Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: estoffe, from estoffer 'to provide with things needed'


1 noun
stuff1 S1 W3 [uncountable]


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?

somebody's stuff

informal the things that belong to someone:
Did you get the rest of your stuff?


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.


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.

... 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 discs.

the (very) stuff of dreams/life/politics

XX exactly the kind of thing that dreams etc consist of:
an enchanting place - the very stuff of dreams


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).

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)

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