furring

UK: /ˈfɜːrɪŋ/ US: (fûr′ing)

From the verb fur: (⇒ conjugate)

furring is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fur•ring  (fûr′ing), n. 

1. Clothing the act of lining, trimming, or clothing with fur:
   Furring this coat will take several weeks.
2. Clothing the fur used:
   What kind of furring would you like?
3. the formation of a coating of matter on something, as on the tongue:
   A heavy furring could mean a high fever.
4. Building
   • the attaching of strips of wood or the like (fur′ring strips′) to a wall or other surface, as to provide an even support for lath or to provide an air space between the wall and plasterwork.
   • material used for this purpose.

• 1350–1400; Middle English; see fur, -ing¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

furring / ˈfɜːrɪŋ/ noun

1. short for furring strip
2. the formation of fur on the tongue
3. trimming of animal fur, as on a coat or other garment, or furs collectively

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fur /fɜr/   n. 

1. Zoology [uncountable] the soft, thick, hairy coat of a mammal.
2. Clothing [uncountable] the processed pelt of certain animals, as minks or beavers, used esp. for jackets and coats.
3. Clothing a garment made of fur:
   [countable] All the furs were on sale.
4. [uncountable] a furlike coating.

adj. [before a noun]

5. of, relating to, or dealing in fur or animal skins, etc.:
   a fur coat; a fur trader.

Idioms

6. Idioms make the fur fly:
   • to cause a lively disturbance.

furred, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fur  (fûr), n., adj., v., furred, fur•ring. 
n. 

1. Zoology the fine, soft, thick, hairy coat of the skin of a mammal.
2. Clothing the skin of certain animals, as the sable, ermine, or beaver, covered with such a coat, used for lining, trimming, or making garments.
3. Clothing a garment made of fur.
4. any coating resembling or suggesting fur, as certain matter on the tongue.
5. Heraldry any conventional representation of a fur, as ermine, vair, potent, or their variations.
6. Idioms make the fur fly:
   • to cause a scene or disturbance, esp. of a violent nature;
     make trouble:
     When the kids got mad they really made the fur fly.
   • to do things quickly:
     She always makes the fur fly when she types.

adj. 

7. of or pertaining to fur, animal skins, dressed pelts, etc.:
   a fur coat; a fur trader.

v.t. 

8. Clothing to line, face, or trim, with fur, as a garment.
9. Building to apply furring to (a wall, ceiling, etc.).
10. to clothe (a person) with fur.
11. to coat with foul or deposited matter.

• Gmc; akin to Old English fōdder case, sheath, Old Norse fōthr, Greek pó̄ma
• Anglo-French furrer, Old French fo(u)rrer origin, originally to encase, derivative of fuerre sheath
• Middle English furre (noun, nominal), derivative of furren to trim with fur 1300–50

fur′less, adj. 

fur., 

1. Weights and Measures furlong;
   furlongs.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fur / fɜː/ noun

1. the dense coat of fine silky hairs on such mammals as the cat, seal, and mink
2. the dressed skin of certain fur-bearing animals, with the hair left on
3. (as modifier): a fur coat
4. a garment made of fur, such as a coat or stole
5. a pile fabric made in imitation of animal fur
6. any of various stylized representations of animal pelts or their tinctures, esp ermine or vair, used in coats of arms
7. a whitish coating of cellular debris on the tongue, caused by excessive smoking, an upset stomach, etc
8. a whitish-grey deposit consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate precipitated from hard water onto the insides of pipes, boilers, and kettles
9. make the fur fly ⇒ to cause a scene or disturbance

verb (furs, furring, furred)

1. (transitive) to line or trim a garment, etc, with fur
2. (often followed by up) to cover or become covered with a furlike lining or deposit

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French forrer to line a garment, from fuerre sheath, of Germanic origin; related to Old English fōdder case, Old Frisian fōder coat lining

ˈfurless adjective