n. & v.
--n.
1. excited commotion, bustle, ostentatious or nervous activity.
2 a excessive concern about a trivial thing. b abundance of petty detail.
3 a sustained protest or dispute.
4 a person who fusses.
--v.
1. intr. a make a fuss. b busy oneself restlessly with trivial things. c (often foll. by about, up and down) move fussily.
2 tr. agitate, worry.
Phrases and idioms:
make a fuss complain vigorously. make a fuss of (or over) treat (a person or animal) with great or excessive attention.
Derivatives:
fusser n.
Etymology: 18th c.: perh. Anglo-Ir.