/ stʌf; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun [ U ]
1.
( informal , sometimes disapproving ) used to refer to a substance, material, group of objects, etc. when you do not know the name, when the name is not important or when it is obvious what you are talking about :
What's all that sticky stuff on the carpet?
The chairs were covered in some sort of plastic stuff.
This wine is good stuff.
( disapproving )
I don't know how you can eat that stuff!
They sell stationery and stuff (like that) .
Where's all my stuff (= my possessions) ?
( disapproving )
Could you move all that stuff off the table?
—see also foodstuff ➡ note at things
2.
( informal ) used to refer in a general way to things that people do, say, think, etc. :
I've got loads of stuff to do today.
I like reading and stuff .
The band did some great stuff on their first album.
This is all good stuff . Well done!
What's all this 'Mrs Smith' stuff? Call me Anna.
I don't believe in all that stuff about ghosts.
3.
stuff (of sth) ( formal or literary ) the most important feature of sth; something that sth else is based on or is made from :
The trip was magical; the stuff of which dreams are made.
Parades and marches were the very stuff of politics in the region.
Let's see what stuff you're made of (= what sort of person you are).
—see also hot stuff
•
IDIOMS
- do your stuff
- not give a stuff
- stuff and nonsense
—more at kid noun , know verb , stern adjective , strut verb , sweat verb
■ verb
1.
stuff A (with B) | stuff B (in, into, under, etc. A) to fill a space or container tightly with sth :
[ vn ]
She had 500 envelopes to stuff with leaflets.
She had 500 leaflets to stuff into envelopes.
The fridge is stuffed to bursting.
[ vn - adj ]
All the drawers were stuffed full of letters and papers.
2.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to push sth quickly and carelessly into a small space
SYN shove :
She stuffed the money under a cushion.
His hands were stuffed in his pockets.
3.
[ vn ] to fill a vegetable, chicken, etc. with another type of food :
Are you going to stuff the turkey?
stuffed peppers
4.
[ vn ] stuff sb / yourself (with sth) | stuff your face ( informal ) to eat a lot of food or too much food; to give sb a lot or too much to eat :
He sat at the table stuffing himself.
Don't stuff the kids with chocolate before their dinner.
We stuffed our faces at the party.
5.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] to fill the dead body of an animal with material and preserve it, so that it keeps its original shape and appearance :
They had had their pet dog stuffed.
•
IDIOMS
- get stuffed
- stuff it
- you, etc. can stuff sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (denoting material for making clothes): shortening of Old French estoffe material, furniture, estoffer equip, furnish, from Greek stuphein draw together.