tuff
Tuff (noun) means a light, porous rock formed from compacted volcanic ash. Example: “The ancient city was carved directly into soft volcanic tuff.”
How to use tuff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft rock made from hardened volcanic ash.
Don't confuse with "tough" (strong) — they sound identical but mean completely different things.
Word forms
tuffs plural, Tuffs plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ancient city was carved directly into soft volcanic _____.
Etymology
From French tuf, from Italian tufo, from Latin tofus — a doublet of the related geology term "tufa."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for tuff
See all rhymes for tuff →Frequently asked questions
What does “tuff” mean?
The word “tuff” means a light, porous rock formed from compacted volcanic ash. In plain terms, a soft rock made from hardened volcanic ash.
How do you pronounce “tuff”?
“Tuff” is pronounced tuhf (/tʌf/ in IPA).
How do you use “tuff” in a sentence?
Here is “tuff” used in a sentence: “The ancient city was carved directly into soft volcanic tuff.”
What part of speech is “tuff”?
“Tuff” is a noun.
Where does the word “tuff” come from?
The word “tuff” comes from Latin. From French tuf, from Italian tufo, from Latin tofus — a doublet of the related geology term "tufa.".
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