I. ˈfləf noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably alteration of flue (IV)
1. : nap , down , flue : as
a. : the soft downy plumage on the abdomen and between the thighs of most birds — see goose illustration
b. : the basal downy part of a feather
2. : something fluffy : a fluffy mass
a fluff of cloud near the horizon
as
a. : a food rendered light and fluffy by incorporating air through beating — used especially of dishes (as whips or soufflés) of which the texture depends on beaten egg whites
b. : something essentially trivial and lacking importance or solid worth ; especially : a light amusing theatrical offering without real message or significance
his latest is an amusing little fluff well suited to the summer theater
c. slang : a young woman — used chiefly in the phrase bit of fluff
3. : an error, fault, or blunder
the senator made a fluff when he called attention to his party's record on this issue
as
a. : a forgetting or bungling of lines (as in a theatrical performance) ; sometimes : the missing of a cue
b. : a misplay in a sport or game
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to become fluffy
the omelet fluffed beautifully
b. : to move lightly like fluff
streaks of cloud fluffed in from the water
2. : to make a mistake : fail , bungle : as
a. : to play a theatrical role blunderingly : forget one's lines or deliver them badly
b. : to misplay in a sport
he was doing well until he fluffed at the seventh hole
transitive verb
1. : to make fluffy
fluff out your hair
fluffing up the pillows
2. : to wheel (a skin) usually to produce a smoothly napped or uniform surface
3. : to make a mistake in : bungle: as
a. : to play (a theatrical role) blunderingly : forget or deliver badly (one's lines)
b. : misplay
fluffed his stroke and missed the green
: botch
the quarterback fluffed the play and lost his side control of the ball
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably of imitative origin
chiefly Scotland : a puff or whiff
a fluff of smoke