First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1stuff
noun \ˈstəf\
: materials, supplies, or equipment
: a group or pile of things that are not specifically described
—used to speak in a general way about something that is talked about, written about, etc.
Full Definition of STUFF
1
: materials, supplies, or equipment used in various activities: as a obsolete : military baggage b : personal property
2
: material to be manufactured, wrought, or used in construction <clear half-inch pine stuff — Emily Holt>
3
: a finished textile suitable for clothing; especially : wool or worsted material
4
a : literary or artistic production b : writing, discourse, talk, or ideas of little value : trash
5
a : an unspecified material substance or aggregate of matter <volcanic rock is curious stuff> b : something (as a drug or food) consumed or introduced into the body by humans c : a matter to be considered <the truth was heady stuff> <long-term policy stuff> d : a group or scattering of miscellaneous objects or articles <pick that stuff up off the floor>; also : nonphysical unspecified material <conservation and…all kinds of good stuff — Eric Korn>
6
a : fundamental material : substance <the stuff of greatness> b : subject matter <a teacher who knows her stuff>
7
: special knowledge or capability <showing their stuff>
8
a : spin imparted to a thrown or hit ball to make it curve or change course b : the movement of a baseball pitch out of its apparent line of flight : the liveliness of a pitch <greatest pitcher of my time…had tremendous stuff — Ted Williams>
See stuff defined for English-language learners
See stuff defined for kids
Origin of STUFF
Middle English, from Anglo-French estuffes goods, from estuffer to fill in (with rubble), furnish, equip, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German stopfōn to stop up, from Vulgar Latin *stuppare — more at stop
Related to STUFF
- Synonyms
- capability, credentials, goods, qualification
2stuff
transitive verb
: to fill (something) so that there is no room for anything else
: to push (something) quickly and carelessly into a small space
: to put a seasoned mixture of food into (something that is being cooked)
Full Definition of STUFF
1
a : to fill by packing things in : cram <the boy stuffed his pockets with candy> b : to fill to satiety : surfeit <stuffed themselves with turkey> c : to prepare (meat or vegetables) by filling or lining with a stuffing d : to fill (as a cushion) with a soft material e : to fill out the skin of (an animal) for mounting
2
a : to fill by intellectual effort <stuffing their heads with facts> b : to pack full of something immaterial <a book stuffed with information>
3
: to fill or block up (as nasal passages)
4
a : to cause to enter or fill : thrust <stuffed a lot of clothing into a laundry bag> b : to put (as a ball or puck) into a goal forcefully from close range
5
—used in the imperative to express contempt <if they didn't like it, stuff 'em — Eric Clapton> ; often used in the phrases stuff it and get stuffed
6
: to stop (a ballcarrier) abruptly in a football game <stuffed the runner just short of a first down>
First Known Use of STUFF
15th century
STUFFED Defined for Kids
1stuff
noun \ˈstəf\
Definition of STUFF for Kids
1
: materials, supplies, or equipment that people need or use <We helped move his stuff to the new apartment.>
2
: writing, speech, sounds, actions, or ideas of little value <… some of the boys act so immature, making monkey sounds and stuff. — Paula Danziger, Amber Brown>
3
: something mentioned or understood but not named <Wipe that stuff off your face.>
4
: basic part of something : substance <The floor is made of tough stuff.> <She shows the stuff of greatness.>
2stuff
verb
stuffedstuff·ing
Definition of STUFF for Kids
1
: to force into something : thrust <She stuffed the clothes into a drawer.>
2
: to fill by packing or crowding things in : cram <I stuffed the suitcases.>
4
: to fill with a stuffing <stuff a turkey>
5
: to block up : congest <His nose is stuffed.>
Medical Dictionary
stuff
transitive verb \ˈstəf\
Medical Definition of STUFF
: to choke or block up (as nasal passages) <a stuffed up nose>
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