noun
fluff
fluhf
noun
1
Light, soft, fuzzy material such as fur, feathers, or lint.
"There was a ball of fluff stuck to her sweater."
2
Something trivial, superficial, or lacking substance.
"The magazine was full of celebrity fluff rather than real news."
verb
1
To mess up or botch something, especially a line in a performance.
"The actor fluffed his lines during the opening scene."
2
To shake or pat something so it becomes light and puffy.
"She fluffed up the pillows before her guests arrived."
How to Use Fluff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSoft, fuzzy material, or (informally) trivial content, or a botched attempt at something.
Common pairings
ball of fluff
fluff a line
fluff up the pillows
Word Forms
fluffed past tense, fluffs plural, fluffs singular
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Etymology
Traced back to an earlier word meaning "woolly down or nap," of uncertain ultimate origin, possibly related to a West Flemish dialect word.