What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Chaff vs Chaffing - What's the difference?

chaff | chaffing |

As nouns the difference between chaff and chaffing

is that chaff is the inedible parts of a grain-producing plant while chaffing is the act by which somebody is chaffed; a teasing.

As verbs the difference between chaff and chaffing

is that chaff is to use light, idle language by way of fun or ridicule; to banter while chaffing is .

chaff

English

Noun

(-)
  • The inedible parts of a grain-producing plant.
    • To separate out the chaff , early cultures tossed baskets of grain into the air and let the wind blow away the lighter chaff.
  • * Dryden
    • So take the corn and leave the chaff behind.
  • By extension, any excess or unwanted material, resource, or person; anything worthless.
    • There are plenty of good books on the subject, but take care to separate the wheat from the chaff .
  • * Shakespeare
    • the chaff and ruin of the times
  • Loose material dropped from aircraft specifically to interfere with radar detection.
  • Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle.
  • * Wyatt
    • By adding chaff' to his corn, the horse must take more time to eat it. In this way ' chaff is very useful.
  • Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.

    • Derived terms

    * separate the wheat from the chaff

    See also

    * bran

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To use light, idle language by way of fun or ridicule; to banter.
  • To make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in ironical or bantering language; to quiz.

    • chaffing

    English

    Verb

    (head)

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act by which somebody is chaffed; a teasing.
  • * 1883 , (Edward Payson Roe), His Sombre Rivals
    • Grace had made Graham laugh many a time by her inimitable descriptions of the quaint tilts and chaffings of these graybeards, as each urged the views of his favorite journals