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puff
[puhf]
noun
a short, quick blast, as of wind or breath.
an abrupt emission of air, smoke, vapor, etc.
an act of inhaling and exhaling, as on a cigarette or pipe; whiff.
the sound of an abrupt emission of air, vapor, etc.
a small quantity of vapor, smoke, etc., emitted at one blast.
an inflated or distended part of a thing; swelling; protuberance.
a form of light pastry with a filling of cream, jam, or the like.
a portion of material gathered and held down at the edges but left full in the middle, as on a sleeve.
a cylindrical roll of hair.
a quilted bed covering, usually filled with down.
a commendation, especially an exaggerated one, of a book, an actor's performance, etc.
a ball or pad of soft material.
Chiefly British Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive., a gay man.
verb (used without object)
to blow with short, quick blasts, as the wind.
to be emitted in a puff.
to emit a puff or puffs; breathe quick and hard, as after violent exertion.
to go with puffing or panting.
to emit puffs or whiffs of vapor or smoke.
to move with such puffs.
The locomotive puffed into the station.
to take puffs at a cigar, cigarette, etc.
to become inflated, distended, or swollen (usually followed byup ).
(especially of an auctioneer's accomplice) to bid on an item at an auction solely to increase the price that the final bidder must pay.
verb (used with object)
to send forth (air, vapor, etc.) in short, quick blasts.
to drive or impel by puffing, or with a short, quick blast.
to extinguish by means of a puff (usually followed byout ).
to puff a match out.
to smoke (a cigar, cigarette, etc.).
to inflate, distend, or swell, especially with air.
to make fluffy; fluff (often followed byup ).
to puff up a pillow.
to inflate with pride, vanity, etc. (often followed byup ).
Their applause puffed him up.
to praise unduly or with exaggeration.
to apply powder to (the cheeks, neck, etc.) with a powder puff.
to apply (powder) with a powder puff.
to arrange in puffs, as the hair.
puff
/ pʌf /
noun
a short quick draught, gust, or emission, as of wind, smoke, air, etc, esp a forceful one
the amount of wind, smoke, etc, released in a puff
the sound made by or associated with a puff
an instance of inhaling and expelling the breath as in smoking
a swelling
a light aerated pastry usually filled with cream, jam, etc
a powder puff
exaggerated praise, as of a book, product, etc, esp through an advertisement
a piece of clothing fabric gathered up so as to bulge in the centre while being held together at the edges
a loose piece of hair wound into a cylindrical roll, usually over a pad, and pinned in place in a coiffure
a less common word for quilt
one's breath (esp in the phrase out of puff )
derogatory, a male homosexual
a dialect word for puffball
verb
to blow or breathe or cause to blow or breathe in short quick draughts or blasts
(tr; often foll by out; usually passive) to cause to be out of breath
to take puffs or draws at (a cigarette, cigar, or pipe)
to move with or by the emission of puffs
the steam train puffed up the incline
to swell, as with air, pride, etc
(tr) to praise with exaggerated empty words, often in advertising
(tr) to apply (cosmetic powder) from a powder puff to (the face)
to increase the price of (a lot in an auction) artificially by having an accomplice make false bids
Other Word Forms
- puffingly adverb
- unpuffed adjective
- unpuffing adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of puff1
Word History and Origins
Origin of puff1
Example Sentences
Much like the fruit, the puffs are refreshing yet syrupy with a slight tartness.
Finally, a worm needed the encouragement of a gentle puff of air or a slight mechanical disturbance before making the leap toward a suspended fruit fly.
Not too long after that, Keaton flew across the country to New York where several things happened in short succession that would have puffed up anyone else’s ego.
This is the sort of anti-bully cosplay I’ve come to see often in recent months: Kids I know strutting around with their chests puffed out like roosters, imitating a neighborhood bully who insults immigrants.
There was a brief acknowledgement and a puff of the cheeks from Healy when she reached three figures - the value of a century is in the outcome of the match.
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