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fuzz
1[ fuhz ]
/ fʌz /
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noun
loose, light, fibrous, or fluffy matter.
a mass or coating of such matter: the fuzz on a peach.
Slang. a man's very short haircut, similar to a crew cut.
a blur: That photo is all fuzz.
a distorted sound from an electric musical instrument, especially a guitar, produced by means of an electronic device.
verb (used with or without object)
to make or become blurred or unclear (sometimes followed by up or out): He fuzzed up the plot line with a lot of emotional nonsense. The image fuzzed and then disappeared.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Origin of fuzz
1First recorded in 1595–1605; origin uncertain; perhaps a back formation from fuzzy; compare Dutch voos “spongy, woolly”
Words nearby fuzz
Other definitions for fuzz (2 of 2)
fuzz2
[ fuhz ]
/ fʌz /
noun, plural fuzz, fuzz·es for 2. Older Slang.
Usually the fuzz . the police; police officers collectively:The fuzz were called by a neighbor and three policeman showed up.
a police officer or detective:Fuzzes caught the burglar trying to escape through the back alley.
Origin of fuzz
2An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; of uncertain origin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use fuzz in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for fuzz (1 of 2)
fuzz1
/ (fʌz) /
noun
a mass or covering of fine or curly hairs, fibres, etc
a blur
verb
to make or become fuzzy
to make or become indistinct; blur
Word Origin for fuzz
C17: perhaps from Low German fussig loose
British Dictionary definitions for fuzz (2 of 2)
Word Origin for fuzz
C20: of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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