tuft

[ tuhft ]

noun

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.

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

/ 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

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

Derived Forms

• ˈtufter, noun
• ˈtufty, adjective

Other Words From

• tufter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tuft¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tuft¹

C14: perhaps from Old French tufe , of Germanic origin; compare top ¹

Example Sentences

Colin Tuft hit a solo home run in the sixth for the Green Wave.

From Seattle Times

It caught the attention of entertainment industry vets Jennifer Tuft and Cassandra Rosenthal, who, with their mixed-reality company Kaleidoco, have been working to bring “Particle Ink” to life.

From Los Angeles Times

“We went big,” Tuft says, noting the group was about six weeks from loading when the COVID-19 lockdown began and altered the “Particle Ink” plans.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

So often, we see people learning to tuft to re-create another thing and to produce.

From Los Angeles Times