noun
fur
fur
noun
1
The soft, thick hair covering the body of many mammals.
"The cat's fur was soft and glossy after its bath."
"Arctic foxes grow thicker fur in winter to stay warm."
2
Animal pelts used as material for clothing or trim.
"She wore a coat trimmed with fur."
3
A chalky mineral deposit that builds up inside kettles, pipes, or boilers from hard water.
"Years of hard water had left a layer of fur inside the kettle."
How to Use Fur
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe soft hairy covering on an animal, or clothing/material made from animal pelts.
Common pairings
fur coat
thick fur
fake fur
Word Forms
furred past tense, furs plural, Furs plural, Fur plural, furs singular
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Etymology
From Middle English furre/forre, via Anglo-Norman, ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "sheath" or "case" — the same root that gives German Futter ("lining").