Word: stuff Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English stuf, stuffe, from Anglo-Latin stuffa and its etymon Old French estofe, estoffe, estuf, estuffe, stoffe, from estoffer, estofer (“to provide what is necessary, equip, stuff”), borrowed from Old High German stoffōn, from Proto-West Germanic *stoppōn (“to clog up, block, fill”). More at stop. Pronunciation: /stʌf/, /stɐf/, /stʊf/ 1. Miscellaneous items or objects; (with possessive) personal effects. Labels: informal, uncountable, usually Example: What is all that stuff on your bedroom floor? He didn't want his pockets to bulge so he was walking around with all his stuff in his hands. Example: The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face. 2. Miscellaneous items or objects; (with possessive) personal effects. Labels: informal, obsolete, uncountable, usually Example: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff. Example: He took away locks, and gave away the king's stuff. 3. Unspecified things or matters. Labels: informal, uncountable, usually Example: I had to do some stuff. 4. The tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object. Labels: uncountable, usually Example: Near-synonyms: constituents, ingredients; see also Thesaurus:substance Example: The workman on his stuff his skill doth show, / And yet the stuff gives not the man his skill. 5. The tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object. Labels: archaic, uncountable, usually Example: Without waiting for a reply, she unbound the veil from her head, and took off the loose black novice's robe, which she had put over a gray stuff dress similar to that worn by Lucy. Example: "And you can buy a dress for your wife off this piece of stuff," said Lisetta, who had always an eye to business. 6. The tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object. Labels: archaic, uncountable, usually 7. The tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object. Labels: uncountable, usually Example: When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept; / Ambition should be made of sterner stuff Example: We are such stuff / As dreams are made on 8. The tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object. Labels: dated, uncountable, usually 9. Used as placeholder, usually for material of unknown type or name. Labels: informal, uncountable, usually Example: Can I have some of that stuff on my ice-cream sundae? Example: It had been his intention to go to Wimbledon, but as he himself said: “Why be blooming well frizzled when you can hear all the results over the wireless.[…]You stand by, Janet, and wake me up if they do any of that running commentary stuff.” 10. Narcotic drugs, especially heroin. Labels: slang, uncountable, usually Example: For some idiotic reason the bureaucrats are more opposed to tea than to stuff. Example: For example, one addict would crack shorts (break and enter cars) and usually obtain just enough stolen goods to buy stuff and get off just before getting sick. 11. A medicine or mixture; a potion. Labels: obsolete, uncountable, usually Example: I[…]did compound for her / A certaine ſtuffe, which being tane, would ceaſe / The preſent powre of life[…]. 12. Refuse or worthless matter; hence, also, foolish or irrational language. Labels: euphemistic, sometimes, uncountable, usually Example: Don't give me any of that 'what-about' stuff! Example: Anger would indite / Such woeful stuff as I or Shadwell write. 13. A melted mass of turpentine, tallow, etc., with which the masts, sides, and bottom of a ship are smeared for lubrication. Labels: uncountable, usually Example: The master, at my earnest solicitation, examined his vessel, and though he prefers the coal tar, yet he told me, there were shells sticking on, and that a very thin coat of stuff, if any, remained. Example: On the last transverse planking, after: caulking and paying, he has laid on a coat of stuff, so hard when cold aš to resist a firm touch, and applied plain paper, then took heated band irons (such as women use) , and passed the iron from the centre of the sheet to the extremities, thus heating the stuff to make it adhere, pressing out the air, and laying it all flat and united with the course. 14. Money. Labels: dated, slang, uncountable, usually