Difference Wiki

Fur vs. Hair

The main difference between Fur and Hair is that Fur is soft hair that forms the thick outer covering of an animal body whereas Hair is the growth of protein filaments that form the outer cover of a human body.

Key Differences

Fur has single or double composition while hair has a single composition.
Fur grows in a synchronized manner, but the hair grows independently.
Janet White
Sep 03, 2019
The fur is thick thus provides more protection and insulation on the other hand; hair provides less.
Animal hair is known as the fur on the flip side; a human hair is called hair.
The fur is a profuse layer of soft hair on non-human mammals whereas hair is the growth of protein filaments on human mammals.
Fur grows shorter as thick crust conversely; hair grows longer and finer.
Harlon Moss
Sep 03, 2019
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Comparison Chart

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The compact coat of soft hair on non-human mammals is called fur.
The extension of the protein coat of humans is called hair.

Name

Animal hair
Human hair

Composition

Three layers
Single-layer

Growth Pattern

Grows in an orchestrated manner
Grows independently

Nature

Short and rough
Long and soft

Function

More protection and insulation
Less protection and insulation
Samantha Walker
Sep 03, 2019
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Fur and Hair Definitions

Fur

The thick coat of soft hair covering the skin of certain mammals.

Hair

Any of the cylindrical, keratinized, often pigmented filaments characteristically growing from the epidermis of a mammal.

Fur

The hair-covered, dressed pelt of such a mammal, used in making garments and as trimming or decoration.

Hair

A growth of such filaments, as that forming the coat of an animal or covering the scalp of a human.

Fur

A garment made of or lined with the dressed pelt of a mammal.

Hair

A filamentous projection or bristle similar to a hair, such as a seta of an arthropod or an epidermal process of a plant.
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Fur

See fake fur.

Hair

Fabric made from the hair of certain animals
A coat of alpaca hair.

Fur

A furlike coating
Fur on the tongue.

Hair

A minute distance or narrow margin
Won by a hair.

Fur

To cover, line, or trim with fur.

Hair

A precise or exact degree
Calibrated to a hair.

Fur

To cover or coat as if with fur.

Hair

(countable) A pigmented filament of keratin which grows from a follicle on the skin of humans and other mammals.

Fur

To line (a wall or floor) with furring.

Hair

(uncountable) The collection or mass of such growths growing from the skin of humans and animals, and forming a covering for a part of the head or for any part or the whole body.
In the western world, women usually have long hair while men usually have short hair.

Fur

The hairy coat of various mammal species, especially when fine, soft and thick.

Hair

A slender outgrowth from the chitinous cuticle of insects, spiders, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. Such hairs are totally unlike those of vertebrates in structure, composition, and mode of growth.

Fur

The hairy skin of an animal processed into clothing for humans.

Hair

A cellular outgrowth of the epidermis, consisting of one or of several cells, whether pointed, hooked, knobbed, or stellated.
Internal hairs occur in the flower stalk of the yellow frog lily (Nuphar).

Fur

A pelt used to make, trim or line clothing apparel.

Hair

(countable) Any slender, flexible outgrowth, filament, or fiber growing or projecting from the surface of an object or organism.

Fur

A coating, lining resembling fur in function and/or appearance.

Hair

A locking spring or other safety device in the lock of a rifle, etc., capable of being released by a slight pressure on a hair-trigger.

Fur

A thick pile of fabric.

Hair

(obsolete) Haircloth; a hair shirt.

Fur

The soft, downy covering on the skin of a peach.

Hair

(countable) Any very small distance, or degree; a hairbreadth.
Just a little louder please—turn that knob a hair to the right.

Fur

The deposit formed on the interior of boilers and other vessels by hard water.

Hair

Complexity; difficulty; the quality of being hairy.

Fur

The layer of epithelial debris on a tongue.

Hair

(transitive) To remove the hair from.

Fur

(heraldry) One of several patterns or diapers used as tinctures.

Hair

(intransitive) To grow hair (where there was a bald spot).

Fur

Rabbits and hares, as opposed to partridges and pheasants (called feathers).

Hair

(transitive) To cause to have or bear hair; to provide with hair

Fur

A furry; a member of the furry subculture.

Hair

To string the bow for a violin.

Fur

Pubic hair.

Hair

The collection or mass of filaments growing from the skin of an animal, and forming a covering for a part of the head or for any part or the whole of the body.

Fur

Sexual attractiveness.

Hair

One the above-mentioned filaments, consisting, in vertebrate animals, of a long, tubular part which is free and flexible, and a bulbous root imbedded in the skin.
Then read he me how Sampson lost his hairs.
And draweth new delights with hoary hairs.

Fur

(transitive) To cover with fur or a fur-like coating.

Hair

Hair (human or animal) used for various purposes; as, hair for stuffing cushions.

Fur

(intransitive) To become covered with fur or a fur-like coating.

Hair

A slender outgrowth from the chitinous cuticle of insects, spiders, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. Such hairs are totally unlike those of vertebrates in structure, composition, and mode of growth.

Fur

To level a surface by applying furring to it.

Hair

An outgrowth of the epidermis, consisting of one or of several cells, whether pointed, hooked, knobbed, or stellated. Internal hairs occur in the flower stalk of the yellow frog lily (Nuphar).

Fur

Pronunciation spelling of for

Hair

A spring device used in a hair-trigger firearm.

Fur

The short, fine, soft hair of certain animals, growing thick on the skin, and distinguished from the hair, which is longer and coarser.

Hair

A haircloth.

Fur

The skins of certain wild animals with the fur; peltry; as, a cargo of furs.

Hair

Any very small distance, or degree; a hairbreadth.

Fur

Strips of dressed skins with fur, used on garments for warmth or for ornament.

Hair

Dense growth of hairs covering the body or parts of it (as on the human head); helps prevent heat loss;
He combed his hair

Fur

Articles of clothing made of fur; as, a set of furs for a lady (a collar, tippet, or cape, muff, etc.).
Wrapped up in my furs.

Hair

A very small distance or space;
They escaped by a hair's-breadth
They lost the election by a whisker

Fur

Any coating considered as resembling fur

Hair

Filamentous hairlike growth on a plant;
Peach fuzz

Fur

One of several patterns or diapers used as tinctures. There are nine in all, or, according to some writers, only six.

Hair

Any of the cylindrical filaments characteristically growing from the epidermis of a mammal;
There is a hair in my soup

Fur

Of or pertaining to furs; bearing or made of fur; as, a fur cap; the fur trade.

Hair

Cloth woven from horsehair or camelhair; used for upholstery or stiffening in garments

Fur

To line, face, or cover with fur; as, furred robes.

Hair

A filamentous projection or process on an organism

Fur

To cover with morbid matter, as the tongue.

Fur

To nail small strips of board or larger scantling upon, in order to make a level surface for lathing or boarding, or to provide for a space or interval back of the plastered or boarded surface, as inside an outer wall, by way of protection against damp.

Fur

The dressed hairy coat of a mammal

Fur

Dense coat of fine silky hairs on mammals (e.g., cat or seal or weasel)

Fur

A garment made of fur

Fur vs. Hair

The word fur is for animal hair, but hair is for human hair. The fur grows short. The hair grows long. The diameter of hair is approximately range between 17 to 181 μm whereas fur is denser. The consistency of fur varies. The hair has the same consistency. Fur grows in the synchronized way while human hair grows unevenly. The fur is attached firmly to the core of hair follicles. The hair does not form a thick coating. Fur has single or double composition; on the other hand, hair has one. Fur grows according to the condition of the season. The hair grows until the hair follicles are active. Fur has a rigid nature, but, hair is softer. Fur offers more insulation than hair. The fur is used as camouflage. The hair does not offer this ability. The fur growth cycle is shorter than hair. Animals shed fur after a certain period. Humans do not shed hair.

What is Fur?

The fur is an old French word “fourrer,” meaning “covering,” or “to the line.” The word also found its origin in the proto-Germanic word “fodram” defined as “sheath.” The word “fur” was first used in the 15th century. The fur is an evolutionary character that outlines the mammalian ancestry. The fur is dense growth of soft hair covering on animal’s body. Hair is the character of all mammals, while fur talks about animal hair. According to Kamal Khidas, the curator of the vertebrate collection at the Canadian Museum of Nature, the short hair growing densely on the body is familiar as fur. The fur is made up of three layers — vibrissae functions as sensory organs that look for the environment, i.e., whiskers. Guard hairs are helpful in protection. Under hairs provide insulation. The composition of fur is the same as hair, made of keratin, a protein that forms fingernails, claws, horns, etc. Fur grows in a definite pattern and stops growing after a certain time. It may be short or coarse, long or soft, colored or transparent; all depends on the type and requirement of animal. Usually, fur grows thick in winter season to provide insulation. The growth cycle of fur is short. After a certain time, fur falls off. Fur provides insulation, protection, and thermoregulation. Humans use fur for clothing purposes. Some animal’s fur act like a mask, i.e., have a color of fur like the dirt. It is a weapon for self-defense.

What is Hair?

The word “hair” came from the English word “haer,” meaning “to bristle.” Many evolutionary biologists believe that hair evolves with the evolution of the endothermic process of mammals. Many biologists also described the progression of scales into hair according to the need of mammals. Hair is an extension of protein filaments from the dermis of the skin. Hair is composed of keratin protein, polymers of amino acids. It grows autonomously from hair follicles present deep in the dermis of the skin. The growth of hair depends on the active hair follicles. If hair follicles are damaged, then hair does not grow. There are three main types of hair; two are categorized as fur while whiskers are hair. Whiskers are long and inflexible. These hairs have receptors that detect the surrounding environment. Human hair does not provide a thick coating with the core of follicles; hence, protection and insulation ability is less. Humans need to wear clothes to protect themselves from heat and cold. Hair behaves like sensors, can detect the movement of air and physical touch. Wigs and hair filaments are made up of with human hair. Dough conditioner, l-cysteine, which is present in labels of bread, is made from human hair.

Stages

  • Anagen: The stage of new hair growth.
  • Catagen: An intermediate period in which hair growth stops.
  • Telogen: The resting stage.
  • Exogen: Hair starts to fall, and hair filaments enter the anagen stage.

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