Pronunciation

/fɜːr/

Definitions

• Noun: The thick, soft, usually hairy coat that covers the skin of many mammals, especially those living in cold climates; also used to refer to such a coat when it has been removed from the animal and used for clothing, upholstery, or other purposes. For example: “The fox’s fur was fiery red.”

  • Verb: (transitive) To cover or line something with fur. For example: “She decided to fur her coat with genuine mink fur.”

  • Adjective: Made of or covered with fur. For example: “A fur coat is often seen as a symbol of luxury.”

Phrases

• “Fur and feather” refers collectively to animals, particularly wild ones.
• “Beat the fur off” is an informal phrase meaning to defeat decisively or overwhelm.
• “The cat’s out of the bag” can sometimes be humorously altered to “the cat’s out of the fur coat”, implying a secret has been revealed.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The hunter sold the bear’s fur to a local trader.”
• Verb: “She had her favorite jacket furred with rabbit fur.”
• Adjective: “She wore a fur stole over her evening gown during the winter ball.”

Synonyms

• Pelage
• Pelt
• Fleece (when referring to certain animals like sheep)
• Coat (in the context of animal fur)
• Velvet (when describing particularly soft fur)
• Plush (referring to the texture of fur)