stuff

stuff [stuf]

n.

[ME stoffe < OFr estoffe < estoffer, prob. < Gr styphein, to pull together, tighten < styppe, tow, coarse cloth of flax or hemp: see STOP]

1. the material or substance out of which anything is or can be made; raw material

2. constituent elements or basic nature; essence; character [a man made of stern stuff]

3. matter or substance of an unspecified or generalized kind

4. cloth, esp. woolen cloth

5.

a) household goods

b) personal belongings

c) things in general; objects

d) things grouped together or viewed in a certain way

6. something to be drunk, swallowed, etc.; specif.,

a) a medicine

☆ b) Slang a drug, as heroin

7. worthless objects; refuse; junk

8.

a) anything said, done, written, composed, etc.; talk or action of a specified kind

b) foolish or worthless ideas, words, actions, etc. [stuff and nonsense!]

9. Informal

a) basic ability; capability

b) superior ability; exceptional capability

☆ c) special skill or knowledge; specialty [to do or know one's stuff ]

☆ 10. Informal

a) ability of a baseball pitcher, billiards player, etc. to control the ball, esp. to make it curve or spin

b) such control, or speed, a curve, spin, etc. given to a ball

☆ 11. Basketball Slang a dunk shot

vt.

[ME stoffen < OFr estoffer]

1. to fill the inside of (something); pack; specif.,

a) to fill (a cushion, chair, toy, etc.) with padding or stuffing

b) to fill the skin of (a dead animal, bird, etc.) in taxidermy

c) to fill (a chicken, turkey, etc.) with seasoning, bread crumbs, etc. before roasting

d) to fill too full; cram; overload

e) to fill to excess with food

2. to pack, cram, or crowd (something) into a container, etc.

3. to fill with information, ideas, etc. [to stuff one's head with facts ]

☆ 4. to put fraudulent votes into (a ballot box)

5.

a) to plug; block

b) to choke up or stop up, as with phlegm

6. to force or push [to stuff money into a wallet]

7. to treat (leather) with a preparation designed to soften and preserve it

8. Basketball Slang to dunk (a basketball)

9. Football to stop, often overwhelmingly, (a runner, team, etc.) for little or no yardage

vi.

to eat too much or too quickly