tuft
/tʌft/
Definition
Noun: 1. A small, tight cluster or bunch of soft, flexible things: A tuft is a small, dense group of similar, often slender items that are attached or growing together at the base. These items are typically soft and flexible, such as strands of hair, blades of grass, threads, or feathers. 2. A clump of growing vegetation: In botany, a tuft refers to a small, dense cluster of plants, grasses, or moss growing closely together from a single point or root system.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The bird had a distinctive red tuft of feathers on its head.
- He absentmindedly twisted a tuft of his beard while thinking.
- The old armchair had several tufts of stuffing coming out of the seams.
- A tuft of wildflowers grew at the base of the tree.
Advanced Usage
- "Tufted" (Adjective): Describes something that is decorated with, covered in, or growing in tufts.
- The tufted carpet felt soft underfoot.
- A tufted titmouse is a small bird with a crest.
- In Botany/Ecology: Used to describe a specific growth habit.
- Tufted hairgrass is a common species in meadows.
Variants and Related Words
- Tussock (noun): A thicker, denser clump or tuft of grass, often used in ecological contexts.
- The sheep grazed on the tussocks of rough grass.
- Clump (noun): A broader term for a compact group of similar things, which can be larger or less defined than a tuft (e.g., a clump of trees, a clump of dirt).
- Tufa (noun): A porous rock formed from calcium carbonate deposits. (Note: This is a different, though similarly spelled, word with a distinct meaning).
Synonyms
- Bunch: A number of things grouped together.
- Cluster: A group of similar things growing or located closely together.
- Clump: A compact mass or group.
- Knot: A tangled mass or lump (can imply more entanglement than a tuft).
Phrasal Verbs / Related Phrases
- To tuft (verb): The act of making or forming into tufts. This is less common but used in specific contexts like upholstery or textile manufacturing.
- The artisan tufted the fabric to create a textured pattern on the cushion.
Related Idioms
- None directly associated with "tuft" as a standalone word. The word is primarily descriptive and is not commonly used in fixed idiomatic expressions in modern English.
Noun
-
a bunch of feathers or hair
-
a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
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