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stuff

/stəf/

/stəf/

Other forms: stuffed; stuffing; stuffs

"Good stuff!" you might say, tasting a delicious piece of cake. The word stuff could refer to all sorts of things. It's one of those words that you can use when you're too lazy to find the right word.

Stuff is one of those words you use in all kinds of contexts, or for all kinds of stuff. When you throw a bunch of stuff into a bag, you could be referring to any arrangement of things. When you talk about someone's possessions, informally, you're talking about his stuff. As a verb, to stuff something, is to fill it up — like when you stuff a turkey with breadcrumbs or stuff a pillow with... stuffing.

Definitions of stuff
  1. noun
    the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
    “wheat is the stuff they use to make bread”
    synonyms: material
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    types:
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    ballast
    any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
    bedding, bedding material, litter
    material used to provide a bed for animals
    rind
    the natural outer covering of food (usually removed before eating)
    precursor
    a substance from which another substance is formed (especially by a metabolic reaction)
    atom, corpuscle, molecule, mote, particle, speck
    (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything
    ammunition
    any nuclear or chemical or biological material that can be used as a weapon of mass destruction
    floc, floccule
    a small loosely aggregated mass of flocculent material suspended in or precipitated from a liquid
    HAZMAT
    an abbreviation for `hazardous material' used on warning signs
    aggregate
    material such as sand or gravel used with cement and water to make concrete, mortar, or plaster
    raw material, staple
    material suitable for manufacture or use or finishing
    sorbate
    a material that has been or is capable of being taken up by another substance by either absorption or adsorption
    sorbent, sorbent material
    a material that sorbs another substance; i.e. that has the capacity or tendency to take it up by either absorption or adsorption
    diamagnet
    a substance that exhibits diamagnetism
    mineral
    solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition
    rock, stone
    material consisting of the aggregate of minerals like those making up the Earth's crust
    adhesive, adhesive agent, adhesive material
    a substance that unites or bonds surfaces together
    sealing material
    any substance used to seal joints or fill cracks in a porous surface
    animal material
    material derived from animals
    fluff
    any light downy material
    bimetal
    material made by bonding together sheets of two different metals
    abradant, abrasive, abrasive material
    a substance that abrades or wears down
    chemical, chemical substance
    material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules
    composite material
    strong lightweight material developed in the laboratory; fibers of more than one kind are bonded together chemically
    conductor
    a substance that readily conducts e.g. electricity and heat
    dielectric, insulator, nonconductor
    a material such as glass or porcelain with negligible electrical or thermal conductivity
    contaminant, contamination
    a substance that contaminates
    particulate, particulate matter
    a small discrete mass of solid or liquid matter that remains individually dispersed in gas or liquid emissions (usually considered to be an atmospheric pollutant)
    dust
    free microscopic particles of solid material
    elastomer
    any of various elastic materials that resemble rubber (resumes its original shape when a deforming force is removed)
    earth, ground
    the loose soft material that makes up a large part of the land surface
    discharge, emission
    a substance that is emitted or released
    detritus
    loose material (stone fragments and silt etc) that is worn away from rocks
    waste, waste material, waste matter, waste product
    any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
    fiber, fibre
    a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn
    fill, filling
    any material that fills a space or container
    foam
    a lightweight material in cellular form; made by introducing gas bubbles during manufacture
    homogenate
    material that has been homogenized (especially tissue that has been ground and mixed)
    humate
    material that is high in humic acids
    impregnation
    material with which something is impregnated
    paper
    a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
    packing, packing material, wadding
    any material used especially to protect something
    color, coloring material, colour, colouring material
    any material used for its color
    plant material, plant substance
    material derived from plants
    radioactive material
    material that is radioactive
    thickener, thickening
    any material used to thicken
    toner
    a black or colored powder used in a printer to develop a xerographic image
    translucent substance, transparent substance
    a material having the property of admitting light diffusely; a partly transparent material
    undercut
    the material removed by a cut made underneath
    builder, detergent builder
    a substance added to soaps or detergents to increase their cleansing action
    vernix, vernix caseosa
    a white cheeselike protective material that covers the skin of a fetus
    wad
    a small mass of soft material
    feather, plumage, plume
    the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
    beard, byssus
    tuft of strong filaments by which e.g. a mussel makes itself fast to a fixed surface
    bristle
    a stiff fiber (coarse hair or filament); natural or synthetic
    bushing
    an insulating liner in an opening through which conductors pass
    card
    one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
    confetti
    small pieces or streamers of colored paper that are thrown around on festive occasions (as at a wedding)
    explosive
    a chemical substance that undergoes a rapid chemical change (with the production of gas) on being heated or struck
    glass fiber, glass fibre, optical fiber, optical fibre
    a very thin fiber made of glass that functions as a waveguide for light; used in bundles to transmit images
    paint, pigment
    a substance used as a coating to protect or decorate a surface (especially a mixture of pigment suspended in a liquid); dries to form a hard coating
    nerve fiber, nerve fibre
    a threadlike extension of a nerve cell
    spindle
    (biology) tiny fibers that are seen in cell division; the fibers radiate from two poles and meet at the equator in the middle
    piece of paper, sheet, sheet of paper
    paper used for writing or printing
    bacon rind
    the rind of bacon
    peel, skin
    the rind of a fruit or vegetable
    cheese rind
    the rind of a cheese
    grain
    a relatively small granular particle of a substance
    grinding
    material resulting from the process of grinding
    interplanetary dust
    microscopic particles in the interplanetary medium
    moraine
    accumulated earth and stones deposited by a glacier
    loofa, loofah, loufah sponge, luffa
    the dried fibrous part of the fruit of a plant of the genus Luffa; used as a washing sponge or strainer
    Cebu maguey, cantala, manila maguey
    hard fiber used in making coarse twine; from Philippine agave plants
    bassine
    coarse leaf fiber from palmyra palms used in making brushes and brooms
    coir
    stiff coarse fiber from the outer husk of a coconut
    raffia
    fiber of a raffia palm used as light cordage and in making hats and baskets
    dross, impurity
    worthless or dangerous material that should be removed
    Styrofoam
    a light resilient foam of polystyrene
    feedstock
    the raw material that is required for some industrial process
    absorbent, absorbent material
    a material having capacity or tendency to absorb another substance
    absorbate
    a material that has been or is capable of being absorbed
    adsorbent, adsorbent material
    a material having capacity or tendency to adsorb another substance
    adsorbate
    a material that has been or is capable of being adsorbed
    Cu, atomic number 29, copper
    a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
    Ag, atomic number 47, silver
    a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
    ader wax, earth wax, mineral wax, ozocerite, ozokerite
    a waxy mineral that is a mixture of hydrocarbons and occurs in association with petroleum; some varieties are used in making ceresin and candles
    amblygonite
    a white or grey mineral consisting of lithium aluminum phosphate; a source of lithium
    amphibole
    a mineral or mineral variety belonging to the amphibole group
    amphibole group
    a group of minerals with similar crystal structures containing a silicate chain and combinations of chiefly sodium and calcium and magnesium and iron and aluminum
    apatite
    a common complex mineral consisting of calcium fluoride phosphate or calcium chloride phosphate; a source of phosphorus
    aragonite
    a mineral form of crystalline calcium carbonate; dimorphic with calcite
    argentite
    a valuable silver ore consisting of silver sulfide (Ag2S)
    argyrodite
    a rare steel-grey mineral consisting of silver and germanium and sulfur
    arsenopyrite, mispickel
    a silver-white or grey ore of arsenic
    asphalt, mineral pitch
    a dark bituminous substance found in natural beds and as residue from petroleum distillation; consists mainly of hydrocarbons
    augite
    dark-green to black glassy mineral of the pyroxene group containing large amounts of aluminum and iron and magnesium
    baddeleyite
    a mineral consisting of zirconium oxide
    bastnaesite, bastnasite
    a yellow-to-brown mineral that is a source of rare earth elements
    bauxite
    a clay-like mineral; the chief ore of aluminum; composed of aluminum oxides and aluminum hydroxides; used as an abrasive and catalyst
    beryl
    the chief source of beryllium; colored transparent varieties are valued as gems
    borax
    an ore of boron consisting of hydrated sodium borate; used as a flux or cleansing agent
    bornite, peacock ore
    a mineral consisting of sulfides of copper and iron that is found in copper deposits
    carnallite
    a white or reddish mineral consisting of hydrous chlorides of potassium and magnesium; used as a fertilizer and as a source of potassium and magnesium
    cassiterite
    a hard heavy dark mineral that is the chief source of tin
    celestite
    a mineral consisting of strontium sulphate
    cerussite, white lead ore
    a mineral consisting of lead carbonate that is an important source of lead
    chalcocite, copper glance
    a heavy grey mineral that is an ore of copper
    chalcopyrite, copper pyrites
    a yellow copper ore (CuFeS2) made up of copper and iron sulfide
    chlorite
    a generally green or black mineral; it occurs as a constituent of many rocks typically in the form of a flat crystal
    chromite
    a brownish-black mineral; the major source of chromium
    chrysoberyl
    a rare hard yellow green mineral consisting of beryllium aluminate in crystal form; used as a gemstone
    cinnabar
    a heavy reddish mineral consisting of mercuric sulfide; the chief source of mercury
    cobaltite
    a rare silvery-white mineral; important ore of cobalt
    halite, rock salt
    naturally occurring crystalline sodium chloride
    coltan, columbite-tantalite
    a valuable black mineral combining niobite and tantalite; used in cell phones and computer chips
    cordierite
    a blue mineral of magnesium and iron and aluminum and silicon and oxygen; often used as a gemstone
    corundom, corundum
    very hard mineral used as an abrasive
    cristobalite
    a white mineral consisting of silica; found in volcanic rocks
    crocolite
    a rare lead chromite mineral that forms bright orange crystals
    Greenland spar, cryolite
    a white mineral consisting of fluorides of aluminum and sodium; a source of fluorine
    cuprite
    a mineral consisting of cuprous oxide that is a source of copper
    cutin
    (biochemistry) a waxy transparent material that occurs in the cuticle of plants and consists of highly polymerized esters of fatty acids
    bitter spar, dolomite
    a light colored mineral consisting of calcium magnesium carbonate; a source of magnesium; used as a ceramic and as fertilizer
    earth color
    a colored mineral used as a pigment
    emery
    a hard grey-black mineral consisting of corundum and either hematite or magnetite; used as an abrasive (especially as a coating on paper)
    cobalt bloom, erythrite
    a reddish mineral consisting of hydrated cobalt arsenate in monoclinic crystalline form and used in coloring glass; usually found in veins bearing cobalt and arsenic
    fergusonite
    a dark mineral consisting of oxides of yttrium and erbium and tantalum and other minerals
    fluor, fluorite, fluorspar
    a soft mineral (calcium fluoride) that is fluorescent in ultraviolet light; chief source of fluorine
    gadolinite, ytterbite
    a mineral that is a source of rare earths; consists of silicates of iron and beryllium and cerium and yttrium and erbium
    galena
    soft blue-grey mineral; lead sulfide; a major source of lead
    garnet
    any of a group of hard glassy minerals (silicates of various metals) used as gemstones and as an abrasive
    garnierite
    a green mineral consisting of hydrated nickel magnesium silicate; a source of nickel
    germanite
    a rare reddish-grey mineral consisting of a copper iron germanium sulfide
    gibbsite
    white crystalline mineral consisting of aluminum hydroxide; a constituent of bauxite and a source of alumina
    glauconite
    a green mineral consisting of hydrated silicate of potassium or iron or magnesium or aluminum; found in greensand
    cadmium sulphide, greenockite
    ore of cadmium; a rare yellowish mineral consisting of cadmium sulphide in crystalline form
    gypsum
    a common white or colorless mineral (hydrated calcium sulphate) used to make cements and plasters (especially plaster of Paris)
    hausmannite
    a mineral consisting of manganese tetroxide; a source of manganese
    barite, barium sulphate, barytes, heavy spar
    a white or colorless mineral (BaSO4); the main source of barium
    calamine, hemimorphite
    a white mineral; a common ore of zinc
    ilmenite
    a weakly magnetic black mineral found in metamorphic and plutonic rocks; an iron titanium oxide in crystalline form; a source of titanium
    jadeite
    a hard green mineral consisting of sodium aluminum silicate in monoclinic crystalline form; a source of jade; found principally in Burma
    kainite
    a white mineral consisting of magnesium sulphate and potassium chloride; a source of potassium salts; used as a fertilizer
    kaolinite
    a mineral consisting of aluminum silicate; main source of kaolin
    kernite
    a light soft mineral consisting of hydrated sodium borate in crystalline form; an important source of boron
    kieserite
    a white mineral consisting of hydrous magnesium sulfate often found in salt mines
    cyanite, kyanite
    a grey or greenish-blue mineral consisting of aluminum silicate in crystalline form; occurs in metaphoric rock, used as a refractory
    langbeinite
    a mineral consisting of potassium magnesium double sulphate; used as a fertilizer
    magnesite
    a white mineral consisting of magnesium carbonate; a source of magnesium
    malachite
    a green or blue mineral used as an ore of copper and for making ornamental objects
    maltha, mineral tar
    a thick black tar intermediate between petroleum and asphalt
    manganite
    a black mineral consisting of basic manganese oxide; a source of manganese
    meerschaum, sepiolite
    a white clayey mineral
    isinglass, mica
    any of various minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium etc. that crystallize in forms that allow perfect cleavage into very thin leaves; used as dielectrics because of their resistance to electricity
    millerite
    a yellow mineral consisting of nickel sulfide; a minor source of nickel
    molybdenite
    a mineral resembling graphite that is valued as the chief source of molybdenum and its compounds
    monazite
    a reddish-brown mineral containing rare earth metals; an important source of thorium and cerium
    nepheline, nephelite
    a whitish mineral consisting of sodium aluminum silicate or potassium aluminum silicate in crystalline form; used in the manufacture of ceramics and enamels
    nephelinite
    an igneous rock consisting of nepheline and pyroxene
    columbite, niobite
    a black mineral that is an ore of niobium and tantalum
    nitrocalcite
    the mineral form of calcium nitrate
    olivine
    a mineral consisting of magnesium iron silicate; a source of magnesium
    olivenite
    rare green to black mineral consisting of hydrated copper arsenate that is found in copper deposits
    opal
    a translucent mineral consisting of hydrated silica of variable color; some varieties are used as gemstones
    ore
    a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
    orpiment
    a yellow mineral occurring in conjunction with realgar; an ore of arsenic
    iridosmine, osmiridium
    a hard and corrosion resistant mineral that is a natural alloy of osmium and iridium (usually containing small amounts of rhodium and platinum); used in needles and pen nibs etc.
    peat
    partially carbonized vegetable matter saturated with water; can be used as a fuel when dried
    pentlandite
    a mineral (iron and nickel sulphide) that is the chief ore of nickel
    magnesia, magnesium oxide, periclase
    a white solid mineral that occurs naturally as periclase; a source of magnesium
    pinite
    grey or green or brown mineral similar to mica and containing aluminum and potassium sulphates
    pollucite
    a rare mineral that is an important source of cesium
    psilomelane
    a mineral consisting of hydrated basic oxide of manganese and barium; a source of manganese
    fool's gold, iron pyrite, pyrite
    a common mineral (iron disulfide) that has a pale yellow color
    pyrolusite
    a mineral consisting of manganese dioxide; an important source of manganese
    green lead ore, pyromorphite
    a mineral consisting of lead chloride and phosphate; a minor source of lead
    pyrophyllite
    a white or greenish aluminum silicate mineral (resembles talc)
    pyroxene
    any of a group of crystalline silicate mineral common in igneous and metamorphic rocks
    magnetic pyrites, pyrrhotine, pyrrhotite
    a brownish iron sulfide mineral (FeS) having weak magnetic properties
    quartz
    a hard glossy mineral consisting of silicon dioxide in crystal form; present in most rocks (especially sandstone and granite); yellow sand is quartz with iron oxide impurities
    quartzite
    hard metamorphic rock consisting essentially of interlocking quartz crystals
    reactant
    a chemical substance that is present at the start of a chemical reaction
    realgar
    a rare soft orange mineral consisting of arsenic sulphide; an important ore of arsenic
    red clay
    clay whose redness results from iron oxide
    rhodochrosite
    a mineral consisting of manganese carbonate; a source of manganese
    rhodonite
    a pink or red mineral consisting of crystalline manganese silicate; used as an ornamental stone
    road metal
    broken rock used for repairing or making roads
    sedimentary rock
    rock formed from consolidated clay sediments
    sial
    the granitelike rocks that form the outermost layer of the earth's crust; rich in silicon and aluminum
    sima
    rock that form the continuous lower layer of the earth's crust; rich in silicon and magnesium
    metamorphic rock
    rock altered by pressure and heat
    crushed rock, gravel
    rock fragments and pebbles
    caliche
    nitrate-bearing rock or gravel of the sodium nitrate deposits of Chile and Peru
    shingling
    (geology) sediment in which flat pebbles are uniformly tilted in the same direction
    pumice, pumice stone
    a porous rock formed on the surface of some lavas
    animal product
    a product made from animal material
    birdlime, lime
    a sticky adhesive that is smeared on small branches to capture small birds
    spirit gum
    an adhesive solution made of gum and ether and used to attach false hair to skin
    binder
    something used to bind separate particles together or facilitate adhesion to a surface
    cement
    something that hardens to act as adhesive material
    library paste, paste
    an adhesive made from water and flour or starch; used on paper and paperboard
    rubber cement
    an adhesive made by dissolving unvulcanized rubber in a solvent like benzene or naphtha
    sealant, sealer
    a kind of sealing material that is used to form a hard coating on a porous surface (as a coat of paint or varnish used to size a surface)
    filler
    used for filling cracks or holes in a surface
    lute, luting
    a substance for packing a joint or coating a porous surface to make it impervious to gas or liquid
    Alar, daminozide
    a chemical sprayed on fruit trees to regulate their growth so the entire crop can be harvested at one time
    aphanite
    fine-grained homogeneous rock (such as basalt) containing minerals undetectable by the naked eye
    carrier
    an inactive substance that is a vehicle for a radioactive tracer of the same substance and that assists in its recovery after some chemical reaction
    animal oil
    any oil obtained from animal substances
    dentin, dentine
    a calcareous material harder and denser than bone that comprises the bulk of a tooth
    bone, osseous tissue
    the porous calcified substance from which bones are made
    horn
    the material (mostly keratin) that covers the horns of ungulates and forms hooves and claws and nails
    shell
    the material that forms the hard outer covering of many animals
    art paper
    a high-quality paper (usually having a filler of china clay)
    mineral wool, rock wool
    a light fibrous material used as an insulator
    bacteriacide, bactericide
    any chemical agent that destroys bacteria
    blotter, blotting paper
    absorbent paper used to dry ink
    blueprint paper
    sensitized paper used to make blueprints
    animal fat
    any fat obtained from animals
    carbon, carbon paper
    a thin paper coated on one side with a dark waxy substance (often containing carbon); used to transfer characters from the original to an under sheet of paper
    carbon tetrahalide
    compounds composed of 1 carbon and 4 halogen molecules
    carborundum
    an abrasive composed of silicon carbide crystals
    cardboard, composition board
    a stiff moderately thick paper
    cartridge paper
    paper for making cartridge cases
    congener
    a minor chemical constituent that gives a wine or liquor its distinctive character
    steel wool, wire wool
    a mass of woven steel fibers used as an abrasive
    cement
    any of various materials used by dentists to fill cavities in teeth
    chad
    a small piece of paper that is supposed to be removed when a hole is punched in a card or paper tape
    chaff, husk, shuck, stalk, straw, stubble
    material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
    chylomicron
    a microscopic particle of triglycerides produced in the intestines during digestion; in the bloodstream they release their fatty acids into the blood
    claystone
    fine-grained rock consisting of compacted clay particles
    brown coal, lignite, wood coal
    intermediate between peat and bituminous coal
    chemical compound, compound
    (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight
    computer paper
    paper folded to permit continuous printing controlled by a computer
    construction paper
    paper suitable for drawing and making cutouts
    semiconducting material, semiconductor
    a substance as germanium or silicon whose electrical conductivity is intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator; its conductivity increases with temperature and in the presence of impurities
    glass wool
    glass fibers spun and massed into bundles resembling wool
    cork
    outer bark of the cork oak; used for stoppers for bottles etc.
    crepe, crepe paper
    paper with a crinkled texture; usually colored and used for decorations
    exhaust, exhaust fumes, fumes
    gases ejected from an engine as waste products
    dolomite
    a kind of sedimentary rock resembling marble or limestone but rich in magnesium carbonate
    drawing paper
    paper that is specially prepared for use in drafting
    dust
    fine powdery material such as dry earth or pollen that can be blown about in the air
    diatomaceous earth, diatomite, kieselguhr
    a light soil consisting of siliceous diatom remains and often used as a filtering material
    saprolite
    a deposit of clay and disintegrating rock that is found in its original place
    dirt, soil
    the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
    soil conditioner
    a chemical substance used to improve the structure of the soil and increase its porosity
    emery cloth
    cloth covered with powdered emery
    emery paper, sandpaper
    stiff paper coated with powdered emery or sand
    emery rock, emery stone
    a mixture of emery dust and a binder; can be molded into grindstones
    exudate, exudation
    a substance that oozes out from plant pores
    transudate, transudation
    a substance that transudes
    effluvium
    a foul-smelling outflow or vapor (especially a gaseous waste)
    rheum
    a watery discharge from the mucous membranes (especially from the eyes or nose)
    vaginal discharge
    discharge of secretions from the cervical glands of the vagina; normally clear or white
    body waste, excrement, excreta, excretion, excretory product
    waste matter (as urine or sweat but especially feces) discharged from the body
    crud, filth, skank
    any substance considered disgustingly foul or unpleasant
    sewage, sewerage
    waste matter carried away in sewers or drains
    effluent, sewer water, wastewater
    water mixed with waste matter
    food waste, garbage, refuse, scraps
    food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
    pollutant
    waste matter that contaminates the water or air or soil
    garbage, refuse, rubbish, scrap, trash
    worthless material that is to be disposed of
    slop
    (usually plural) waste water from a kitchen or bathroom or chamber pot that has to be emptied by hand
    toxic industrial waste, toxic waste
    poisonous waste materials; can cause injury (especially by chemical means)
    fertiliser, fertilizer, plant food
    any substance such as manure or a mixture of nitrates used to make soil more fertile
    flux
    a substance added to molten metals to bond with impurities that can then be readily removed
    conglomerate, pudding stone
    a composite rock made up of particles of varying size
    string
    a tough piece of fiber in vegetables, meat, or other food (especially the tough fibers connecting the two halves of a bean pod)
    fibril, filament, strand
    a very slender natural or synthetic fiber
    fieldstone
    stone that occurs naturally in fields; often used as building material
    filter paper
    a porous unsized paper used for filtering
    flyspeck
    a tiny dark speck made by the excrement of a fly
    flypaper
    paper that is poisoned or coated with a sticky substance to kill flies
    foam rubber
    spongy rubber; made by introducing air bubbles before vulcanization and used for cushioning or upholstery
    fumigant
    a chemical substance used in fumigation
    graph paper
    paper that has lines to permit drawing graphs
    greaseproof paper
    paper that is impermeable to oil or grease; used in cooking
    greisen
    a granitic rock composed of quartz and mica
    herbicide, weed killer, weedkiller
    a chemical agent that destroys plants or inhibits their growth
    hyalin, hyaline
    a glassy translucent substance that occurs in hyaline cartilage or in certain skin conditions
    identification particle
    a tiny particle of material that can be added to a product to indicate the source of manufacture
    indicator
    (chemistry) a substance that changes color to indicate the presence of some ion or substance; can be used to indicate the completion of a chemical reaction or (in medicine) to test for a particular reaction
    intermediate
    a substance formed during a chemical process before the desired product is obtained
    fraction
    a component of a mixture that has been separated by a fractional process
    larvicide
    a chemical used to kill larval pests
    calc-tufa, tufa
    a soft porous rock consisting of calcium carbonate deposited from springs rich in lime
    magma
    molten rock in the earth's crust
    igneous rock
    rock formed by the solidification of molten magma
    linen, linen paper
    a high-quality paper made of linen fibers or with a linen finish
    limestone
    a sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcium that was deposited by the remains of marine animals
    lint
    fine ravellings of cotton or linen fibers
    litmus paper
    unsized paper treated with litmus for use as an acid-base indicator
    manifold, manifold paper
    a lightweight paper used with carbon paper to make multiple copies
    manila, manila paper, manilla, manilla paper
    a strong paper or thin cardboard with a smooth light brown finish made from e.g. Manila hemp
    marble
    a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
    matrix
    (geology) amass of fine-grained rock in which fossils, crystals, or gems are embedded
    mordant
    a substance used to treat leather or other materials before dyeing; aids in dyeing process
    music paper, score paper
    paper with lines appropriate for writing music
    man-made fiber, synthetic fiber
    fiber created from natural materials or by chemical processes
    natural fiber, natural fibre
    fiber derived from plants or animals
    newspaper, newsprint
    cheap paper made from wood pulp and used for printing newspapers
    oakum
    loose hemp or jute fiber obtained by unravelling old ropes; when impregnated with tar it was used to caulk seams and pack joints in wooden ships
    oilpaper
    paper that has been made translucent and waterproof by soaking in oil
    india paper
    a thin tough opaque paper used in fine books
    pad, pad of paper, tablet
    a number of sheets of paper fastened together along one edge
    paper tape
    a long narrow strip of paper
    paper toweling
    absorbent paper used as toweling
    paper-mache, papier-mache
    a substance made from paper pulp that can be molded when wet and painted when dry
    papyrus
    paper made from the papyrus plant by cutting it in strips and pressing it flat; used by ancient Egyptians and Greeks and Romans
    parchment
    a superior paper resembling sheepskin
    rice paper
    a thin delicate material resembling paper; made from the rice-paper tree
    roofing paper, tar paper
    a heavy paper impregnated with tar and used as part of a roof for waterproofing
    ticker tape
    a continuous thin ribbon of paper on which stock quotes are written
    excelsior, wood shavings
    thin curly wood shavings used for packing or stuffing
    pesticide
    a chemical used to kill pests (as rodents or insects)
    phytochemical
    a chemical substance obtained from plants that is biologically active but not nutritive
    dye, dyestuff
    a usually soluble substance for staining or coloring e.g. fabrics or hair
    tincture
    a substance that colors metals
    hematochrome
    a reddish coloring material found in some algae
    pigment
    dry coloring material (especially a powder to be mixed with a liquid to produce paint, etc.)
    pigment
    any substance whose presence in plant or animal tissues produces a characteristic color
    plant product
    a product made from plant material
    product
    a chemical substance formed as a result of a chemical reaction
    radioactive waste
    useless radioactive materials that are left after some laboratory or commercial process is completed
    raveling, ravelling
    a bit of fiber that has become separated from woven fabric
    restrainer
    a chemical that is added to a photographic developer in order to retard development and reduce the amount of fog on a film
    rutile
    a mineral consisting of titanium dioxide in crystalline form; occurs in metamorphic and plutonic rocks and is a major source of titanium
    samarskite
    a complex black mineral occurring in pegmatites
    sapphirine
    a rare light blue or green mineral; consists of aluminum and magnesium silicate and occurs as small grains in some metamorphic rocks
    scheelite
    a mineral used as an ore of tungsten
    humic shale
    shale that is rich in humic acids
    smaltite
    a grey mineral consisting of cobalt arsenide and nickel; an important source of cobalt and nickel
    sodalite
    a vitreous mineral consisting of sodium aluminum silicate and sodium chloride in crystalline form; occurs in igneous rocks
    sodium pyrophosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate
    a sodium salt of pyrophosphoric acid used as a builder in soaps and detergents
    sodium tripolyphosphate
    a sodium salt of triphosphoric acid used as a builder in soaps and detergents
    spar
    any of various nonmetallic minerals (calcite or feldspar) that are light in color and transparent or translucent and cleavable
    spinel
    a hard glassy mineral consisting of an oxide of magnesium and aluminum; occurs in various colors that are used as gemstones
    spodumene
    a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminum silicate; a source of lithium
    stabilizer
    a chemical that is added to a solution or mixture or suspension to maintain it in a stable or unchanging state
    stain
    (microscopy) a dye or other coloring material that is used in microscopy to make structures visible
    stannite, tin pyrites
    a dark grey mineral with a metallic luster that is a source of tin
    softener
    a substance added to another to make it less hard
    stibnite
    a soft grey mineral; the chief ore of antimony
    strontianite
    a mineral consisting of strontium carbonate
    vegetable tallow
    a waxy fat obtained from certain plants (e.g. bayberry) and used as tallow
    graphic tellurium, sylvanite
    a silver-white mineral consisting of silver gold telluride; a source of gold in Australia and America
    sylvine, sylvite
    a mineral consisting of native potassium chloride; an important ore of potassium that is found in sedimentary beds
    talc, talcum
    a fine grained mineral having a soft soapy feel and consisting of hydrated magnesium silicate; used in a variety of products including talcum powder
    tantalite
    a mineral consisting of tantalum oxide of iron and manganese that occurs with niobite or in coarse granite; an ore of tantalum
    thorite
    a radioactive mineral consisting of thorium silicate; it is a source of thorium that is found in coarse granite
    thortveitite
    a mineral consisting of scandium yttrium silicate; a source of scandium
    tissue, tissue paper
    a soft thin (usually translucent) paper
    topaz
    a mineral (fluosilicate of aluminum) that occurs in crystals of various colors and is used as a gemstone
    tourmaline
    a mineral that is a complex borosilicate and hydroxide of aluminum containing iron and magnesium and calcium and lithium and sodium; it is usually black but occurs in transparent colored forms that are used as gemstones
    tracing paper
    a semitransparent paper that is used for tracing drawings
    transfer paper
    a paper that is coated with a preparation for transferring a design to another surface
    tridymite
    a mineral form of silica
    tribasic sodium phosphate, trisodium orthophosphate, trisodium phosphate
    the tertiary phosphate of sodium used as a builder in soaps and detergents
    turquoise
    a blue to grey green mineral consisting of copper aluminum phosphate
    vanadinite
    a mineral consisting of chloride and vanadate of lead; a source of vanadium
    vermiculite
    any of a group of yellow or brown hydrous silicate minerals having a micaceous structure
    idocrase, vesuvian, vesuvianite
    a green or yellow or brown mineral consisting of a hydrated silicate; it occurs as crystals in limestone and is used a gemstone
    wallpaper
    a decorative paper for the walls of rooms
    waste paper
    paper discarded after use
    wax paper
    paper that has been waterproofed by treatment with wax or paraffin
    wood
    the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
    iron manganese tungsten, wolframite
    a mineral consisting of iron and manganese tungstate in crystalline form; the principal ore of tungsten; found in quartz veins associated with granitic rocks
    wollastonite
    a white or greyish mineral typically found in metamorphic limestone; a silicate of calcium
    wrapping paper
    a tough paper used for wrapping
    writing paper
    paper material made into thin sheets that are sized to take ink; used for writing correspondence and manuscripts
    wulfenite
    a yellow to orange or brown mineral used as a molybdenum ore
    wurtzite
    a brownish-black mineral consisting of zinc sulfide
    xenotime
    a brown-to-yellow mineral that is a phosphate of yttrium in crystalline form
    zeolite
    any of a family of glassy minerals analogous to feldspar containing hydrated aluminum silicates of calcium or sodium or potassium; formed in cavities in lava flows and in plutonic rocks
    blende, sphalerite, zinc blende
    an ore that is the chief source of zinc; consists largely of zinc sulfide in crystalline form
    zinkenite
    a steel grey metallic mineral (a sulphide of lead and antimony)
    zircon, zirconium silicate
    a common mineral occurring in small crystals; chief source of zirconium; used as a refractory when opaque and as a gem when transparent
    type of:
    substance
    the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
  2. noun
    a critically important or characteristic component
    “suspense is the very stuff of narrative”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    center, centre, core, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, kernel, marrow, meat, nitty-gritty, nub, pith, substance, sum
    the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
  3. verb
    press or force
    Stuff money into an envelope”
    synonyms: shove, squeeze, thrust
    see moresee less
    type of:
    force, push
    move with force
  4. verb
    cram into a cavity
    “The child stuffed candy into his pockets”
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 4 types...
    hide 4 types...
    chock up, cram, jam, jampack, ram, wad
    crowd or pack to capacity
    overstuff
    stuff too much
    fill out, pad
    line or stuff with soft material
    rat
    give (hair) the appearance of being fuller by using a rat
    type of:
    cram
    put something somewhere so that the space is completely filled
  5. verb
    fill tightly with a material
    stuff a pillow with feathers”
    Synonyms:
    farce
    fill with a stuffing while cooking
    see moresee less
    types:
    cork
    stuff with cork
    type of:
    fill, fill up, make full
    make full, also in a metaphorical sense
  6. verb
    treat with grease, fill, and prepare for mounting
    stuff a bearskin”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    impregnate, saturate
    infuse or fill completely
  7. verb
    fill with a stuffing while cooking
    “Have you stuffed the turkey yet?”
    synonyms: farce
    see moresee less
    type of:
    fill, fill up, make full
    make full, also in a metaphorical sense
  8. noun
    miscellaneous unspecified objects
    “the trunk was full of stuff
    see moresee less
    types:
    doodad, doohickey, doojigger, gimmick, gismo, gizmo, gubbins, hootenanny, thingamabob, thingamajig, thingmabob, thingmajig, thingumabob, thingumajig, thingummy, whatchamacallit, whatchamacallum, whatsis, widget
    something unspecified whose name is either forgotten or not known
    etcetera
    additional unspecified odds and ends; more of the same
    sundries
    miscellaneous objects too numerous or too small to be specified
    type of:
    object, physical object
    a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
  9. noun
    information in some unspecified form
    “it was stuff I had heard before”
    “there's good stuff in that book”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    info, information
    a message received and understood
  10. noun
    unspecified qualities required to do or be something
    “the stuff of heros”
    “you don't have the stuff to be a United States Marine”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    quality
    an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
  11. noun
    informal terms for personal possessions
    synonyms: clobber
    see moresee less
    type of:
    personal estate, personal property, personalty, private property
    movable property (as distinguished from real estate)
  12. noun
    senseless talk
    “don't give me that stuff
    synonyms: hooey, poppycock, stuff and nonsense
    see moresee less
    type of:
    bunk, hokum, meaninglessness, nonsense, nonsensicality
    a message that seems to convey no meaning
  13. verb
    obstruct
    “My nose is all stuffed
    synonyms: block, choke up, lug
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    loosen up, unstuff
    cause to become unblocked
    type of:
    back up, choke, choke off, clog, clog up, congest, foul
    become or cause to become obstructed
  14. verb
    overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself
    “She stuffed herself at the dinner”
    synonyms: binge, englut, engorge, glut, gorge, gormandise, gormandize, gourmandize, ingurgitate, overeat, overgorge, overindulge, pig out, satiate, scarf out
    see moresee less
    type of:
    eat
    eat a meal; take a meal
Pronunciation
US

/stəf/

UK

/stəf/

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