# tutu

/ˈtuˌtu/ (US) · /tˈuːtuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tutu
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. ballet skirt

noun · CEFR B2

a skirt made of many layers of light, stiff fabric, worn by a woman who dances ballet.

For teachers: a skirt made of multiple layers of stiffened tulle or netting, typically worn by female ballet dancers.

- The young dancer felt like a professional once she put on her pink tutu.
- The costume designer spent weeks hand-stitching the intricate lace onto the prima ballerina's stiff white tutu for the opening night.

### 2. New Zealand shrub

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect

a type of New Zealand plant that can be poisonous if not handled correctly.

For teachers: any of several shrubs or trees of the genus Coriaria native to New Zealand, known for their toxicity.

- Hikers are warned not to eat the berries from the tutu plant.
- While the Maori historically extracted a sweetener from the tutu, the seeds and stems contain a potent neurotoxin that can be fatal.

Usage: Commonly used in New Zealand botanical contexts.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly regional to New Zealand and unlikely to be encountered elsewhere.

### 3. to fiddle or mess around

verb · CEFR C1 · Dialect · Informal

to play with or touch something, especially when you should not.

For teachers: to fiddle, meddle, or experiment with an object in a casual or aimless manner.

- Don't tutu with the television settings or you might break something.
- He spent the entire afternoon tutu-ing with the old engine, hoping to get it started before the sun went down.

Usage: Intransitive; often followed by 'with'.

Teaching tip: This is a common colloquialism in New Zealand English, often used when speaking to children or about minor repairs.

## Examples

- The young dancer put on her pink tutu for the recital.
- The costume designer spent weeks sewing hundreds of layers of tulle into each tutu for the upcoming production of Swan Lake.
- While the classical tutu is designed to showcase the dancer's intricate legwork and athleticism, the longer romantic version emphasizes grace and ethereal movement through its soft, flowing layers.

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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.