name
Meaning 1
A surname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
luff
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /lʌf/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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Australian, New-Zealand: /lɐf/
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Northern-England: /lʊf/
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CMU ARPABET: L AH1 F Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
noun
Meaning 2
The vertical edge of a sail that is closest to the direction of the wind.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
Examples
- By easing the halyard, the luff of the sail was made to sag to leeward.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
The act of sailing a ship close to the wind.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
The roundest part of a ship's bow.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
The forward or weather leech of a sail, especially of the jib, spanker, and other fore-and-aft sails.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
To shake due to being trimmed improperly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 7
To bring the ship's head up closer to the wind. (Alternatively luff up)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 8
to let out (a sail) so that it luffs.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 9
To alter the vertical angle of the jib of a crane so as to bring it level with the load.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: engineering, mechanical, mechanical-engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 10
the act of sailing close to the wind
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: sailing
noun
Meaning 11
(nautical) the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail that is next to the mast
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: edge
verb
Meaning 12
flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- the sails luffed
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: roll, undulate, flap, wave
verb
Meaning 13
sail close to the wind
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: point
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: sail
History
Etymology
From Old French lof. Collins English Dictionary states that this word is ultimately derived from Middle Dutch loef. Ellert Ekwall's Shakspere's Vocabulary: its etymological elements (1903) related this verb and loof instead to the East Frisian verb lofen, lufen, which would make it cognate to the French term lover.
Across languages
Translations
9 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Catalan: caient de proa — vertical edge of a sail
- Dutch: loef — vertical edge of a sail
- Finnish: etuliikki — vertical edge of a sail
- Finnish: etureuna — vertical edge of a sail
- Hebrew: שְׂפַת הַמִפְרָשׂ (sfat hamifras) — vertical edge of a sail
- Italian: inferitura — vertical edge of a sail
- Norman: lof — vertical edge of a sail
- Catalan: orsa — act of sailing close to the wind
- Hebrew: שָׂפָה קִדְמִית (sapa kidmit) — forward or weather leech of a sail