tuft
/tʌft/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈʌft] /tʌft/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈʌft] /ˈtəft How to pronounce tuft (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tuft — noun
- tuftsingular
- tuftsplural
1. a small clump of hairs, blades of grass, or similar thin strands that are joined
a small clump of hairs, blades of grass, or similar thin strands that are joined at one end or grow tightly packed
A tuft of grey hair stuck up from the back of Grandpa Joaquín's head.
collocation: 'a tuft of' + hair
Meera spotted a tiny tuft of moss growing between the old stone steps.
The kitten had a white tuft of fur on the tip of each ear.
Adisa pulled out a tuft of weeds that had choked the tomato plant.
A small tuft of feathers lay on the path where the bird had been.
文法句型
a tuft of + [hair/grass/feathers]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the pattern 'a tuft of' followed by a mass noun like hair, grass, fur, or feathers. The word describes a single anchored bunch, not scattered pieces.
tuft — verb
- tuftpresent simple I / you / we / they
- tufts3rd person singular
- tufting-ing form
- tuftedpast simple
1. to fasten small bunches of thread or fabric to the surface of furniture as a dec
to fasten small bunches of thread or fabric to the surface of furniture as a decorative finish
The upholsterer tufted the armchair with deep, diamond-shaped buttons.
pattern: tuft + [furniture] + with + [fastener]
Karim decided to tuft the headboard of his new bed for extra style.
The designer tufted the velvet sofa with matching silk thread.
Maeve had the antique ottoman professionally tufted before the wedding.
Yael watched the craftsman tuft a leather chair back at the furniture fair.
文法句型
tuft + [furniture/fabric] (+ with + [material])
用法筆記
Object is usually a piece of padded furniture — a chair, sofa, headboard, or ottoman. Distinguish from sense 2, which describes manufacturing the whole item from scratch rather than decorating an existing surface.
2. to produce a padded textile item, such as a cushion or mattress, by stitching th
to produce a padded textile item, such as a cushion or mattress, by stitching through layers and pulling the thread into raised clusters
The workshop tufts cotton mattresses by hand using traditional methods.
pattern: tuft + [product] + by hand
A local factory tufts the carpet squares that the school orders every year.
Linh learned to tuft wool rugs from her grandmother in the countryside.
The company tufts thousands of cushion covers for hotels across the region.
Andrés watched a video showing how to tuft a small rug with a special gun.
文法句型
tuft + [mattress/cushion/rug/carpet]
用法筆記
Describes the manufacturing process, not surface decoration. Subject is usually a person, workshop, or factory. Distinguish from sense 1, where the item already exists and is being decorated with tufts.
3. to gather together into small thick bunches, or to sprout in compact little grou
to gather together into small thick bunches, or to sprout in compact little groups
The dry grass tufted along the fence line after weeks without rain.
Omar's beard began to tuft unevenly, with patches on his chin and jaw.
intransitive: [hair] + tuft + adverb
The ornamental grass tufts naturally in clusters around the garden pond.
After the moult, the bird's new feathers tufted behind each eye.
Jabari noticed the wheat beginning to tuft in the far corner of the field.
文法句型
[hair/grass/feathers] + tuft (+ adverbial)
用法筆記
Intransitive only; never takes a direct object. Subject is typically hair, grass, feathers, or other thin strands. Distinguish from sense 2, which is transitive and describes manufacturing.