how to pronounce luff

/lʌf/

audio example by a male speaker

audio example by a female speaker

the above transcription of luff is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

luff is pronounced in one syllable

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1. example pitch curve for pronunciation of luff

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video examples of luff pronunciation

An example use of luff in a speech by a native speaker of british english:

“… this means the luff is stacked almost …”

meanings of luff

noun:

The forward or weather leech of a sail, especially of the jib, spanker, and other fore-and-aft sails.
The roundest part of a ship's bow.
The vertical edge of a sail that is closest to the direction of the wind.
The act of sailing a ship close to the wind.

verb:

To let out (a sail) so that it luffs.
To alter course to windward so that the sails luff. (Alternatively luff up).
To shake due to being trimmed improperly.
To alter the vertical angle of the jib of a crane so as to bring it level with the load.

name:

A surname.

luff frequency in english - C2+ level of CEFR

the word luff occurs in english on average 0.6 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for C2+ level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.