stuff

Pronunciation: /stʌf/

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Definition of stuff

noun

[mass noun]

1matter, material, articles, or activities of a specified or indeterminate kind that are being referred to, indicated, or implied:I prefer to buy stuff in sales we all offer to do stuff for each other green stuff in stagnant water the mud was horrible stuff a girl who’s good at the technical stuff all that running and swimming and stuff
a person’s belongings, equipment, or baggage:he took his stuff and went
British informal, dated worthless or foolish ideas, speech, or writing; rubbish: [as exclamation]:stuff and nonsense!
informal drink or drugs: the islanders get fighting mad on the stuff ‘Are you doing stuff, Kevin?’ he asked
(one's stuff) things in which one is knowledgeable and experienced; one’s area of expertise:he knows his stuff and can really write

2the basic constituents or characteristics of something or someone:Healey was made of sterner stuff such a trip was the stuff of his dreams

3British dated woollen fabric, especially as distinct from silk, cotton, and linen: [as modifier]:her dark stuff gown

4North American (in sport) spin given to a ball to make it vary its course.
Baseball a pitcher’s ability to produce spin on a ball or control the speed of delivery of a ball.

verb

[with object]

1fill (a receptacle or space) tightly with something:an old teapot stuffed full of cash figurativehis head has been stuffed with myths and taboos
force or cram (something) tightly into a receptacle or space:he stuffed a thick wad of notes into his jacket pocket
informal hastily force (something) into a space:Sadie took the coin and stuffed it in her coat pocket
fill out the skin of (a dead animal or bird) with material to restore the original shape and appearance:he took the bird to a taxidermist to be stuffed (as adjective stuffed)a stuffed parrot
fill (the cavity of an item of food) with a savoury or sweet mixture, especially before cooking:chicken stuffed with mushrooms and breadcrumbs
informal fill (oneself) with large amounts of food:he stuffed himself with Parisian chocolates
informal fill (envelopes) with identical copies of printed matter:they spent the whole time in a back room stuffing envelopes
North American place bogus votes in (a ballot box).

2 [usually in imperative] British informal used to express indifference towards or rejection of (something):stuff the diet!

3British informal defeat heavily in sport:Town got stuffed every week

4British vulgar slang (of a man) have sexual intercourse with (a woman).

Phrases

be stuffed up: informal have one’s nose blocked up with catarrh as a result of a cold: he was stuffed up with a cold
get stuffed: [usually in imperative] British informal said in anger to tell someone to go away or as an expression of contempt: she wanted to join his mob but he told her to get stuffed
not give a stuff: British informal not care at all:I couldn’t give a stuff what they think
stuff it: informal said to express indifference, resignation, or rejection:Stuff it, I’m 61, what do I care?
that's the stuff: British informal said in approval of what has just been done or said.

Derivatives

stuffer: [in combination]:a sausage-stuffer

Origin:

Middle English (denoting material for making clothes): shortening of Old French estoffe 'material, furniture', estoffer 'equip, furnish', from Greek stuphein 'draw together'

stuff in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of stuff in the US English dictionary

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Other

stuff

noun

verb

Phrases

be stuffed up

get stuffed

not give a stuff

stuff it

that's the stuff

Derivatives

stuffer

Origin:

stuff in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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