tuft

American  

[tuhft] / tʌft /

noun

tufts plural

1. a bunch or cluster of small, usually soft and flexible parts, as feathers or hairs, attached or fixed closely together at the base and loose at the upper ends.

2. a cluster of short, fluffy threads, used to decorate cloth, as for a bedspread, robe, bath mat, or window curtain.

3. a cluster of cut threads, used as a decorative finish attached to the tying or holding threads of mattresses, quilts, upholstery, etc.

4. a covered or finished button designed for similar use.

5. a cluster of short-stalked flowers, leaves, etc., growing from a common point.

6. a small clump of bushes, trees, etc.

7. a gold tassel on the cap formerly worn at English universities by titled undergraduates.

8. a titled undergraduate at an English university.

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verb (used with object)

1. to furnish or decorate with a tuft or tufts.

2. to arrange in a tuft or tufts.

3. Upholstery. to draw together (a cushion or the like) by passing a thread through at regular intervals, the depressions thus produced being usually ornamented with tufts or buttons.

verb (used without object)

1. to form into or grow in a tuft or tufts.

tuft British  

/ tʌft /

noun

1. a bunch of feathers, grass, hair, etc, held together at the base

2. a cluster of threads drawn tightly through upholstery, a mattress, a quilt, etc, to secure and strengthen the padding

3. a small clump of trees or bushes

4. (formerly) a gold tassel on the cap worn by titled undergraduates at English universities

5. a person entitled to wear such a tassel

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verb

1. (tr) to provide or decorate with a tuft or tufts

2. to form or be formed into tufts

3. to secure and strengthen (a mattress, quilt, etc) with tufts

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• tufter
  noun
• tufty
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• tufts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tuft

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, variant of toft(e), from Middle French tofe, toffe, of uncertain origin; English excrescent t as in against

Explanation

A tuft is a clump or a bunch of something soft and feathery, like a fluffy tuft of fur on your puppy's head. Your patchy front lawn might consist of tufts of weeds surrounded by mud, and your teenage brother's attempt at a beard may be nothing more than a little tuft on his chin. The original definition of tuft, "a bunch of soft and flexible things fixed at the base with the upper ends loose," sounds like a bouquet of grass. Experts guess that tuft comes from the Old French touffe, "tuft of hair."

Example Sentences

Tuft cells act as detectors that sense parasites and initiate immune defenses.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

Mr Tuft said he would now think more about his respiratory health when he is working.

From BBC • May 15, 2025

“It’s about everything from childhood wonderment to grief and loss, to really accepting yourself,” Tuft says.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2024

Jackson Cunningham started Tuft & Paw in Vancouver, B.C., for similar reasons.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 2, 2023

The latter had done all he could to help Ole Tuft; perhaps he now would help someone else?

From In God's Way A Novel by Bj?rnson, Bj?rnstjerne