Definition of: f, F

(ef) plural f's, F's or fs, Fs, effs (efs) noun
1. The sixth letter of the English alphabet, from Phoenician vau, through Hebrew vau, Greek digamma, which was early dropped from the Greek alphabet, but was restored by the Romans.
2. The sound of the letter ƒ, usually a voiceless labiodental fricative. See ALPHABET
—symbol
1. Music a The fourth tone in the musical scale of C; the pitch of this tone, or the note representing it. b The scale built upon F. c The bass clef in musical notation.
2. Chem. Fluorine (symbol F).
3. Genetics A filial generation, usually followed by a subscript numeral, as F₁, F₂, for the first, second, etc., filial generation offspring of a given mating.
4. In education, a grade meaning failure, or, sometimes, fair.