fluffy
/ˈflʌfi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈflʌfi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈflə-fē/ (ame, mw)
fluffy — adjective
- fluffypositive
- fluffiercomparative
- fluffiestsuperlative
1. covered with short, soft hair or feathers that feel pleasant to touch.
covered with short, soft hair or feathers that feel pleasant to touch.
Renata's new puppy had a tiny, fluffy tail that never stopped wagging.
attributive: fluffy + body part (tail, ears, fur)
Theo lifted the fluffy yellow chick out of the cardboard box and showed his sister.
fluffy + animal noun (chick, kitten, duckling)
The newborn ducklings looked so fluffy after their mother had warmed them under her wings.
Michael bought a thick, fluffy bath towel for his mother's birthday.
Inside the basket sat three fluffy white kittens that Yael had rescued from the street.
用法筆記
Almost always attributive (before a noun). Subjects are typically small animals, hair, fur, feathers, towels, blankets, or rugs — things you can stroke.
常見錯誤
2. containing a lot of air, so that it feels soft, light, and not packed tightly to
containing a lot of air, so that it feels soft, light, and not packed tightly together.
Mert whipped the egg whites until they were thick, white, and fluffy.
fluffy describing whipped/beaten food (egg whites, cream)
Nkechi served warm pancakes with fluffy scrambled eggs on a blue plate.
fluffy + cooked food (rice, eggs, mashed potato)
The bakery was famous for its fluffy bread that almost melted in your mouth.
Minho stared up at the fluffy white clouds drifting over the hills.
Shanti shook the pillow until the feathers inside felt fluffy again.
用法筆記
Subject is usually food (rice, eggs, cakes, bread, pancakes), clouds, or pillows. Distinguish from sense 1 (SOFT FUR), which is about hair-covered surfaces; this sense is about volume from trapped air.
常見錯誤
3. (of a book, film, or piece of writing) entertaining in a light way, but lacking
(of a book, film, or piece of writing) entertaining in a light way, but lacking real depth or important ideas.
Mayumi enjoyed the novel as a fluffy beach read, even though the plot was forgettable.
fluffy + reading material (novel, beach read, romance)
The film critic dismissed the comedy as a fluffy romance with no real message.
negative judgement: dismissed as fluffy
Élise's first column was a fluffy piece about celebrity pets rather than serious news.
Stephanie loved the show, even though her brother thought it was a bit fluffy.
- lightweight
similar meaning; common in reviews of books and films
- superficial
more strongly negative; suggests deliberate shallowness
- frothy
almost identical sense; very common in film reviews
用法筆記
Object is usually a piece of media — a book, film, magazine article, or TV show. Often carries a mild negative judgement that the content avoids serious topics. Distinguish from sense 2 (LIGHT AIRY), which is about physical texture.