RUFF

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ruff mean? 

• RUFF (noun)
  The noun RUFF has 4 senses:

1. an external body part consisting of feathers or hair about the neck of a bird or other animal

2. a high tight collar

3. common Eurasian sandpiper; the male has an erectile neck ruff in breeding season

4. (card games) the act of taking a trick with a trump when unable to follow suit

  Familiarity information: RUFF used as a noun is uncommon.

• RUFF (verb)
  The verb RUFF has 1 sense:

1. play a trump

  Familiarity information: RUFF used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RUFF (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An external body part consisting of feathers or hair about the neck of a bird or other animal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

frill; ruff

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

external body part (any body part visible externally)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A high tight collar

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

choker; neck ruff; ruff; ruffle

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

collar; neckband (a band that fits around the neck and is usually folded over)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ruff"):

fraise (a ruff for the neck worn in the 16th century)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Common Eurasian sandpiper; the male has an erectile neck ruff in breeding season

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

Philomachus pugnax; ruff

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

sandpiper (any of numerous usually small wading birds having a slender bill and piping call; closely related to the plovers)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ruff"):

reeve (female ruff)

Holonyms ("ruff" is a member of...):

genus Philomachus; Philomachus (ruffs)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(card games) the act of taking a trick with a trump when unable to follow suit

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

ruff; trumping

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

play; turn ((game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession)

Domain category:

card game; cards (a game played with playing cards)

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

bridge (any of various card games based on whist for four players)

Derivation:

ruff (play a trump)

• RUFF (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they ruff    ... he / she / it ruffs   
Past simple: ruffed   
Past participle: ruffed   
-ing form: ruffing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Play a trump

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

ruff; trump

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

go; move (have a turn; make one's move in a game)

Domain category:

card game; cards (a game played with playing cards)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ruff"):

overtrump (play a trump higher than (one previously played) to the trick)

crossruff (trump alternately in two hands)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

ruff ((card games) the act of taking a trick with a trump when unable to follow suit)

 Context examples 

A thick ruff covers the neck and chest.

(Japanese Chin, NCI Thesaurus)

The ears are small and rounded and there is a large ruff behind the head, which gives it a lion like appearance.

(Chow Chow, NCI Thesaurus)

The coat is very full, moderately long, with a ruff around the neck and extra feathering on the underside, legs, and tail.

(Belgian Sheepdog, NCI Thesaurus)