'Fancy' definitions:

Definition of 'fancy'

(from WordNet)
adjective
Not plain; decorative or ornamented; "fancy handwriting"; "fancy clothes" [ant: plain]
noun
Something many people believe that is false; "they have the illusion that I am very wealthy" [syn: illusion, fantasy, phantasy, fancy]
noun
A kind of imagination that was held by Coleridge to be more casual and superficial than true imagination
noun
A predisposition to like something; "he had a fondness for whiskey" [syn: fondness, fancy, partiality]
verb
Imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind; "I can't see him on horseback!"; "I can see what will happen"; "I can see a risk in this strategy" [syn: visualize, visualise, envision, project, fancy, see, figure, picture, image]
verb
Have a fancy or particular liking or desire for; "She fancied a necklace that she had seen in the jeweler's window" [syn: fancy, go for, take to]

Definition of 'Fancy'

From: GCIDE
  • Fancy \Fan"cy\ (f[a^]n"s[y^]), n.; pl. Fancies. [Contr. fr. fantasy, OF. fantasie, fantaisie, F. fantaisie, L. phantasia, fr. Gr. ???????? appearance, imagination, the power of perception and presentation in the mind, fr. ???????? to make visible, to place before one's mind, fr. ??????? to show; akin to ????, ???, light, Skr. bh[=a]to shine. Cf. Fantasy, Fantasia, Epiphany, Phantom.]
  • 1. The faculty by which the mind forms an image or a representation of anything perceived before; the power of combining and modifying such objects into new pictures or images; the power of readily and happily creating and recalling such objects for the purpose of amusement, wit, or embellishment; imagination. [1913 Webster]
  • In the soul Are many lesser faculties, that serve Reason as chief. Among these fancy next Her office holds. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. An image or representation of anything formed in the mind; conception; thought; idea; conceit. [1913 Webster]
  • How now, my lord ! why do you keep alone, Of sorriest fancies your companoins making ? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. An opinion or notion formed without much reflection; caprice; whim; impression. [1913 Webster]
  • I have always had a fancy that learning might be made a play and recreation to children. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Inclination; liking, formed by caprice rather than reason; as, to strike one's fancy; hence, the object of inclination or liking. [1913 Webster]
  • To fit your fancies to your father's will. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much use or value. [1913 Webster]
  • London pride is a pretty fancy for borders. --Mortimer. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • The fancy, all of a class who exhibit and cultivate any peculiar taste or fancy; hence, especially, sporting characters taken collectively, or any specific class of them, as jockeys, gamblers, prize fighters, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • At a great book sale in London, which had congregated all the fancy. --De Quincey.
  • Syn: Imagination; conceit; taste; humor; inclination; whim; liking. See Imagination. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Fancy'

From: GCIDE
  • Fancy \Fan"cy\, a.
  • 1. Adapted to please the fancy or taste, especially when of high quality or unusually appealing; ornamental; as, fancy goods; fancy clothes. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Extravagant; above real value. [1913 Webster]
  • This anxiety never degenerated into a monomania, like that which led his [Frederick the Great's] father to pay fancy prices for giants. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
  • Fancy ball, a ball in which porsons appear in fanciful dresses in imitation of the costumes of different persons and nations.
  • Fancy fair, a fair at which articles of fancy and ornament are sold, generally for some charitable purpose.
  • Fancy goods, fabrics of various colors, patterns, etc., as ribbons, silks, laces, etc., in distinction from those of a simple or plain color or make.
  • Fancy line (Naut.), a line rove through a block at the jaws of a gaff; -- used to haul it down.
  • Fancy roller (Carding Machine), a clothed cylinder (usually having straight teeth) in front of the doffer.
  • Fancy stocks, a species of stocks which afford great opportunity for stock gambling, since they have no intrinsic value, and the fluctuations in their prices are artificial.
  • Fancy store, one where articles of fancy and ornament are sold.
  • Fancy woods, the more rare and expensive furniture woods, as mahogany, satinwood, rosewood, etc. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Fancy'

From: GCIDE
  • Fancy \Fan"cy\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fancied, p. pr. & vb. n. Fancying.]
  • 1. To figure to one's self; to believe or imagine something without proof. [1913 Webster]
  • If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we rather fancy than know. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To love. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Fancy'

From: GCIDE
  • Fancy \Fan"cy\, v. t.
  • 1. To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine. [1913 Webster]
  • He whom I fancy, but can ne'er express. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on account of external appearance or manners. "We fancy not the cardinal." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To believe without sufficient evidence; to imagine (something which is unreal). [1913 Webster]
  • He fancied he was welcome, because those arounde him were his kinsmen. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'fancy'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Fancy'