fur
fur
Fur (noun) means the soft, thick hair covering the body of many mammals. Example: “Our dog leaves fur all over the sofa when he sheds.”
noun
1
The soft, thick hair covering the body of many mammals.
"Our dog leaves fur all over the sofa when he sheds."
"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.
"Many shops now refuse to sell real fur and offer fake fur instead."
"The hat was made of fur and kept my ears warm."
"She wore a coat trimmed with fur."
3
A chalky mineral deposit that builds up inside kettles, pipes, or boilers from hard water.
"Descaling the kettle removed the thick fur from the bottom."
"In areas with hard water, fur soon builds up on the heating element."
"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
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Word forms
- Plural
- furs
- Third person singular
- furs
- Past tense
- furred
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Our dog leaves _____ all over the sofa when he sheds.
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").
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “fur” mean?
The word “fur” means the soft, thick hair covering the body of many mammals. In plain terms, the soft hairy covering on an animal, or clothing/material made from animal pelts.
How do you pronounce “fur”?
“Fur” is pronounced fur (/fɝ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fur” in a sentence?
Here is “fur” used in a sentence: “The cat's fur was soft and glossy after its bath.”
What part of speech is “fur”?
“Fur” is a noun.
Where does the word “fur” come from?
The word “fur” comes from Middle English. 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").
Is “fur” a common word?
“Fur” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “fur” have?
“Fur” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the soft, thick hair covering the body of many mammals.
What is the difference between fur and hair?
Fur and hair are essentially the same material; "fur" is used for the soft, thick coat covering the body of many mammals, while "hair" describes the finer or sparser growth on humans and some animals. In everyday English, an animal is said to have fur when the coat is dense and covers most of the body.
What is the difference between fur and a pelt?
Fur is the soft, thick hair itself, while a pelt is an animal's skin with the fur still attached, typically after it has been removed for use as material. Fur used for clothing or trim comes from prepared pelts.
Is fur countable or uncountable?
As the hair covering an animal, fur is uncountable: "the cat's fur is soft." It becomes countable when it refers to a garment made from animal pelts, as in "she wore a fur," or to types and pelts, as in "expensive furs."
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