force

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
force1

▶noun

• 1 physical strength or energy as an attribute of action or movement.

  ■ Physics an influence tending to change the motion of a body or produce motion or stress in a stationary body.

• 2 coercion backed by the use or threat of violence.

• 3 mental or moral power; influence.

  ■ an influential person or thing.

• 4 an organized body of military personnel, police, or workers.

  ■ (forces) troops and weaponry.

  ■ (the forces) Brit. the army, navy, and air force.

▶verb

• 1 make (someone) do something against their will.

  ■ (force something on/upon) impose something on.

  ■ make (a plant) develop or mature faster than normal.

• 2 make a way through or into by force.

  ■ move or drive with force.

  ■ achieve by effort.

– phrases
by force of by means of.
force the bidding (at an auction) make bids to raise the price rapidly.
force someone's hand make someone do something.
force the issue compel the making of an immediate decision.
in force

• 1 in great strength or numbers.

• 2 (in/into force) in or into effect.

– derivatives
forceable adjective,
forcer noun.

– origin ME: from OFr. force (n.), forcer (v.), based on L. fortis ‘strong’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
force2

▶noun N. English a waterfall.

– origin ME: from ON fors.