Library / English Dictionary

LUFF

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of sailing close to the wind

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("luff" is a kind of...):

sailing (riding in a sailboat)

Derivation:

luff (flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides)

luff (sail close to the wind)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(nautical) the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail that is next to the mast

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("luff" is a kind of...):

edge (the outside limit of an object or area or surface; a place farthest away from the center of something)

Domain category:

navigation; sailing; seafaring (the work of a sailor)

Holonyms ("luff" is a part of...):

fore-and-aft sail (any sail not set on a yard and whose normal position is in a fore-and-aft direction)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides

Example:

the sails luffed

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "luff" is one way to...):

flap; roll; undulate; wave (move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

luff (the act of sailing close to the wind)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Sail close to the wind

Synonyms:

luff; point

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "luff" is one way to...):

sail (travel on water propelled by wind)

Domain category:

navigation; pilotage; piloting (the guidance of ships or airplanes from place to place)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

luff (the act of sailing close to the wind)

Credits