familiar

fa|mil|i|ar¹ W2S2 [fəˈmıliə US -ər] adj

[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: familier, from Latin familia; FAMILY]

1.) someone or something that is familiar is well-known to you and easy to recognize

▪ a familiar tune

look/sound familiar

▪ The voice on the phone sounded familiar.

familiar to

▪ The signs of drug addiction are familiar to most doctors.

▪ It was a relief to be back in familiar surroundings .

▪ Beggars on the street are becoming a familiar sight .

▪ This kind of situation was all too familiar (=very familiar) to John.

▪ Her face seems vaguely familiar , but I can't quite place her.

2.) be familiar with sth

to have a good knowledge or understanding of something

▪ Are you familiar with this type of machine?

▪ I'm not really familiar with her poetry, sorry to say.

3.) be on familiar terms with sb

to know someone well and be able to talk to them in an informal way

▪ He's on familiar terms with all the teachers.

4.) talking to someone as if you know them well although you do not

familiar with

▪ I thought he was being a bit familiar with my wife.

5.) informal and friendly in speech, writing etc

▪ The novel is written in an easy, familiar style.

→↑familiarly

familiar ²

familiar² n

a cat or other animal that lives with a ↑witch and has magical powers