fur

verb

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\ ˈfər

furred; furring

Definition of fur

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to cover, line, trim, or clothe with fur

2 : to coat or clog as if with fur

3 : to apply furring to

intransitive verb

: to become coated or clogged as if with fur

fur

noun, often attributive

Definition of fur (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : a piece of the dressed pelt of an animal used to make, trim, or line wearing apparel

2 : an article of clothing made of or with fur

3 : the hairy coat of a mammal especially when fine, soft, and thick also : such a coat with the skin

4 : a coating resembling fur: such as

a : a coat of epithelial debris on the tongue

b : the thick pile of a fabric (such as chenille)

fur

abbreviation

Definition of fur (Entry 3 of 3)

furlong

Other Words from fur Synonyms Did you know? Example Sentences Phrases Containing fur Learn More About fur

Did you know?

When the word fur first came into English, it was a verb that meant “to line a person’s garment with the soft hair of an animal.” The noun developed from the verb. First, the noun referred to the animal hair that was used for lining and trimming a garment. Then it came to refer to the hairy coat on the animal itself. The verb, not much used anymore, was taken from the early French verb furrer, meaning “to stuff, fill, line.” It was formed from an earlier French word meaning “a sheath.” Thus our word fur for the hairy coat that covers or encases an animal traces back to a word for a sheath that encases a knife or sword.

Examples of fur in a Sentence

Noun The cat has black-and-white fur. The rabbit's fur is soft. Her gloves are lined with fur. He made his fortune trading furs in the 17th century. Her new fur is a full-length mink coat. a teddy bear with soft fur See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The foils can also retract, meaning that the boats aren't at risk of marine growth, which could otherwise fur them up. — Julia Buckley, CNN, 28 July 2022 Perhaps some day Levi will watch one of his father’s cartoons and notice a mama bear with tender eyes and fur the color of coffee. — Soudi Jiménez, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2021 Without the companion app, FurReal is still a responsive robot who makes calm, happy noises when kids pet it on its furred back, or barks a warning when its tail is tweaked. — USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2020 Whether feathered or furred, all of these animals belong to the same political species: the bird-dogger. — Samuel Ashworth, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2020 At the pool’s edge, mosses fur the stones in newborn green, and white flowers bloom, their perfume carried lightly on the vapor cast off by the waterfall. — Seija Rankin, EW.com, 22 Jan. 2020 That was my America right there: pastel greenish-brown of grass furring the rolling hills. — Colin Barrett, Harper's magazine, 5 July 2019 Even a few hours in a fruit bowl on a summer afternoon is enough to fur them with mold, after which emergency measures may or may not help. 3. — New York Times, 22 May 2018 One vendor sold from racks of authentic furs while another offered a fur tissue box covers and fur hot water bottles. — Beth Spotswood, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 May 2018 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Dane Cook Cook and Taylor share two fur babies together, a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Ripley and another dog named Chopper. — Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2022 And don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for updates about my iconic dog Kacey and to share pictures of your adorable fur babies with me at erin.logan@latimes.com. — Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2022 McLoughlin and Landon have fit in seamlessly with her fur babies. — Nasha Smith, PEOPLE.com, 29 June 2022 In addition, there will also be pet relief areas in all the concourses—going to show that Delta truly cares about everyone who is traveling, even fur babies. — Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes, 4 June 2022 Choose custom initials for her, her kids’ names, and the fur babies too. — Sarah Madaus, SELF, 15 Apr. 2022 The careers, the marriages, the divorces, the fur babies, the human babies, the small businesses, the promotions, the commitment to their families, and the determination to live their own lives. — Yesika Salgado, refinery29.com, 14 Feb. 2022 Feitosa began by outlining a tiger's print onto the pup's coat of fur with Opawz black dye – drawing the stripes on her forehead, muzzle, and crest. — Chelsea Avila, Allure, 13 July 2022 Glue the eyeballs in the center and frame the door with strips of fur using tacks of hem tape. — Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 5 July 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fur.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.