stuff
used to refer to a substance or a group of things, ideas, etc., often with a description of their general type or quality or saying who they belong to, without saying exactly what they are
We'll have to carry all our camping stuff.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
noun (no plural) (informal)
any material, substance or group of things:
What's this blue stuff on the carpet?
Put your stuff in this bag.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
stuff
I. stuff1 S1 W3 /stʌf/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: estoffe, from estoffer 'to provide with things needed']
1. THINGS informal used when you are talking about things such as substances, materials, or groups of objects when you do not know what they are called, or it is not important to say exactly what they are:
I’ve got some sticky stuff on my shoe.
How do you think you’re going to fit all that stuff into the car?
I felt sorry for the ones who had to eat the awful stuff.
Where’s all the camping stuff?
2. sb’s stuff informal the things that belong to someone:
Did you get the rest of your stuff?
3. ACTIVITIES/IDEAS informal used when talking about different activities, subjects, or ideas, when you do not say exactly what these are:
What kind of stuff do you like to read?
I’ve got so much stuff to do this weekend.
There’s a lot of interesting stuff in this book.
He’s talked to me about all that stuff too.
He does mountain biking and skiing, and stuff like that.
4. WORK/ART informal used when you are talking about what someone has done or made, for example writing, music, or art:
I don’t like his stuff.
John Lee was getting ready to play his stuff.
He did some great stuff in his early films.
good stuff British English (=used to tell someone that their work is good)
This is good stuff.
5. ... and stuff spoken informal used to say that there are other things similar to what you have just mentioned, but you are not going to say what they are:
There’s some very good music there, CD systems and stuff, and laser disks.
6. the (very) stuff of dreams/life/politics exactly the kind of thing that dreams etc consist of:
an enchanting place – the very stuff of dreams
7. CHARACTER the qualities of someone’s character:
Does he have the right stuff (=qualities that make you able to deal with difficulties)?
Surely you’re not going to give up? I thought you were made of sterner stuff (=were more determined).
8. do/show your stuff informal to do what you are good at when everyone wants you to do it:
Come on Gina, get on the dance floor and do your stuff!
⇨ bit of stuff at ↑bit1(14), ⇨ kid’s stuff at ↑kid1(4), ⇨ know your stuff at ↑know1(5), ⇨ strut your stuff at ↑strut1(2)
• • •
GRAMMAR
Stuff is an uncountable noun and has no plural form. Use a singular verb after it:
▪ Most of my stuff is still in packing cases.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
stuff
stuff [stuff stuffs stuffed stuffing] noun, verb [stʌf] [stʌf]
noun uncountable
1. (informal, sometimes disapproving) used to refer to a substance, material, group of objects, etc. when you do not know the name, when the name is not important or when it is obvious what you are talking about
• What's all that sticky stuff on the carpet?
• The chairs were covered in some sort of plastic stuff.
• This wine is good stuff.
• (disapproving) I don't know how you can eat that stuff!
• They sell stationery and stuff (like that).
• Where's all my stuff (= my possessions)?
• (disapproving) Could you move all that stuff off the table?
see also foodstuff
2. (informal) used to refer in a general way to things that people do, say, think, etc
• I've got loads of stuff to do today.
• I like reading and stuff.
• The band did some great stuff on their first album.
• This is all good stuff. Well done!
• What's all this ‘Mrs Smith’ stuff? Call me Anna.
• I don't believe in all that stuff about ghosts.
3. ~ (of sth) (formal or literary) the most important feature of sth; something that sth else is based on or is made from
• The trip was magical; the stuff of which dreams are made.
• Parades and marches were the very stuff of politics in the region.
• Let's see what stuff you're made of (= what sort of person you are).
see also hot stuff
more at kid's stuff at kid n., know your stuff at know v., be made of sterner stuff at stern adj., strut your stuff at strut v., don't sweat the small stuff at sweat v.
Word Origin:
Middle English (denoting material for making clothes): shortening of Old French estoffe ‘material, furniture’, estoffer ‘equip, furnish’, from Greek stuphein ‘draw together’.
Synonyms:
things
stuff • property • possessions • junk • belongings • goods • valuables
These are all words for objects or items, especially ones that you own or have with you at a particular time.
things • (rather informal) objects, clothing or tools that you own or that are used for a particular purpose: ▪ Shall I help you pack your things? ◊ ▪ Bring your swimming things.
stuff • [U] (informal) used to refer to a group of objects when you do not know their names, when the names are not important or when it is obvious what you are talking about: ▪ Where's all my stuff?
property • [U] (rather formal) a thing or things that are owned by sb: ▪ This building is government property. ◊ ▪ Be careful not to damage other people's property.
possessions • things that you own, especially sth that can be moved: ▪ Prisoners were allowed no personal possessions except letters and photographs.
junk • [U] things that are considered useless or of little value: ▪ I've cleared out all that old junk from the attic.
belongings • possessions that can be moved, especially ones that you have with you at a particular time: ▪ Please make sure you have all your belongings with you when leaving the plane.
goods • (technical or rather formal) possessions that can be moved: ▪ He was found guilty of ▪ handling stolen goods ▪.
valuables • things that are worth a lot of money, especially small personal things such as jewellery or cameras: ▪ Never leave cash or other valuables lying around.
personal things/stuff/property/possessions/belongings
to collect/gather/pack (up) your things/stuff/possessions/belongings
to search sb's/your/the things/stuff/property/belongings
to go through sb's/your/the things/stuff/belongings
Example Bank:
• I don't believe in all that stuff about ghosts.
• I don't know how you can eat that stuff.
• I like reading and stuff.
• I've got loads of stuff to do today.
• Let's see what stuff you're made of.
• They sell stationery and stuff (like that).
• This is all good stuff. Well done!
• What's all that sticky stuff on the carpet?
• What's all this ‘Mrs Smith’ stuff? Call me Anna.
• Where's all my stuff?
Idioms: do your stuff ▪ get stuffed ▪ not give a stuff ▪ stuff and nonsense ▪ stuff it ▪ you can stuff something
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
stuff / stʌf / noun (SUBSTANCE)
B1 [ U ] informal used to refer to a substance or a group of things, ideas, etc., often with a description of their general type or quality or saying who they belong to, without saying exactly what they are:
There's sticky stuff all over the chair.
We'll have to carry all our camping stuff.
Do you want help bringing your stuff (= possessions) in from the van?
All that stuff she has been saying about Lee is rubbish.
the stuff of sth literary something that a particular type of thing is made of or based on:
Her appetite for shopping became the stuff of legend .
Word partners for study noun
carry out / conduct / undertake a study • commission a study • be based on a study • a study concludes / finds / shows / suggests • a study examines / focuses on sth • a careful / comprehensive / detailed / exhaustive study • a study into sth
stuff / stʌf / noun (QUALITY)
the stuff of sth literary the most necessary, important, or typical part of something:
A thwarted love affair is the (very) stuff of fiction.
[ U ] US In baseball, a pitcher's stuff is the quality and variety of their pitches (= throws to the player hitting the ball) :
Avery had great stuff, total command of all three of his pitches.
Word partners for study noun
carry out / conduct / undertake a study • commission a study • be based on a study • a study concludes / finds / shows / suggests • a study examines / focuses on sth • a careful / comprehensive / detailed / exhaustive study • a study into sth
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
stuff
[stʌ̱f]
♦♦
stuffs, stuffing, stuffed
1) N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp You can use stuff to refer to things such as a substance, a collection of things, events, or ideas, or the contents of something in a general way without mentioning the thing itself by name. [INFORMAL]
I'd like some coffee, and I don't object to the powdered stuff if it's all you've got...
I don't know anything about this antique stuff...
`What do you want to know?' - `About life and stuff.'...
Don't tell me you still believe in all that stuff?...
He pointed to a duffle bag.`That's my stuff.'
2) VERB If you stuff something somewhere, you push it there quickly and roughly.
[V n prep/adv] I stuffed my hands in my pockets...
[V n prep/adv] He stuffed the newspapers into a litter bin and headed down the street...
[V-ed] His pants were stuffed inside the tops of his boots.
Syn:
shove
3) VERB If you stuff a container or space with something, you fill it with something or with a quantity of things until it is full.
[V n adj] He grabbed my purse, opened it and stuffed it full, then gave it back to me...
[V n with n] He still stood behind his cash register stuffing his mouth with popcorn.
[V-ed] ...wallets stuffed with dollars.
Syn:
cram
4) VERB If you stuff yourself, you eat a lot of food. [INFORMAL]
[V pron-refl prep] I could stuff myself with ten chocolate bars and half an hour later eat a big meal.
Derived words:
stuffed ADJ-GRADED v-link ADJ But you're just so stuffed you won't be able to drink anything.
5) VERB If you stuff a bird such as a chicken or a vegetable such as a pepper, you put a mixture of food inside it before cooking it.
[V n] Will you stuff the turkey and shove it in the oven for me?
[V-ed] ...stuffed tomatoes.
6) VERB: usu passive If a dead animal is stuffed, it is filled with a substance so that it can be preserved and displayed.
[be V-ed] A pike weighing 29 lb 8 oz taken in 1878 was stuffed and is on display at the estate office...
[V-ed] He didn't much care for the stuffed animal heads that hung on the walls.
7) N-SING: the N of n If you say that one thing is the stuff of another, you mean that the first thing is a very important feature or characteristic of the second thing, or that the second thing can be based or built on the first thing. [FORMAL]
The idea that we can be whatever we want has become the stuff of television commercials.
Syn:
essence
8) EXCLAM (feelings) If you are angry with someone for something that they have said or done, you might say `Get stuffed!' to them. [BRIT, INFORMAL, RUDE]
9) VERB: only imper (emphasis) Stuff is used in front of nouns to emphasize that you do not care about something, or do not want it. [INFORMAL]
[V n] Ultimately my attitude was: stuff them...
[V n] Stuff your money. We don't want a handout.
10) PHRASE: V inflects If you do your stuff, you perform an activity in the way that people expect. [INFORMAL]
Once I get on the pitch I know I can do my stuff...
All that was left was to plant the roses and wait for nature to do her stuff.
11) PHRASE: V inflects (approval) If you say that someone knows their stuff, you mean that they are good at doing something because they know a lot about it. [INFORMAL]
These chaps know their stuff after seven years of war.
12) to strut your stuff → see strut
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1stuff /ˈstʌf/ noun [noncount]
1 informal
a : materials, supplies, or equipment
• She got out the cooking stuff to bake some cookies.
• computers, word processors, and stuff like that
• I need a place to store my stuff.
b : a group or pile of things that are not specifically described
• Pick that stuff up off the floor.
2 informal
- used to refer to something when you do not need to name exactly what it is
• They sold tons of the stuff.
• Trust me. This stuff works.
• That stuff's expensive.
• She wears cool stuff.
• They're giving away free stuff at the door.
• I didn't like her early books, but her recent stuff is very good.
• The stuff he says about me is just not true.
• I drink wine and beer occasionally, but I never touch the hard stuff. [=hard liquor; alcoholic drinks like whiskey, vodka, etc.]
- see also hot stuff, kid stuff
3 informal
- used to speak in a general way about something that is talked about, written about, etc.
• There's some fascinating stuff in this book.
• I can't believe the stuff teenagers talk about.
4 informal
- used to describe the quality of a performance, experience, etc.
• The presentation of facts in history can be pretty dull stuff. [=can be pretty dull]
• This is great stuff [=is very enjoyable] for music fans.
5 informal : actions or behavior of a particular kind
• How do they get away with such stuff?
• Don't try any funny stuff.
• There's all this crazy stuff going on.
• He does stuff that bugs his parents.
6 : personality or character
• He's a coward but his brother is made of sterner/tougher stuff. [=his brother is a stronger/tougher person]
• A person who has the right stuff [=who has the necessary personal qualities] will do well here.
7 : the material that something is made of
• The floor tiles are made of very tough stuff.
- often used figuratively
• He has the stuff of greatness. [=he has the qualities that can make a person great]
• Her partying became the stuff of legend. [=became very famous or legendary]
8 baseball : the ability to throw pitches that are hard to hit
• a pitcher with good stuff
and stuff informal
- used in speech to refer to things that are similar to the thing just mentioned
• They asked me about my plans for the future and stuff.
• The store sells TVs and stereos and stuff (like that).
do your stuff informal : to do the things that you are able to do well : to do things that you are known for doing
• You'll succeed if you just get out there and do your stuff.
know your stuff informal : to be an expert at something
• When it comes to gardening, she really knows her stuff. [=she knows a lot about gardening]
show your stuff informal : to show what you are able to do : to show your skills
• The competition gives young performers a chance to show their stuff.
strut your stuff
- see 1strut
