defluffing
Picking off fibers
Defluffing is removing loose fibers, lint, or fuzzy bits from fabric—typically with a lint roller, fabric shaver, or sticky tape.
The term extends to editing or communication: defluffing a document means stripping out padding, filler, or unnecessary verbiage to leave only substance.
I spent an hour defluffing my sweater before the interview.
The draft needs serious defluffing before we submit it.
Loose textile fibers
- pillingFiber ball formation
- fabricWoven or knit material
- shearingCutting away fleece
- nappingSleeping briefly, often midday
brushing · fleece · wool · cotton · fiber · garment · upholstery · yarn
Removing surface grime
- vacuumingRemoving dirt by suction
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- particlesMinute pieces of matter
- fuzzFine downy fibers
fibers · dryer · clothes · roller · tape · microfiber · static · upholstery
Sweeping motion with bristles
- combingArranging strands with teeth
- sheddingLosing outer covering
- furAnimal body hair
- undercoatPreparatory paint layer
matting · deshedding · molting · dander · grooming · coat · blowout · rake
Cutting away fleece
- singeingSuperficial burning
- croppingCutting to resize
- finishingBringing to completion
- smoothingReducing irregularities systematically
leveling · napping · texturizing · calendering · raising · pile · velvet · fleece
Making more aerodynamic or efficient
- trimmingCutting away excess
- tighteningMaking less loose
- condensationVapor turning to liquid
- paringCutting away rind
reduction · wordiness · redundancy · pruning · cutting · simplification · abridgment · concision
lint
Loose textile fibers
napping · brushing · fleece · wool · cotton · fiber · garment · upholstery · yarn · synthetic
dusting
Removing surface grime
fuzz · fibers · dryer · clothes · roller · tape · microfiber · static · upholstery · fabric
brushing
Sweeping motion with bristles
undercoat · matting · deshedding · molting · dander · grooming · coat · blowout · rake · stripping
shearing
Cutting away fleece
smoothing · leveling · napping · texturizing · calendering · raising · pile · velvet · fleece · mill
streamlining
Making more aerodynamic or efficient
- trimmingCutting away excess
- tighteningMaking less loose
- condensationVapor turning to liquid
paring · reduction · wordiness · redundancy · pruning · cutting · simplification · abridgment · concision · distillation
defluffingfluffing
Making something fuller
napping · fuzzing · brushing up · pilling · teasing
defluffingfluffing up
Aerating something soft
padding · padding out · elaborating · embellishing · bloating
fluffy, fluff, fluffed, fluffing, fluffiness, fluffers, defluff, refluffed, defluffed