tuft

[ tuhft ]

/ tʌft /

noun

a bunch or cluster of small, usually soft and flexible parts, as feathers or hairs, attached or fixed closely together at the base and loose at the upper ends.

a cluster of short, fluffy threads, used to decorate cloth, as for a bedspread, robe, bath mat, or window curtain.

a cluster of cut threads, used as a decorative finish attached to the tying or holding threads of mattresses, quilts, upholstery, etc.

a covered or finished button designed for similar use.

a cluster of short-stalked flowers, leaves, etc., growing from a common point.

a small clump of bushes, trees, etc.

a gold tassel on the cap formerly worn at English universities by titled undergraduates.

a titled undergraduateat an English university.

verb (used with object)

to furnish or decorate with a tuft or tufts.

to arrange in a tuft or tufts.

Upholstery. to draw together (a cushion or the like) by passing a thread through at regular intervals, the depressions thus produced being usually ornamented with tufts or buttons.

verb (used without object)

to form into or grow in a tuft or tufts.

Origin of tuft

1350–1400; Middle English, variant of toft(e) < Middle French tofe, toffe < ?; E parasitic t as in graft¹

OTHER WORDS FROM tuft

tuft·er, noun

Words nearby tuft

tuf, tufa, tuff, tuffet, tuffstone body, tuft, tufted, tufted cell, tufted deer, tufted duck, tufted titmouse

Example sentences from the Web for tuft

The nest is a slight open structure of grass, lined with a few feathers, placed in a tuft of grass or reeds.

Argentine Ornithology, Volume I (of 2) |P. L. Sclater
Nest—On the ground, consisting of a bed of dead leaves, under a bush or tuft of grass or weeds.

Birds Illustrated by Color Photography [January, 1898] |Various
In rich contrast with these is the style, with its tuft of filaments of a bright orange scarlet colour.

Hardy Perennials and Old Fashioned Flowers |John Wood
When he looked up, the pony was stolidly cropping a tuft of grass.

Out of the Depths |Robert Ames Bennet

A tuft of cotton wool at the top serves to make the float more easily visible.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 1 |Various

British Dictionary definitions for tuft

tuft

/ (tʌft) /

noun

a bunch of feathers, grass, hair, etc, held together at the base

a cluster of threads drawn tightly through upholstery, a mattress, a quilt, etc, to secure and strengthen the padding

a small clump of trees or bushes

(formerly) a gold tassel on the cap worn by titled undergraduates at English universities

a person entitled to wear such a tassel

verb

(tr) to provide or decorate with a tuft or tufts

to form or be formed into tufts

to secure and strengthen (a mattress, quilt, etc) with tufts

Derived forms of tuft

tufter, noun tufty, adjective

Word Origin for tuft

C14: perhaps from Old French tufe, of Germanic origin; compare top 1

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tuft

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of tuft

OTHER WORDS FROM tuft

Words nearby tuft

Example sentences from the Web for tuft

British Dictionary definitions for tuft

noun

verb

Derived forms of tuft

Word Origin for tuft

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tuft

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of tuft

OTHER WORDS FROM tuft

Words nearby tuft

Words related to tuft

Example sentences from the Web for tuft

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for tuft

noun

verb

Derived forms of tuft

Word Origin for tuft

British Dictionary definitions for tuft