(friends)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
A friend is someone who you know well and like, but who is not related to you.
I had a long talk about this with my best friend...
She never was a close friend of mine.
...Sara's old friend, Ogden.
N-COUNT
2.
If you are friends with someone, you are their friend and they are yours.
I still wanted to be friends with Alison...
We remained good friends...
Sally and I became friends.
N-PLURAL: oft N with n
3.
The friends of a country, cause, organization, or a famous politician are the people and organizations who help and support them.
...The Friends of Birmingham Royal Ballet.
N-PLURAL; N-IN-NAMES
4.
If one country refers to another as a friend, they mean that the other country is not an enemy of theirs.
The president said that Japan is now a friend and international partner.
= ally
N-COUNT
5.
If you make friends with someone, you begin a friendship with them. You can also say that two people make friends.
He has made friends with the kids on the street...
He had made a friend of both girls.
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR with n