fuzzball
/ˈfʌz.bɔːl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfʌz.bɑːl/ (ame, ipa)
fuzzball — noun
- fuzzballsingular
- fuzzballsplural
1. a small roundish clump made from fuzzy material like animal fur, human hair, or
a small roundish clump made from fuzzy material like animal fur, human hair, or textile fibres; also used for any tiny, cute creature that resembles one of these clumps — for instance, a kitten, a hamster, or a piece of wool that has rolled into a ball on the floor.
Hana found a grey fuzzball of cat hair under the sofa while cleaning.
a fuzzball of [material] — specifies what the ball is made of
The newborn puppy was a tiny white fuzzball with floppy ears and sleepy eyes.
used as a noun complement — describes a cute animal
Mateo pulled a fuzzball of blue wool off his jumper before going out.
The old tumble dryer left sticky grey fuzzballs all over the dark clothes.
Mei-Lin scooped up the sleepy little fuzzball of a hamster and placed it gently back in its cage.
- fluffball
more common for describing a cute animal; fuzzball can also refer to a clump of dust or fibres
- dust bunny
specifically a clump of dust and hair under furniture, not used for animals
文法句型
a fuzzball of [material]
用法筆記
Frequently used as a playful or affectionate description for young animals or clumps of lint. The material source is often introduced by 'of' (a fuzzball of wool).
常見錯誤
2. a round fungus that looks like a small pale ball and grows in open grassy areas;
a round fungus that looks like a small pale ball and grows in open grassy areas; when it dries out, it releases a cloud of spores if it is squeezed or kicked.
Walking through the autumn meadow, Tariq spotted a large white fuzzball growing beside the old oak stump.
used as a common noun — a round fungus in a meadow setting
When Kwame gently tapped the dried fuzzball, a puff of brown spores burst into the air.
The nature guide showed the children a pale fuzzball and explained how it releases its seeds.
- puffball
the standard, more widely recognised name for this fungus; fuzzball is a less common variant
用法筆記
This sense is also known by the more common name 'puffball'. It is a technical or nature-writer's term rather than everyday vocabulary.