Why friend is a noun and not an adjective?

You're right to question this! "Friend" can actually be both a noun and an adjective, depending on how it's used.

Here's why:

Noun:

* Definition: A person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.

* Examples:

* "My best friend is coming to visit." (Here, "friend" is the person)

* "They were friends for many years." (Again, "friends" refers to the people)

Adjective:

* Definition: Characterized by friendship or intimacy.

* Examples:

* "They shared a friend-like connection." (Here, "friend-like" describes the nature of their connection)

* "We had a friend's gathering at my place." (Here, "friend's" describes the nature of the gathering, meaning it was among friends)

So, while "friend" is primarily considered a noun, it can also be an adjective when it's used to describe something related to friendship.