fur Hear it!

fur¹ Definition

fur (fʉr)

noun

  1. the soft, thick hair covering the body of many mammals
  2. a skin bearing such hair, when stripped and processed for making, lining, or trimming garments; dressed pelt
  3. any garment, neckpiece, trimming, etc. made of such skins
  4. any furlike or fuzzy coating, as diseased matter on the tongue in illness

Etymology: ME furre, prob. contr. < furrure, fur lining or blanket OFr fourrure < fuerre, sheath, lining < Frank *fodr, akin to Ger futter < IE base *po-, to tend flocks, cover, protect > Gr poimēn, Sans pālá-, shepherd

adjective

of or having to do with fur

transitive verb furred, fur·ring

  1. to line, cover, make, or trim with fur
  2. to coat with any smooth, furlike deposit
  3. to use furring in constructing (a floor, wall, etc.)

intransitive verb

to become coated with a deposit

fur¹ Idioms

make the fur fly

Informal
  1. to cause dissension or fighting
  2. to accomplish much quickly
fur² Definition

fur

furlong(s)

fur Synonyms

fur

n.

pelt, hide, hair, coat, brush, fluff, wool, fleece, fuzz.

Types of fur include: sable, mink, chinchilla, Persian lamb, astrakhan, karakul, Alaska seal, Hudson seal, muskrat, silver muskrat, ermine, American broadtail, monkey, beaver, skunk, otter, marten, stone marten, weasel, Chinese weasel, Chinese mink, American mink, kolinsky, fitch, squirrel, leopard, leopard cat, raccoon, wolverine, Russian pony, fox, white fox, blue fox, cross fox, red fox, silver fox, gray fox, Manchurian dog, sheepskin, bearskin, calfskin, kidskin, mouton, lamb, rabbit, cony.

make the fur fly*
  1. fight, bicker, stir up trouble;

  2. hasten, act hastily, rush through;

fur Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • wis: Everybody hoped it wis never, fur the team's sake.
  • wear: Asked what actions she would take, Wintour didn't hesitate to say: " Wear more fur.

Adjective modifier

  • matted: Fly strike is when a fly lays its eggs in the matted fur or sometimes even just inside the anus.
  • fake: Several holes are left empty or the finished item would look like fake fur, not hair.
  • shaggy: Its long dense and shaggy fur has a reddish wooly appearance on the underside; especially near the tail.
  • fluffy: The range of textures he creates - tough hide, fluffy fur, preened feathers, dry scales - is extraordinary.
  • silky: I stroked her silky fur, and then let her sit behind me.
  • plush: With soft plush fur, this bear must be touched to be believed!

Modifies a noun

  • coat: They develop a thick fur coat to stay warm.
  • seal: In front of me some fur seals were waiting in ambush.
  • trapper: Altruistic patriotism was less of a motive of his than legitimized plunder of the Buriat fur trappers.
  • steller: And to for fur seals steller 's and snuff bottles in mid to.
  • farming: Back in 1989 the Farm Animal Welfare Council examined mink and fox fur farming.
  • collar: Coats and jackets are trimmed with luxurious fur collars, bags and belts are embellished with fringes.

Noun used with modifier

  • faux: Made from the softest dark chocolate brown faux fur, with cute rounded collars.
  • rabbit: The majority of fur products appeared to be made from cheap imported rabbit fur from the far east.
  • belly: Then the pup leaped up and grabbed a mouthful of Cherokee's belly fur and hung on.
  • chinchilla: In chinchillas fur chewing is said to be down to boredom, stress or lack of fiber.
  • fox: Back in 1989 the Farm Animal Welfare Council examined mink and fox fur farming.
  • bum: Abdul the camel seemed happy enough tho, despite his smoking bum fur.
fur Quotes

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack.

—Moore, Clement

I'll make the fur Fly 'bout the ears of the old cur.

—Butler, Samuel

Browse dictionary entries near fur

  1. funnyman
  2. funny paper
  3. funny money
  4. funny farm
  5. funny car
  6. funny book
  7. funny bone
  8. funny
  9. funnies
  10. funnelform
  1. fur seal
  2. furan
  3. furbelow
  4. furbish
  5. Furbish lousewort
  6. furcate
  7. furcula
  8. furculum
  9. furfur
  10. furfuraceous