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fur up

B2 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words

When the inside of a kettle or pipe gets a white crusty coating from the minerals in water.

Literal meaning: To develop a fur-like coating on the inside surface.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic informal

Of a kettle, pipe, or boiler: to develop a hard, chalky internal coating caused by mineral deposits in hard water.

"Our kettle furs up so quickly — we have to descale it every few weeks."

Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 idiomatic informal

Of arteries or blood vessels: to become narrowed or blocked by a build-up of fatty or mineral deposits.

"Years of poor diet had caused his arteries to fur up, putting him at serious risk of a heart attack."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Predominantly British English. 'Furring' refers to the white limescale deposit that forms inside kettles and pipes in hard-water areas. The term is also occasionally used metaphorically to describe arteries becoming blocked with fatty deposits. More commonly used in British English than American.

Commonly used with

kettle pipes boiler arteries quickly badly

Forms

Base
fur up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
furs up
he/she/it
Past simple
fured up
yesterday
Past participle
fured up
have + pp
-ing form
furing up
continuous

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Synonyms

scale up clog up lime up furr up calcify coat

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