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

see all synonyms and antonyms

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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