fur

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. animal skins with the hair still attached, used to make warm clothes.

n. animal pelts processed for use in the manufacture, trimming, or lining of garments.

日本語:毛皮※

“In the past, many people wore heavy fur coats to stay warm in winter.”

“The fashion house faced significant criticism from activists for its continued use of real fur in its autumn collection.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Technical

n. a thin layer of something that forms on a surface, like the white coating on a tongue or inside a pipe.

n. a coating or deposit resembling animal fur in texture or appearance, such as limescale in a kettle or a coating on the tongue.

“The old kettle was full of white fur from the hard water.”

“The plumber explained that the heating efficiency had decreased because of the thick fur of calcium carbonate inside the pipes.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Informal · Humorous

n. a lot of hair on a person's body.

n. an abundance of human body hair, typically used in a descriptive or slightly humorous manner.

“He has so much fur on his back he doesn't need a sweater.”

“The comedian made a self-deprecating joke about the thick fur on his chest that became visible when he wore a V-neck shirt.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Slang

n. a person who is a fan of animal characters with human qualities.

n. a member of the 'furry' fandom, a subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters.

“He identified as a fur and spent months designing his own animal costume.”

“The convention center was booked for a weekend gathering of furs from across the country to share their artwork and costumes.”

C2 · Proficiency Technical · British English

v. to become covered with a thin layer of something, like minerals in a pipe.

v. to become coated with a fur-like deposit or scale; often used in the context of plumbing or biology.

“If you don't clean the pipes, they will eventually fur up and stop working.”

“In regions with high mineral content in the water supply, domestic appliances tend to fur up much faster than in soft-water areas.”