further

1 adverb

1 MORE if you do something further you do it more, or to a greater degree: I will develop this point further next week. | Things were further complicated by the fact that she did not speak Spanish.

(+ into/away etc): Marcus sank further into debt. | delay/detain sth/sb further (=make you wait): After we've finished this I won't detain you any further.

2 DISTANCE especially BrE used to say that a place is a long way from or more distant than another place; farther: I don't think I can move a step further.

(+ up/away/along etc): A little further up Main Street is an old house that's being restored. —see farther 1

3 take sth further to do something at a more serious or higher level, especially by talking about it: Would you be willing to take this research further? | take the matter further (=discuss a subject at a higher level and with more important people): I'm going to take the matter further and discuss this with your parents.

4 TIME further back/on/ahead etc used to say how much more distant something is in the past or future: Five years further on, a cure has still not been found. | The records don't go any further back than 1960. | further down the road (=in the future): Further down the road we're looking at using up our timber resources.

5 go (one step) further to do or say more than before: Some argued that we should go one step further and get rid of him altogether.

6 IN ADDITION (sentence adverb) formal used to introduce something additional that you want to talk about; furthermore: He promised not to identify his informant, and further, not to quote him directly.

7 further to formal used in letters or in formal speech to mention a previous subject you want to discuss more: Further to your letter of February 5th, we can confirm your order.

8 nothing can be further from the truth used when you want to say that something is totally untrue

9 sth must not go any further used to say that something you are telling someone is secret or private

10 nothing is further from sb's mind spoken used to say that you have not been thinking about something, especially when you really have been thinking about it: “Did you come here to see Peter?” “No, nothing could be further from my mind!”

2 adjective (only before noun)

1 more or additional: Are there any further questions? | a further 10 miles/5 minutes/-500 etc: Cook gently for a further ten minutes.

2 until further notice until you are told that something has changed: Lacunza ordered the suspension of the elections until further notice.

3 verb (T) to help something succeed or become successful: He dedicated his life to furthering the cause of world peace. | further sb's career: Alan had been using her to further his career.