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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

folks en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • /foʊlks/ (General-American, nonstandard)
  • /foʊks/ (General-American)
  • /fəʊks/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Meanings

  1. (plural, plural-only) The members of one's immediate family, especially one's parents
    • My folks visit us at Christmas.
  2. (form-of, plural) plural of folk
    form of folk
  3. (US, plural, plural-only) People in general; everybody or anybody.
    • ‘Hi, folks,’ Henry said, using inclusive terminology because one of them was female. 2019, Nick Oldham, chapter 14, in Wildfire (A Henry Christie Thriller; 26), London: Severn House Publishers, published 2020, →ISBN:
    • Lots of folks like to travel during the holidays.
    • Wilson: He's right. They endorse Royce, fine, 'the hell else they gonna do? But what they say and don't say from the pulpit the Sunday before the primary we still got a dog in that fight. Carcetti: I do this right, they respect it. Wilson: An' if they don't, at least they get to see a beggin'-ass white man on his knees. Always a feel-good moment for the folks. 2006 October 1, Dennis Lehane, “Refugees”, in The Wire, 00:32:06:
  4. (Louisiana, Southern, US, plural, plural-only, rare, slang) The police.

Deriveds

that's all, folks · congressfolks · but seriously folks · just plain folks · regular folks · ladyfolks · grandfolks · folksy · just folks · showfolks · gentlefolks · different strokes for different folks · old folks · just-folks · menfolks

Relateds

folk

Translations (4)

ja 人々 (immediate family, parents in particular) · fi porukat (immediate family, parents in particular) · ja 両親 (immediate family, parents in particular) · ja 親戚 (immediate family, parents in particular)

folks en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • /foʊlks/ (General-American, nonstandard)
  • /foʊks/ (General-American)
  • /fəʊks/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Coined by California historian Kevin Starr.

Meanings

  1. (California, plural, plural-only) Late 19th and early 20th century migrants to California from Iowa and other parts of the Midwestern United States.
    • McPherson's healing ministry, in fact. was at the core of her success, since so many of the Folks had come to Southern California in late middle or old age in the hope of regaining lost health. 2007, Kevin Starr, California: A History, Modern Library, →ISBN, page 182: