for

Definitions


[fə], (Adposition)

Definitions:
- in support of or in favour of (a person or policy)
(e.g: troops who had fought for Napoleon)

- affecting, with regard to, or in respect of
(e.g: she is responsible for the efficient running of their department)

- on behalf of or to the benefit of
(e.g: I got a present for you)

- having (the thing mentioned) as a purpose or function
(e.g: networks for the exchange of information)

- having (the thing mentioned) as a reason or cause
(e.g: Aileen is proud of her family for their support)

- having (the place mentioned) as a destination
(e.g: they are leaving for London tomorrow)

- representing (the thing mentioned)
(e.g: the ‘F’ is for Fascinating)

- in place of or in exchange for
(e.g: will you swap these two bottles for that one?)

- in relation to the expected norm of
(e.g: she was tall for her age)

- indicating the length of (a period of time)
(e.g: he was jailed for 12 years)

- indicating the extent of (a distance)
(e.g: he crawled for 300 yards)

- indicating an occasion in a series
(e.g: the camcorder failed for the third time)


Phrases:
- be for it
- do something for England
- for Africa
- for why
- oh for —
- there's — for you

Origin:
Old English for, probably a reduction of a Germanic preposition meaning ‘before’ (in place or time); related to German für, also to fore


[fə], (Conjunction)

Definitions:
- because; since
(e.g: he felt guilty, for he knew that he bore a share of responsibility for Fanny's death)


Phrases:
- be for it
- do something for England
- for Africa
- for why
- oh for —
- there's — for you

Origin:
Old English for, probably a reduction of a Germanic preposition meaning ‘before’ (in place or time); related to German für, also to fore




definition by Oxford Dictionaries