fuzz

UK: /ˈfʌz/ US: /fʌz/ ,(fuz)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

fuzz¹ /fʌz/   n. [uncountable]

1. loose, light, fiberlike or fluffy matter;
   bits of thread.

fuzz² /fʌz/   n. 

1. Slang Terms [plural* used with a plural verb] the police or a police officer.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fuzz¹  (fuz), n. 

1. loose, light, fibrous, or fluffy matter.
2. a mass or coating of such matter:
   the fuzz on a peach.
3. Clothing [Slang.] a man's very short haircut, similar to a crew cut.

v.t. 

4. fuzz up, to make unclear;
   confuse;
   bungle:
   He fuzzed up the plot line with a lot of emotional nonsense.

• compare Dutch voos spongy, woolly 1595–1605

fuzz²  (fuz), n., pl. fuzz, fuzz•es for 2.[Slang.]

1. Slang Terms the police;
   police officers collectively.
2. Slang Terms a police officer or detective.

• of uncertain origin, originally 1925–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fuzz / fʌz/ noun

1. a mass or covering of fine or curly hairs, fibres, etc
2. a blur

verb

1. to make or become fuzzy
2. to make or become indistinct; blur

Etymology: 17th Century: perhaps from Low German fussig loose

fuzz / fʌz/ noun

1. the police
2. a police officer

Etymology: 20th Century: of uncertain origin