Meaning

• A person other than a family member, spouse or lover whose company one enjoys and towards whom one feels affection.

  "John and I have been friends ever since we were roommates at college.   Trust is important between friends.   I used to find it hard to make friends when I was shy."

• An associate who provides assistance.

  "The Automobile Association is every motorist's friend.   The police is every law-abiding citizen's friend."

• A person with whom one is vaguely or indirectly acquainted.

  "a friend of a friend;  I added him as a friend on Facebook, but I hardly know him."

• A person who backs or supports something.

  "I’m not a friend of cheap wine."

• An object or idea that can be used for good.

  "Wiktionary is your friend."

• (used only in the vocative) Used as a form of address when warning someone.

  "You’d better watch it, friend."

• A function or class granted special access to the private and protected members of another class.

• A spring-loaded camming device.

• A lover; a boyfriend or girlfriend.

• A relative, a relation by blood or marriage.

  "Friends agree best at a distance."

Meaning

• To act as a friend to, to befriend; to be friendly to, to help.

• To add (a person) to a list of friends on a social networking site; to officially designate (someone) as a friend.