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stuff Definition

stuff (stuf)

noun

  1. the material or substance out of which anything is or can be made; raw material
  2. constituent elements or basic nature; essence; character a man made of stern stuff
  3. matter or substance of an unspecified or generalized kind
  4. cloth, esp. woolen cloth
    1. household goods
    2. personal belongings
    3. things in general; objects
    4. things grouped together or viewed in a certain way
  6. something to be drunk, swallowed, etc.; specif.,
    1. a medicine
    2. ☆ Slang a drug, as heroin
  7. worthless objects; refuse; junk
    1. anything said, done, written, composed, etc.; talk or action of a specified kind
    2. foolish or worthless ideas, words, actions, etc. stuff and nonsense!
  9. Informal
    1. basic ability; capability
    2. superior ability; exceptional capability
    3. ☆ special skill or knowledge; specialty to do or know one's stuff
  10. ☆ Informal
    1. ability of a baseball pitcher, billiards player, etc. to control the ball, esp. to make it curve or spin
    2. such control, or speed, a curve, spin, etc. given to a ball
  11. ☆ Basketball, Slang a dunk shot

Etymology: ME stoffe < OFr estoffe < estoffer, prob. < Gr styphein, to pull together, tighten < styppe, tow, coarse cloth of flax or hemp: see stop

transitive verb

  1. to fill the inside of (something); pack; specif.,
    1. to fill (a cushion, chair, toy, etc.) with padding or stuffing
    2. to fill the skin of (a dead animal, bird, etc.) in taxidermy
    3. to fill (a chicken, turkey, etc.) with seasoning, bread crumbs, etc. before roasting
    1. to fill too full; cram; overload
    2. to fill to excess with food
  3. to pack, cram, or crowd (something) into a container, etc.
  4. to fill with information, ideas, etc. to stuff one's head with facts
  5. ☆ to put fraudulent votes into (a ballot box)
    1. to plug; block
    2. to choke up or stop up, as with phlegm
  7. to force or push to stuff money into a wallet
  8. to treat (leather) with a preparation designed to soften and preserve it
  9. Basketball, Slang to dunk (a basketball)
  10. Football to stop, often overwhelmingly, (a runner, team, etc.) for little or no yardage

Etymology: ME stoffen < OFr estoffer

intransitive verb

to eat too much or too quickly

stuff Synonyms

stuff

n.

  1. Material

    elemental part, principle, essence; see material 2.

  2. Cloth

    tissue, web, textile; see cloth.

stuff Synonyms

stuff

v.

ram, pad, wad, shove; see fill 1, pack 2.

stuff Usage Examples

Object

  • envelope: Computer skills ( word processing and spreadsheets ), as well as photocopying and stuffing envelopes are always useful.
  • toy: Manhattan Toy soft toys Wild Wee Ones Giraffe cuddly toy Giraffe cuddly toys Giraffe stuffed toys Manhattan Soft Toys Giraffe stuffed toys.
  • creature: With the new Peek-A-Pet Activity Toy, children can stuff cute creatures into the see-through tummies of increasingly larger pets.

Converse of object

  • do: Gives me lots of time I don't really want to get stuff done.
  • buy: With your house created you must now buy stuff to put in it.

Adjective modifier

  • cool: Click here to change your colors & layout, and add cool stuff to your page!
  • weird: In the end Andy was actually staying there, like spending nights there, weird stuff, very weird.
  • interesting: I was looking forward to the really interesting stuff!
  • usual: The entry level LE has all the usual stuff - air conditioning, electric windows, CD player.
  • stern: But golfers of the caliber of Harrington and McGinley are made of stern stuff.
  • scary: I am sure it will be really scary stuff.

Modifies a noun

  • thats: This is the sort of thing hated by distribution makers - a package that suddenly requires a load of stuff thats not strictly necessary.

Noun used with modifier

  • techie: People get spotted as ministerial material for knowing about topical subjects like climate change but not techie stuff.
  • feeding: Because of the shortage of animal feeding stuffs, stock activities were severely curtailed, and most tenants were forced to take temporary employment.
  • fun: You can find fun Logic stuff for your needs.
  • solo: Obviously he's got his solo stuff to focus on but he hasn't ruled it out.
  • on-one: Get on-one anywhere We can get you on-one stuff anywhere in the world.
  • glasgow: Posted in political, uni work, glasgow stuff | No Comments » What is the better name?

Preposition: of

  • legend: We might even recognize that this was the stuff of legend, rather than history.
  • nightmare: It could be anything at all, from a childhood daydream through to the stuff of nightmares.
stuff Quotes

The idea was to prove at every foot of the way up†that you were one of the elected and anointed ones who had the right stuff and could move higher and higher and evenöultimately,God willing, one dayöthat you might be able to join that special fewat the very top, that elite who had the capacity to bring tears to men's eyes, the very Brotherhood of the Right Stuff itself.

—Wolfe,Tom (Thomas Kennerley)

Well, maybe like Casy says, a fellowain't got a soul of his own, but on'ya piece of a big oneöan thenö† Then it don'matter. Then I'll be all aroun' in the dark. I'll be everywhereöwherever you look.Wherever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there.Wherever they's a cop beatin'up aguy,I'll bethere.If Casyknowed, why,I'll be inthewayguysyell whenthey'remad an'öI'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry an'they know supper's ready. An' when our folks eat the stuff they raise an' live in the houses they buildöwhy, I'll be there. See?

—Steinbeck,John Ernest

It is frivolous stuff, and how rare, how precious is frivolity! How few writers can prostitute all their powers! Theyare always implying 'I am capable of higher things.'

—Forster, E(dward) M(organ)

Well, fancy giving money to the Government! Might as well have put it down the drain. Fancy giving money to the Government! Nobody will see the stuff again.

—Herbert, SirA(lan) P(atrick)

It's me Auntie Maggie's home-made remedy Guaranteed never to fail Now that's the stuff that will do the trick It's sold at ev'ry chemist for 'one and a kick'.

—Formby, George

Browse dictionary entries near stuff

  1. ‹ study up on
  2. ‹ study hall
  3. ‹ study
  4. ‹ studious
  5. ‹ studio couch
  6. ‹ studio apartment
  7. ‹ studio
  8. ‹ studied
  9. ‹ studhorse
  10. ‹ studentship
  1. stuff bit ›
  2. stuffed ›
  3. stuffed shirt ›
  4. stuffer ›
  5. stuffing ›
  6. stuffing box ›
  7. stuffy ›
  8. stull ›
  9. stultify ›
  10. stum ›