I. fluff 1 /flʌf/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Origin: Probably from flue 'fluff' (16-19 centuries) , from Flemish vluwe ]
1 . soft light bits of thread that have come from wool, cotton, or other materials:
He was picking bits of fluff off his trousers.
a ball of carpet fluff
2 . soft light hair or feathers, especially on a young bird or animal:
The chicks were just balls of yellow fluff.
3 . news, music, writing, work etc that is not serious or important:
a magazine full of pop and fashion fluff
II. fluff 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1 . informal to make a mistake or do something badly SYN mess something ↔ up :
He fluffed his shot and missed the goal.
She fluffed her lines in the first scene.
2 . ( also fluff something ↔ up/out ) to make something soft become larger by shaking it:
She fluffed up the pillows for me.
3 . ( also fluff something ↔ up/out ) if a bird fluffs its feathers, it raises them and makes itself look bigger