Definition of "false"

false

/fɔːls/

adjective
comparative falser, superlative falsest
1. Untrue, not factual, factually incorrect.
  Quotations
  Also the rule of false position, with dyuers examples not onely vulgar, but some appertaynyng to the rule of Algeber.
  1551, James A.H. Murray, editor, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles: Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by the Philological Society], volume 1, Oxford: Clarendon Press, published 1888, Part 1, page 217, column 2
2. Based on factually incorrect premises.
3. Spurious, artificial.
  Quotations
  # (logic) Of a state in Boolean logic that indicates a negative result.
  1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “Silverside”, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, page 300
4. Uttering falsehood; dishonest or deceitful.
5. Not faithful or loyal, as to obligations, allegiance, vows, etc.; untrue; treacherous.
  Quotations
  I to my ſelf was falſe, e’re thou to me, […]
  1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J. M[acock] for John Starkey […], page 52, line 25
  She had been in Baton Rouge but a little over two weeks, when suddenly his letters ceased. She awaited in anxious suspense a whole week — no letter. Another week dragged heavily, and her anxiety became a terrible fear. Was he sick and unable to write — was he dead — or, still more terrible thought, had he proved false?
  1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley, page 7
6. Not well founded; not firm or trustworthy; erroneous.
  Quotations
  So downe he fell, as an huge rockie clift, / Whoſe falſe foundacion waues haue waſht away, […]
  1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, stanza 54, page 170
7. Not essential or permanent, as parts of a structure which are temporary or supplemental.
8. Used in the vernacular name of a species (or group of species) together with the name of another species to which it is similar in appearance.
9. (music) Out of tune.
verb
third-person singular simple present falses, present participle falsing, simple past and past participle falsed
1. (electronics, telecommunications, of a decoder) To incorrectly decode noise as if it were a valid signal.
2. (obsolete) To violate, to betray (a promise, an agreement, one’s faith, etc.).
  Quotations
  And he that could with giftes and promiſes,Inueigle him that lead a thouſand horſe,And make him falſe his faith vnto his King,Will quickly win ſuch as be like himſelfe.
  c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, (please specify the page)
3. (obsolete) To counterfeit, to forge.
4. (obsolete) To make false, to corrupt from something true or real.
adverb
comparative more false, superlative most false
1. In a dishonest and disloyal way; falsely.
  Quotations
  Sweet Lord, you play me falſe.
  1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene ii], page 17, column 2
noun
plural falses
1. One of two options on a true-or-false test, that not representing true.

Definition of "false"

false

adjective

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations

verb

Quotations

adverb

Quotations

noun