puff

¹puff

verb \ˈpəf\

Definition of PUFF

intransitive verb

1

a (1) : to blow in short gusts (2) : to exhale forcibly

b : to breathe hard : pant

c : to emit small whiffs or clouds (as of smoke) often as an accompaniment to vigorous action <puff at a pipe>

2

: to speak or act in a scornful, conceited, or exaggerated manner

3

a : to become distended : swell —usually used with up

b : to open or appear in or as if in a puff

4

: to form a chromosomal puff

transitive verb

1

a : to emit, propel, blow, or expel by or as if by puffs : waft

b : to draw on (as a cigar, cigarette, or pipe) with intermittent exhalations of smoke

2

a : to distend with or as if with air or gas : inflate

b : to make proud or conceited : elate

c (1) : to praise extravagantly and usually with exaggeration <authors puffing their own work> (2) : advertise

Examples of PUFF

1. She sat on the porch puffing on a cigarette.
2. The chimney puffed white smoke into the sky.
3. We watched the train puff away on its journey west.
4. He was puffing and panting from running.
5. The bikers puffed up the hill.

Origin of PUFF

Middle English, from Old English pyffan, of imitative origin

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to PUFF

Synonyms

blow, heave, hyperventilate, pant, gasp, wheeze

Related Words

choke, gag, gulp, huff; asphyxiate, smother, stifle, strangle; snore, snuffle; exhale, expire

Near Antonyms

bad-mouth, belittle, decry, depreciate, disparage, put down

Rhymes with PUFF

bluff, buff, chough, chuff, cuff, duff, fluff, gruff, guff, huff, luff, muff, rough, ruff, scruff, scuff, slough, snuff, sough, stuff, tough, tuff

²puff

noun

Definition of PUFF

1

a : an act or instance of puffing : whiff

b : a slight explosive sound accompanying a puff

c : a perceptible cloud or aura emitted in a puff

d : draw 1a

2

: a light round hollow pastry

3

a : a slight swelling : protuberance

b : a fluffy mass: as (1) : pouf 2 (2) : a small fluffy pad for applying cosmetic powder (3) : a soft loose roll of hair (4) : a quilted bed covering

4

: a commendatory or promotional notice or review

5

: an enlarged region of a chromosome that is associated with intensely active genes involved in RNA synthesis

— puff·i·ness \ˈpə-fē-nəs\ noun

— puffy \ˈpə-fē\ adjective

Examples of PUFF

1. He let me have a puff off his pipe.
2. She took two puffs on her inhaler before going for a run.
3. puffs filled with cream cheese and apricot jam

First Known Use of PUFF

13th century

Related to PUFF

Synonyms

air, breath, breeze, waft, zephyr

Related Words

current, draft, whiff; sea breeze; blast, blow, flurry, gale, headwind, northeaster, norther, northwester, southeaster, southwester, tailwind, westerly, wind; squall, tempest, tornado, windstorm; airflow

Near Antonyms

calm

³puff

adjective

Definition of PUFF

: of, relating to, or designed for promotion or flattery <a puff piece in the paper>

First Known Use of PUFF

1943