fuzzy

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfʌzi/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌzi

Adjective

fuzzy (comparative fuzzier, superlative fuzziest)

1. Covered with fuzz or a large number of tiny loose fibres like a carpet or many stuffed animals
2. Vague or imprecise.

   Synonyms: ambiguous, equivocal; see also Thesaurus:vague

   My recollection of that event is fuzzy.

3. Not clear; unfocused.

   Synonyms: blurry, ill-defined; see also Thesaurus:indistinct

   I finally threw out a large stack of fuzzy photos.

4. (computing theory) Employing or relating to fuzzy logic.

Derived terms

• fuzzily
• fuzziness
• fuzzy-ball
• fuzzy concept
• fuzzy control
• fuzzy controller
• fuzzy dark matter
• fuzzy dice
• fuzzy die
• fuzzy duck
• fuzzy end of the lollipop
• fuzzy-headed
• fuzzyism
• fuzzy logic
• fuzzy math
• fuzzy mathematics
• fuzzy measure
• fuzzy melon
• fuzzy-minded
• fuzzy navel
• fuzzy relation
• fuzzy set
• fuzzy-wuzzy
• fuzzy wuzzy
• L-fuzzy

 

Translations

covered with fuzz or loose fibres

• Bulgarian: мъхест (bg) (mǎhest), мъхнат (bg) (mǎhnat)
• Catalan: arrissat (ca), borrós
• Danish: dunet, håret
• Finnish: nukkainen (fi)
• German: fusselig, flauschig (de)
• Greek: χνουδωτός (el) m (chnoudotós)
• Hungarian: szőrmók (hu), bolyhos (hu)
• Macedonian: вла́сест (vlásest)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: lodden, ullen (no)

  Nynorsk: loden, ullen

• Portuguese: felpudo (pt)
• Russian: пуши́стый (ru) (pušístyj)

vague or imprecise

• Bulgarian: неясен (bg) (nejasen)
• Catalan: borrós
• Danish: uklar, tåget, vag (da)
• Finnish: epäselvä (fi), sekava (fi)
• French: flou (fr), confus (fr)
• German: vage (de), ungenau (de)
• Greek: ασαφής (el) m (asafís), θαμπός (el) m (thampós), θολός (el) (tholós)
• Hungarian: homályos (hu), pontatlan (hu), zavaros (hu)
• Irish: neamhbheacht
• Macedonian: ма́тен (máten), ма́глив (mágliv), не́јасен (néjasen)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: ullen (no), uklar (no)

  Nynorsk: ullen, uklar, uklår

• Polish: rozmyty m, nieścisły m
• Portuguese: vago (pt), impreciso (pt)
• Russian: нечёткий (ru) (nečótkij)
• Spanish: impreciso (es)
• Swedish: luddig (sv), dimmig (sv)
• Yoruba: bọrọgidi

not clear; unfocused

• Bulgarian: неясен (bg) (nejasen), размазан (bg) (razmazan)
• Catalan: borrós
• Danish: sløret, uklar, udvisket
• Finnish: epäselvä (fi), samea (fi), sumea (fi)
• French: flou (fr)
• German: verschwommen (de), unscharf (de), diffus (de)
• Greek: θαμπός (el) m (thampós), συγκεχυμένος (el) m (sygkechyménos), θολός (el) m (tholós)
• Hungarian: elmosódott (hu), homályos (hu)
• Macedonian: не́јасен (néjasen)
• Maori: makaro, pōrehurehu, pūrehurehu
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: uklar (no)

  Nynorsk: uklar, uklår

• Polish: rozmyty m
• Portuguese: desfocado
• Russian: нерезкий (ru) (nerezkij)
• Swedish: suddig (sv), otydlig (sv)
• Yoruba: bàìbàì

Noun

fuzzy (plural fuzzies)

1. (often in the plural) A very small piece of plush material.

   You've got a fuzzy on your coat.

2. Something covered with fuzz or hair, as an animal or plush toy.
   • 2000, Kim Schilling, Ferrets for Dummies, New York: Wiley, →ISBN, page 1:

     If you don't yet have a ferret, this book can help you decide whether a fuzzy is for you.

3. (slang) A person, especially a college student, interested in humanities or social sciences, as opposed to one interested in mathematics, science, or engineering.
   • 2010, Donald Barr, Questioning the Premedical Paradigm: Enhancing Diversity in the Medical Profession a Century after the Flexner Report, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, →ISBN, page 2:

     A "fuzzy" on the other hand is a "people person," — someone who prefers studying the humanities or social sciences, someone who sees the world in broad contextual terms.

4. (slang, military) A soldier with the rank of private.

Derived terms

• warm fuzzy

References

• fuzzy, adj. Oxford English Dictionary, 1884–1928, and First Supplement, 1933.
• fuzzy. Frederick C. Mish (Editor in Chief), Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition. Merriam-Webster, 1994. →OCLC