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Friend means a person that you are fond of, with whom you talk or spend time. (noun)

An example of a friend is the person you have known a long time and trust.

The definition of friend is someone who is on your side. (noun)

An example of a friend is an ally in a protest.

To friend means to add someone to a circle of communication, especially in social media. (verb)

An example of friend is someone adding a person they know on Facebook.

See friend in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a person whom one knows well and is fond of; intimate associate; close acquaintance
a person on the same side in a struggle; one who is not an enemy or foe; ally
a supporter or sympathizer: a friend of labor
something thought of as like a friend in being helpful, reliable, etc.
any member of the Society of Friends; Quaker

transitive verb

Archaic to act as a friend to; befriend

Related Forms:

friendless adjective
friendlessness noun

See friend in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(frĕnd)

noun

A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.
A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.
A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.
One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement: friends of the clean air movement.
Friend A member of the Society of Friends; a Quaker.

transitive verb friend·ed, friend·ing, Friends friends

To add (someone) as a friend on a social networking website.
Archaic To befriend.

Related Forms:

friendˈless adjective

friendˈless·ness noun

Word History: A friend is a lover, literally. The relationship between Latin amīcus “friend” and amō “I love” is clear, as is the relationship between Greek philos “friend” and phileō “I love.” In English, though, we have to go back a millennium before we see the verb related to friend. At that time, frēond, the Old English word for “friend,” was simply the present participle of the verb frēon, “to love.” The Germanic root behind this verb is *frī-, which meant “to like, love, be friendly to.” Closely linked to these concepts is that of “peace,” and in fact Germanic made a noun from this root, *frithu-, meaning exactly that. Ultimately descended from this noun are the personal names Frederick, “peaceful ruler,” and Siegfried, ”victory peace.” The root also shows up in the name of the Germanic deity Frigg, the goddess of love, who lives on today in the word Friday, “day of Frigg,” from an ancient translation of Latin Veneris diēs, “day of Venus.”

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