| / English Dictionary |
FUSS
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A rapid active commotion
Synonyms:
ado; bustle; flurry; fuss; hustle; stir
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("fuss" is a kind of...):
commotion; din; ruckus; ruction; rumpus; tumult (the act of making a noisy disturbance)
Derivation:
fuss (care for like a mother)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A quarrel about petty points
Synonyms:
bicker; bickering; fuss; pettifoggery; spat; squabble; tiff
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("fuss" is a kind of...):
dustup; quarrel; row; run-in; words; wrangle (an angry dispute)
Derivation:
fussy (exacting especially about details)
Sense 3
Meaning:
An angry disturbance
Example:
a spot of bother
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("fuss" is a kind of...):
disturbance; perturbation (activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption)
Sense 4
Meaning:
An excited state of agitation
Example:
there was a terrible flap about the theft
Synonyms:
dither; flap; fuss; pother; tizzy
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("fuss" is a kind of...):
agitation (a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance)
Derivation:
fuss (worry unnecessarily or excessively)
II. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they fuss ... he / she / it fusses
Past simple: fussed
Past participle: fussed
-ing form: fussing
Sense 1
Meaning:
Worry unnecessarily or excessively
Example:
don't fuss too much over the grandchildren--they are quite big now
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Hypernyms (to "fuss" is one way to...):
worry (be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fuss"):
scruple (raise scruples)
dither; flap; pother (make a fuss; be agitated)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Sentence example:
Sam and Sue fuss over the results of the experiment
Derivation:
fuss (an excited state of agitation)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Care for like a mother
Example:
She fusses over her husband
Synonyms:
fuss; mother; overprotect
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Hypernyms (to "fuss" is one way to...):
care; give care (provide care for)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
fuss (a rapid active commotion)
Context examples:
But she could never get acquainted with her: she did not know how it was, but there was such coldness and reserve—such apparent indifference whether she pleased or not—and then, her aunt was such an eternal talker!—and she was made such a fuss with by every body!—and it had been always imagined that they were to be so intimate—because their ages were the same, every body had supposed they must be so fond of each other.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
"How could I after all the fuss?" began May, but she did not finish, for Amy's voice came across the hall, saying pleasantly...
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I won’t have a fuss made about such nonsense.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
One of these, a short, burly, red-faced man, full of fuss and self-importance, came hurrying up to my uncle.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
"Who knows? Stranger things have happened," thought Jo, as she fussed about the room.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Well, he ought to beg pardon, and believe me when I say I can't tell him what the fuss's about.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
That will be better than fussing over my own things, which are plenty nice enough as they are. said Meg.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I should think you might let me go, too, for Beth is fussing over her piano, and I haven't got anything to do, and am so lonely.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I don't like fuss and feathers.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Her paradise was not a tranquil one, for the little woman fussed, was over-anxious to please, and bustled about like a true Martha, cumbered with many cares.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
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