fit noun

¹ sudden attack of illness

ADJ. bad, major | convulsive, epileptic, fainting

VERB + FIT be seized by/with (literary), have, suffer She suffered a major fit last year. | suffer from He suffers from fits of depression. | die of | bring on, cause, trigger (off) He suffers from a brain disorder that can trigger off convulsive fits. | control new drugs that can control fits | prevent

FIT + VERB happen, occur The fits usually occur at night.

PREP. during/in a ~ She hurt her arm during one of her fits.

² short period of coughing/laughter/strong feeling

ADJ. coughing, screaming, sneezing

VERB + FIT have, throw My dad will throw a fit if he finds out! | burst into, collapse in/into, erupt in/into, fall into She collapsed in a fit of laughter. | bring on The cold air brought on one of his coughing fits.

FIT + VERB be over, pass When her coughing fit was over she continued to speak.

PREP. in a ~ of He pushed the referee in a fit of temper. | ~ of a fit of anger/giggles

PHRASES have sb in fits (of laughter) The comedian had them all in fits of laughter.

³ way sth fits/way two things match

ADJ. good We need to achieve the best fit between the staff required and the staff available. | correct, exact, perfect | poor The door was a poor fit and didn't open properly. | close, snug, tight | loose | comfortable The jersey is a comfortable fit?not too tight and not too loose. | statistical

VERB + FIT achieve, get, produce File away any excess metal until a snug fit is achieved. | ensure The shoe has a special strap to ensure correct fit. | give (sth) The formula gives a much better fit to the experimental data.

PREP. ~ between the statistical fit between the interest rate and investment

PHRASES a lack of fit He argues that there is a lack of fit between our system of values and capitalism.