friends

Noun

friend (plural friends)

1. A person, typically someone other than a family member, spouse or lover, whose company one enjoys and towards whom one feels affection.
   • "[…]if you have any wish to speak openly to me as a friend, or to ask my opinion of any thing that you may have in contemplation—as a friend, indeed, you may command me.—I will hear whatever you like. I will tell you exactly what I think." "As a friend!"—repeated Mr. Knightley.—"Emma, that I fear...1816, Jane Austen, Emma
2. An associate who provides assistance; patron, mentor.
   • When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my little pocket with halfpence.1779, Benjamin Franklin, The Whistle (letter)
3. A person with whom one is vaguely or indirectly acquainted.
   • The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast about […], or offering services that let you "stay up to date with what your friends are doing",[…]and so on. But the real way to build a successful online business is...2013 June 21, Oliver Burkeman, “The tao of tech”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 27

   Synonyms:

   acquaintance, contact

4. A person who backs or supports something.
   • I’m not a friend of cheap wine.

   Synonyms:

   admirer, booster, champion, protagonist, supporter

5. (informal) An object or idea that can be used for good.
   • Fruit is your friend.
6. (colloquial, ironic) Used as a form of address when warning someone.
   • You’d better watch it, friend.

   Synonyms:

   buster, mate, pal, buddy, sonny

See all 19 meanings of friend