A Friendly Definition

How do you define friend? Is a friend someone who you would go through thick and thin for? Or is it someone who would go through thick and thin for you?

Here's what Hyperdictionary has to say:

1. [n]  a member of the Religious Society of Friends founded by George Fox (the Friends have never called themselves Quakers)
   
2. [n]  a person with whom you are acquainted; "I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances"; "we are friends of the family"
   
3. [n]  an associate who provides assistance; "he's a good ally in fight"; "they were friends of the workers"
   
4. [n]  a person you know well and regard with affection and trust; "he was my best friend at the university"
   
5. [n]  a person who backs a politician or a team etc.; "all their supporters came out for the game"; "they are friends of the library"
   

Source: http://www.hyperdictionary.com/search.aspx?define=friend

Do you need to confirm the meaning with Oxford dictionary? Go ahead. I think none of them fits my definition of friend.

I believe who you define as a friend is completely a subjective matter. Some people are mere acquaintances; people you would walk past and just nod. Then there are those you would actually venture to give a quick hello, how are you greeting as you pass them by, not really waiting for a prolonged answer other than a fine, thank you response.

But, to me, friends are those you share things with. Your loved ones, your relatives, some of them qualify as a friend too. You share all things with them, not just the physical. ESPECIALLY not just the physical. You want the car? Go ahead. You want the disc player? No problem. A DVD? Take your pick.

Apart from that, you tend to share with them your emotional thoughts. You share your daily going ons. What you did today. What happened in your life for the past week. You share your problems. You complain to them. You share your happiness. You tell them your joy when you get a new job. You tell them how excited you are. You just want to share all your feelings with them.

Asking for help and advice from friends is also a selective process. Whom can you ask for help? Who would give you advice without any prejudice? In fact, who would give you advice even without you asking? Would you qualify them as friends of yours? Or just mere annoyance? Are friends people that you are ready to throw away your pride and humble yourself before you go to ask them for help and advice? 

Would you be able to freely give help and advice if your friends were to come to you for it?

It is truly an acid test on who you want to qualify as your close friend. Such is human nature that betrayals abound. One wrong move and our most inner secrets will be let known to the wrong person. And yet, if we keep everything close to our hearts, how much more lonelier can we be? It is said that being lonely is not the same as being alone. How many friends do you have?