaffer dialed back the fill until the shadows looked natural._
   - _A reflector served as the fill on the low-budget shoot._
14. An embankment built, as in railroad construction, to close a hollow or ravine; also, the ground area meant to be filled.
   - Simple: A raised bank of earth built to close up a hollow or valley, as under a railroad track.
   - _The engineers extended the fill to carry the line over the gorge._
   - _A washout had eaten away part of the railroad fill._

## Other meanings

- (verb) To ejaculate inside another person or object.
- (verb) To bed a woman; to have sexual intercourse with her.
- (noun) The weft yarn in a woven fabric: the crosswise thread carried across the warp.
- (verb) In sailing, to brace a yard around so that its sails catch the wind on their after side.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–5, 7, 9, 11** — From Middle English fillen, from Old English fyllan ("to fill, replenish, satisfy, fulfill"), from Proto-Germanic *fullijaną ("to make full"), ultimately from *fullaz ("full"). It is related to Dutch vullen, German füllen, Swedish fylla, and Latin plenus ("full").
**Meanings 6, 8, 10, 12–14** — From Middle English fille, from Old English fyllu, from Proto-Germanic *fullį̄ ("fullness"). It is related to German Fülle.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/fill (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).