fox - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
fox Word Meanings
- a small carnivorous mammal with orange-brown fur and a bushy tail
- a clever or sly person
- to outwit or trick someone
fox Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
fox Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/fɒks/
US
/fɑks/
fox Word Etymology
Root: fox; no prefix; plural suffix -es; possessive suffix -'s. Historical origin: from Old English fox, from Proto-Germanic *fuk-; cognate with Dutch vos and German Fuchs. Memory image: a sly fox slips through a moonlit forest, tail curled like a question mark.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Fox is the small carnivorous mammal known for its orange-brown fur and bushy tail, often seen slipping through hedges at dusk. In everyday English, fox also describes a person who is clever, sly, or quick to outwit others, and you may hear phrases like foxed by a ruse or outfox a rival, though the verb sense is old-fashioned and relatively rare in modern speech. The word derives from Old English fox, with Proto-Germanic *fuk- and cognates in Dutch vos and German Fuchs. A vivid memory image helps: a fox gliding through a moonlit forest, tail curled like a question mark. Learn to distinguish the animal sense from the figurative sense in conversation and writing.
Usage Reminders
- 1. Fox is both an animal and a figurative label. 2. Plural is foxes, not foxs. 3. Verb fox is rare today, mostly in old texts. 4. Watch for idioms like as sly as a fox. 5. Do not confuse fox with vixen for a female fox.
Common Misconceptions
- Fox means only the animal, not a person.
- All foxes are sly in real life, so every clever person is a fox.
- Foxes and vulpes are interchangeable in everyday English.
- The verb fox is common in modern speech.
- A fox in idioms always refers to someone morally wrong.
Thinking Differences
English tends to separate literal animal references from idiomatic uses, so learners must rely on context to tell when fox means the animal or a clever person.
Learning Tips
- Learn animal and figurative senses as separate entries.
- Practice pronunciation of fox and the plural forms.
- Memorize common idioms like as sly as a fox and foxed by a trick.
- Compare with vixen for female fox to avoid mistakes.
- Read short passages to see how editors distinguish literal vs figurative uses.
- Create a memory image of a moonlit fox to reinforce recall.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'fox'?
A.A type of bird
B.A small dog breed
C.A cunning and sly mammal
D.A color
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses the word 'fox' correctly?
A.The fox barked loudly in the forest.
B.Tommy got a new pet fox.
C.The fox danced in the moonlight.
D.I saw a blue fox at the zoo.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'fox'?
A.Wolf
B.Cat
C.Lion
D.Dog
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'fox'?
A.Tame
B.Friendly
C.Gullible
D.Cunning
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a real-life context for the word 'fox'?
A.I love the color of red fox fur.
B.The cunning fox outsmarted the hunter.
C.My dog recently learned to mimic a fox's bark.
D.The foxes in the city park have become friends with the locals.
Related Listening
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