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Entry 9 senses · 4 variants Webster, 1913

Fool

/fo͞ol/ · IPA /fʊu(l)/
01 n. A compound of gooseberries scalded and crushed, with cream; -- commonly called gooseberry fool.
  1. 1.
    A compound of gooseberries scalded and crushed, with cream; -- commonly called gooseberry fool.
02 n. One destitute of reason, or of the common powers of understanding; an idiot; a natural.
  1. 1.
    One destitute of reason, or of the common powers of understanding; an idiot; a natural.
  2. 2.
    A person deficient in intellect; one who acts absurdly, or pursues a course contrary to the dictates of wisdom; one without judgment; a simpleton; a dolt.
    “Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools.” — Milton.
    “Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.” — Franklin.
  3. 3.
    One who acts contrary to moral and religious wisdom; a wicked person.(Script.)
    “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” — Ps. xiv. 1.
  4. 4.
    One who counterfeits folly; a professional jester or buffoon; a retainer formerly kept to make sport, dressed fantastically in motley, with ridiculous accouterments.
    “Can they think me . . . their fool or jester?” — Milton.
Phrases & compounds
April fool — See under April, Court, etc.
Fool's cap — a cap or hood to which bells were usually attached, formerly worn by professional jesters.
Fool's errand — an unreasonable, silly, profitless adventure or undertaking.
Fool's gold — iron or copper pyrites, resembling gold in color.
Fool's paradise — a name applied to a limbo (see under Limbo) popularly believed to be the region of vanity and nonsense. Hence, any foolish pleasure or condition of vain self-satistaction.
Fool's parsley — an annual umbelliferous plant (Aethusa Cynapium) resembling parsley, but nauseous and poisonous.
To make a fool of — to render ridiculous; to outwit; to shame.
To play the fool — to act foolishly; to act the buffoon; to act a foolish part.
03 v. i. To play the fool.
imp. & p. p. Fooled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fooling
  1. 1.
    To play the fool.
  2. 2.
    To waste time in unproductive activity; to spend time in idle sport or mirth; to trifle; to toy.
    “Is this a time for fooling?” — Dryden.
Syn. fool around.
04 v. t. To infatuate; to make foolish.
  1. 1.
    To infatuate; to make foolish.
    “For, fooled with hope, men favor the deceit.” — Dryden.
  2. 2.
    To use as a fool; to deceive in a shameful or mortifying manner; to impose upon; to cheat by inspiring foolish confidence; as, to fool one out of his money.
    “You are fooled, discarded, and shook off By him for whom these shames ye underwent.” — Shak.
Phrases & compounds
To fool away — to get rid of foolishly; to spend in trifles, idleness, folly, or without advantage.