buff

[ buhf ]

/ bʌf /

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See synonyms for: buff / buffer on Thesaurus.com

noun

a soft, thick, light-yellow leather with a napped surface, originally made from buffalo skin but later also from other skins, used for making belts, pouches, etc.

a brownish-yellow color; tan.

a buff stick or buff wheel.

a devotee or well-informed student of some activity or subject: Civil War buffs avidly read the new biography of Grant.

Informal. the bare skin, or the state of being nude: swimming in the buff;stripped to his buff.

Also called buffcoat . a thick, short coat of buffalo leather, worn especially by English soldiers and American colonists in the 17th century.

Informal. a buffalo.

adjective

having the color of buff.

made of buff leather.

Slang. physically attractive; muscular.

verb (used with object)

to clean or polish (metal) or give a grainless finish of high luster to (plated surfaces) with or as if with a buff stick or buff wheel.

to polish or shine, especially with a buffer: to buff shoes.

to dye or stain in a buff color.

OTHER WORDS FOR buff

11 burnish.

See synonyms for buff on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of buff

First recorded in 1545–55; 1900–05 for def. 4; earlier buffe “wild ox,” back formation from buffle, from Middle French, from Late Latin būfalus; see buffalo; (def. 4) originally a person enthusiastic about firefighting and firefighters, allegedly after the buff-colored uniforms once worn by volunteer firefighters in New York City

OTHER WORDS FROM buff

buff·a·bil·i·ty, nounbuff·a·ble, adjective

Other definitions for buff (2 of 2)

buff²

[ buhf ]

/ bʌf /

verb (used with object)

(in a video game) to enhance (player characters' attributes or abilities) with a spell, skill, or item: If you buff your party with a skill that increases movement speed, make sure everyone is in the area of effect—you wouldn’t want to leave your healer in the dust!

to reduce or deaden the force of; act as a buffer.

noun

(in a video game) a category of spell, skill, or item that enhances player characters' attributes or abilities: Your build is specific to your job class, so a DPS Shaman and a DPS Druid might bring different buffs.

Chiefly British Dialect. a blow; slap.

Origin of buff

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English buffe “blow; clash.” back formation from buffet²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use buff in a sentence

Wallen isn’t interested in questioning Nashville’s norms so much as buffing them into a dazzling faultlessness.
Morgan Wallen’s big moment feels about 19 songs too long|Chris Richards|January 14, 2021|Washington Post
So history buffs might know this spot as kind of a birthplace of housing rights.
Podcast: Facial recognition is quietly being used to control access to housing and social services|Tate Ryan-Mosley|December 2, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Mechanically, the buildings you construct have uses beyond the settlement, giving you buffs for battle or multiplayer benefits like creating your own viking lieutenant to share with friends.
‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ impressions: Rekindling the spirit of the series|Elise Favis|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
He had all that comedy cred from his years on Parks and Rec, but then he transformed himself into a buff action star!
How Chris Pratt became the internet’s least favorite Chris|Constance Grady|October 22, 2020|Vox

Stories in the Washington Post and CNN stated that buffs may actually transmit more droplets than wearing no mask at all.
Don’t give up on your buff just yet|Katherine Ellen Foley|August 12, 2020|Quartz
Inside, patrons can sip on bespoke whisky and coffee while getting that buffed and polished look.
The Most Exciting New Hotels, Restaurants, and Submarines of 2014|Charlie Gilbert|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The buffed and handsome pair could be seen on early-morning runs around the walled compound.
Early Signs of General Petraeus’s Extramarital Affair|John Barry|November 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Koon: Buffed out is jargon that I have come to associate with very muscular.
L.A. Riots Anniversary: Stacey Koon’s Disturbing Testimony|Christine Pelisek|April 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Would you please describe to the jury what buffed out means to you.
L.A. Riots Anniversary: Stacey Koon’s Disturbing Testimony|Christine Pelisek|April 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Mounger: With regard to your state of mind, what were you thinking when you saw this buffed out person?
L.A. Riots Anniversary: Stacey Koon’s Disturbing Testimony|Christine Pelisek|April 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It had been washed and buffed and polished until it looked as new as the day I picked it out on the salesroom floor.
Highways in Hiding|George Oliver Smith
Curiously the deposit was very dark, almost black, which could not be buffed or polished bright.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 586, March 26, 1887|Various
And roundabout, leagues high, gloss-buffed walls of amethyst, and gleaming pillars of pearl girded this splendor.
The Red Debt|Everett MacDonald
He was all his grandfather was, only sandpapered, buffed and polished by civilization.
Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Volume 7|Elbert Hubbard
The grain is buffed and stained black with logwood, ammonia and iron solution (curriers' ink).
Animal Proteins|Hugh Garner Bennett

British Dictionary definitions for buff (1 of 3)

buff¹

/ (bʌf) /

noun

a soft thick flexible undyed leather made chiefly from the skins of buffalo, oxen, and elk
(as modifier)a buff coat

a dull yellow or yellowish-brown colour
(as adjective)buff paint

Also called: buffer

a cloth or pad of material used for polishing an object
a flexible disc or wheel impregnated with a fine abrasive for polishing metals, etc, with a power tool

informal one's bare skin (esp in the phrase in the buff)

verb

to clean or polish (a metal, floor, shoes, etc) with a buff

to remove the grain surface of (a leather)

Word Origin for buff

C16: from Old French buffle, from Old Italian bufalo, from Late Latin būfalus buffalo

British Dictionary definitions for buff (2 of 3)

buff²

/ (bʌf) /

verb

(tr) to deaden the force of

noun

archaic a blow or buffet (now only in the phrase blind man's buff)

Word Origin for buff

C15: back formation from buffet ²

British Dictionary definitions for buff (3 of 3)

buff³

/ (bʌf) /

noun

informal an expert on or devotee of a given subjecta cheese buff

Word Origin for buff

C20: originally US: an enthusiastic fire watcher, from the buff-coloured uniforms worn by volunteer firemen in New York City

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with buff

buff

see in the buff.

buff

OTHER WORDS FOR buff

Origin of buff

OTHER WORDS FROM buff

Other definitions for buff (2 of 2)

Origin of buff

Words related to buff

How to use buff in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for buff (1 of 3)

Word Origin for buff

British Dictionary definitions for buff (2 of 3)

Word Origin for buff

British Dictionary definitions for buff (3 of 3)

Word Origin for buff

Other Idioms and Phrases with buff