fry¹ / frī/ • v. (fries, fried) [tr.] cook (food) in hot fat or oil, typically in a shallow pan. Compare with deep fry. ∎  [intr.] (of food) be cooked in such a way: put half a dozen steaks to fry in a pan. ∎  [intr.] inf. (of a person) burn or overheat: with the sea and sun and wind you'll fry if you don't take care. ∎ inf. execute or be executed by electrocution.• n. (pl. fries) [in sing.] a meal of meat or other food cooked in such a way. ∎  a social gathering where fried food is served: you'll explore islands and stop for a fish fry. ∎  (fries) another term for French fries.fry² • pl. n. young fish, esp. when newly hatched. ∎  the young of other animals produced in large numbers, such as frogs.

Fry

the young or brood of fishes or other animals or insects, including oysters and bees; people held in contempt collectively—Johnson, 1755. See also brood, swarm.

Examples: fry of authors, 1641; of bees [young bees], 1577; of Christmas books, 1861; of Catholics, 1607; of ditches, 1600; of eel spawn; of fish [young], 1389; of foul decays; of gnats, 1613; of islands, 1652; of oysters [young].

fry1 †offspring; young of fish XIV; young or insignificant creatures XV. Implied in AL. frium XIII–XIV. — ON. *frío, *frjó seed = Goth. fraiw; of unkn. orig.

fry2 cook in boiling fat. XIII. — (O)F. frire = It. friggere :- L. frīgere (cf. Gr. phrū́gein, Skr. bhṛjjáti grill).