# fur

/ˈfɝ/ (US) · /fˈɜː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fur
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. animal hair

noun · CEFR B1

the thick, soft hair that covers the bodies of animals like cats, dogs, and bears.

For teachers: the dense, soft, and fine hair covering the epidermis of various mammal species.

- The cat has very soft grey fur that feels like silk.
- Biologists noted that the thickness of the animal's fur increased significantly as the winter temperatures began to drop below freezing.

### 2. clothing material

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: animal pelts processed for use in the manufacture, trimming, or lining of garments.

- 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.

### 3. a coating or buildup

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. human body hair

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Humorous

a lot of hair on a person's body.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. a subculture member

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

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

For teachers: 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.

### 6. to become coated

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · British English

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The cat has very soft, white fur.
- The winter coat is lined with synthetic fur to keep the wearer warm without using animal products.
- Biologists noted that the thick, oily fur of the sea otter is essential for its survival in the freezing waters of the North Pacific.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.