fə: n. & v. --n. 1 a
the short fine
soft hair of
certain animals,
distinguished from the longer hair. b the
skin of
such an
animal with the fur on
it; a pelt. 2 a the
coat of certain animals as
material for making,
trimming, or
lining clothes. b a trimming or lining
made of the dressed coat of such animals, or of material imitating
this. c a
garment made of or trimmed or lined with fur. 3 (collect.) furred animals. 4 a a
coating formed on the
tongue in
sickness. b
Brit. a coating formed on the
inside surface of a
pipe,
kettle,
etc., by
hard water. c a
crust adhering to a surface, e.g. a
deposit from
wine. 5
Heraldry a
representation of tufts on a plain ground. --v. (furred, furring) 1 tr. (esp. as furred adj.) a line or
trim (a garment) with fur. b
provide (an animal) with fur. c
clothe (a person) with fur. d coat (a tongue, the inside of a kettle) with fur. 2 intr. (often foll. by up) (of a kettle etc.)
become coated with fur. 3 tr.
level (floor-timbers) by inserting strips of
wood. øfur
and feather game animals and birds. fur-seal a
sea lion with a
valuable undercoat.
make the fur fly colloq.
cause a
disturbance, stir up
trouble. øøfurless adj. [ME (earlier as v.) f. OF forrer f. forre, fuerre
sheath f. Gmc]
