fluff

American  

[fluhf] / flʌf /

noun

1. light, downy particles, as of cotton.

2. a soft, light, downy mass.

   a fluff of summer clouds.

3. something of no consequence.

   The book is pure fluff, but fun to read.

4. an error or blunder, especially an actor's memory lapse in the delivery of lines.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to make into fluff; shake or puff out (feathers, hair, etc.) into a fluffy mass (often followed byup ).

   to fluff up the sofa pillows.

2. to make a mistake in.

   The leading man fluffed his lines.

verb (used without object)

1. to become fluffy; move, float, or settle down like fluff.

2. to make a mistake, especially in the delivery of lines by a performer; blunder.

fluff British  

/ flʌf /

noun

1. soft light particles, such as the down or nap of cotton or wool

2. any light downy substance

3. an object, matter, etc, of little importance; trifle

4. informal a mistake, esp in speaking or reading lines or performing music

5. informal a young woman (esp in the phrase a bit of fluff )

---

verb

1. to make or become soft and puffy by shaking or patting; puff up

2. informal to make a mistake in performing (an action, dramatic speech, music, etc)

Usage

What does fluff mean? Fluff is a light, soft mass, such as cotton or a cloud, as in After I shaved my head, the hair that grew back was soft, like fluff.To fluff something means to shake or puff out something, as with pillows. When you fluff your hair, you might shake it out a bit so that it puffs up and looks fluffy.Fluff can also describe something that is of little importance, such as a novel that someone deems fun but not at all serious.Fluff is also a mistake, especially a situation in which an actor forgets their lines. To fluff is to make such a mistake, as in Valerie fluffed her lines during the first scene, but she quickly recovered.Example: When Grace and I were stuffing the pillows we had made, we had fluff flying all over the living room.

Other Word Forms

• fluffer noun
• unfluffed adjective

Etymology

Origin of fluff

1780–90; perhaps blend of flue ² and puff

Example Sentences

Carolina have also fluffed their lines though when given the chance, so one team will stumble over the line - and not much will be expected of either in the play-offs.

From BBC

He throws at reporters so much fluff—personal asides, fulminations about adversaries real and imagined, commentary on culture and self-congratulation—that the press and public often ignore important things.

From The Wall Street Journal

But he told ProPublica the administration never cared to differentiate between the “fluff” and vital humanitarian programs.

From Salon

But after missing several big chances at Newcastle, Haaland drew a blank again, fluffing his lines with a poor touch that allowed Flekken to save when he should have hit the target.

From Barron's

“It does look handsome on you,” Ma says, fluffing the dashiki around me.

From Literature

Related Words

• fuzz
• lint