ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fuzzy

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈfəzi// UK //fˈʌzi// fuzzy Slang

adj. having a soft, hairy surface like a blanket or a baby animal. It also describes a feeling or a picture that is not clear or sharp.

adj. covered with soft, short, fine hairs or fibres; lacking clear definition or sharp outlines. Often describes sensory perceptions or cognitive states that are indistinct or blurred.


SIMPLE

The new peach has a fuzzy skin.

CONTEXTUAL

The television signal is weak, so the picture on the screen looks fuzzy and distorted.

COMPLEX

The witness provided only a fuzzy recollection of the events, making it difficult for the investigators to construct a reliable timeline of the incident.

Synonyms
Origin

Uncertain. Apparently from fuzz + -y, though some sources suggest that fuzz derives from fuzzy. Compare fozy, or Low German fussig (“loose; spongy”).

Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'feel' or 'look'; can be used figuratively to describe unclear thinking.

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