Main Entry:

¹puff

Pronunciation:

\ˈpəf\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English pyffan, of imitative origin

Date:

before 12th century

intransitive verb1 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 manner3 a: to become distended : swell —usually used with up b: to open or appear in or as if in a puff4: to form a chromosomal pufftransitive verb1 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 smoke2 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