a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
"he was my best friend at the university"
a person with whom you are acquainted
"I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances"
"we are friends of the family"
A person, typically someone other than a family member, spouse or lover, whose company one enjoys and towards whom one feels affection.
"During the 18th century, many members of the local Friend meeting worked together to establish schools and hospitals for the community."
A Quaker; a member of the Society of Friends. (See also Friends.)
In plain English: A friend is someone you like and trust enough to hang out with and share your life.
"She invited her best friend to dinner tonight."
Usage: Use "friend" to refer to a person with whom you have a bond of mutual affection and trust, rather than for a member of the Religious Society of Friends. Reserve the specific religious definition for formal or historical contexts where that distinction is necessary.
To act as a friend to, to befriend; to be friendly to, to help.
"The local community stepped in to friend the isolated family by bringing them groceries and offering daily visits."
In plain English: To friend someone means to add them as a contact on social media so you can see what they post.
"We decided to friend each other on social media after meeting at the party."
Usage: Use "friend" as a transitive verb when you intend to actively befriend someone or show them kindness, such as in the phrase "she tried to friend the new student." It is rarely used in casual conversation and often sounds formal or literary compared to simply saying "become friends with."
A surname, from common nouns.
"The teacher introduced Mr. Friend to the class as a new member of their history department."
The word "friend" comes from Old English, where it originally meant "loving one" or "lover." It traveled into modern English from Middle English while retaining its core sense of a person who is loved and loyal.