noun
tuff
tuhf
Tuff (noun) means a light, porous rock formed from compacted volcanic ash. Example: “The ancient city was carved directly into soft volcanic tuff.”
noun
1
A light, porous rock formed from compacted volcanic ash.
"The ancient city was carved directly into soft volcanic tuff."
"This is what makes an ignimbrite; the general term for this kind of volcaniclastic rock is ‘tuff’."
— Richard Fortey, The Earth (2004)
How to use tuff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft rock made from hardened volcanic ash.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "tough" (strong) — they sound identical but mean completely different things.
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Word forms
- Plural
- tuffs
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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