faint (feɪnt
)
Definitions
adjective
- lacking clarity, brightness, volume, etc ⇒
a faint noise
- lacking conviction or force; weak ⇒
faint praise
- feeling dizzy or weak as if about to lose consciousness
- without boldness or courage; timid (esp in the combination faint-hearted)
- See not the faintest
verb (intr)
- to lose consciousness, esp momentarily, as through weakness
- archaic or poetic to fail or become weak, esp in hope or courage
noun
- a sudden spontaneous loss of consciousness, usually momentary, caused by an insufficient supply of blood to the brain Technical name
syncope
Alternative Forms
ˈfainter noun ˈfaintingly adverb ˈfaintish adjective ˈfaintishness noun ˈfaintly adverb ˈfaintness nounWord Origin
C13: from Old French, from faindre to be idleSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
dim,
low,
light,
soft,
thin,
faded,
whispered,
distant,
dull,
delicate,
vague,
unclear,
muted,
subdued,
faltering,
hushed,
bleached,
feeble,
indefinite,
muffled,
hazy,
ill-defined,
indistinct,
=
timid,
weak,
feeble,
lame,
unconvincing,
unenthusiastic,
timorous,
faint-hearted,
spiritless,
half-hearted,
lily-livered,
=
dizzy,
giddy,
light-headed,
vertiginous,
weak,
exhausted,
fatigued,
faltering,
wobbly,
drooping,
languid,
lethargic,
muzzy,
woozy,
weak at the knees
enervated,
Translations
- British English:
faint
Something that is faint is not strong or intense....the soft, faint sound of water.feɪnt ADJECTIVE ...the soft, faint sound of water.
- Spanish:
tenue
adj
- French:
faible
adj
- German:
schwach
adj
- Chinese: 微弱的 adj
- Arabic: ضَعِيف
- Portuguese: débil adj
- Russian: тусклый adj тусклая
- Croatian: slab adj slaba
- Czech: slabý adj
- Danish: svag adj
- Dutch: bedeesd adj
- Finnish: heikko adj
- Greek: εξασθενημένος adj εξασθενημένη
- Italian: debole adj
- Japanese: かすかな no_posp
- Korean: 희미한 adj
- Norwegian: svak adj
- Polish: słaby adj słaba
- Brazilian Portuguese: débil adj
- European Spanish:
tenue
adj
- Swedish: svag adj svagt
- Thai: เจือจาง adj
- Turkish: zayıf adj
- Vietnamese: yếu ớt adj
- British English:
faint
If you faint, you lose consciousness for a short time, especially because you are hungry, or because of pain, heat, or shock.She suddenly fell forward on to the table and fainted.feɪnt VERB She suddenly fell forward on to the table and fainted.
- Spanish: desmayar se v
- French: s’évanouir vi
- German: in Ohnmacht fallen v
- Chinese: 昏倒 v
- Arabic: أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْه
- Portuguese: desmaiar v
- Russian: падать в обморок v
- Croatian: onesvijestiti se v
- Czech: omdlít v omdlívat
- Danish: besvime v
- Dutch: flauwvallen v
- Finnish: pyörtyä v
- Greek: λιποθυμώ v
- Italian: svenire v
- Japanese: 気絶する v
- Korean: 기절하다 v
- Norwegian: besvime v
- Polish: zemdleć v mdleć
- Brazilian Portuguese: desmaiar v
- European Spanish:
desmayarse
v
- Swedish: svimma v
- Thai: เป็นลม v
- Turkish: bayılmak v
- Vietnamese: ngất v
Usage examples
Chavasse leaned over, suddenly faint , fighting hard against the pain.
, THE KEYS OF HELL (2002)Over the years there have been anecdotal reports that faint feathers can be seen on its hind legs.
New Scientist (2004)What's more, Rich seemed to imply that a faint stench of anti-Semitism wafts around Gibson himself.
Globe and Mail (2003)The smell of a creole chicken leg grilling in the distance, the faint strains of reggae issuing from a beach bar.
Glasgow Herald (2001)The mountains are large, perhaps grander than they are in life, but they are also faint.
, THE COLOUR OF HEAVEN (2003)