buff
noun
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Definition of buff
(Entry 1 of 3)
1 : a garment (such as a uniform) made of buff leather
2 : the state of being nude sunbathing in the buff
3a : a moderate orange yellow
b : a light to moderate yellow
4 : a device having a soft absorbent surface (as of cloth) by which polishing material is applied
5 [ earlier buff an enthusiast about going to fires; perhaps from the buff overcoats worn by volunteer firefighters in New York City about 1820 ] : fan, enthusiast
buff
adjectiveDefinition of buff (Entry 2 of 3)
1 : of the color buff
2 or buffed : having a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises
buff
verbDefinition of buff (Entry 3 of 3)
2 : to give a velvety surface to (leather)
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Synonyms & Antonyms for buff
Synonyms: Noun
addict, aficionado (also afficionado), bug, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic, fancier, fiend, fool, freak, habitué (also habitue), head, hound, junkie (also junky), lover, maniac, maven (also mavin), nut, sucker
Synonyms: Verb
burnish, dress, furbish, gloss, grind, polish, rub, shine, smooth
Antonyms: Noun
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Examples of buff in a Sentence
Noun
he's such a film buff that he owns over 3,000 movies protected by a fully enclosed backyard, the couple would frequently sunbathe in the buffAdjective
He's at the gym every day trying to get buff. the buff body of an athleteVerb
The floors are waxed and buffed every year. She is going to the salon to get her nails buffed.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The building then had a radio tower, which caused confusion among movie buffs for decades, who often identified the Westward Ho as the site. — Randy Cordova, azcentral, "These movies were filmed in Phoenix and you'll recognize the locations," 30 June 2018 ENCINITAS Bonsai buffs share gardening tips The Bonsai and Beyond group meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the San Diego Botanic Gardens, 230 Quail Gardens Drive. — Linda Mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Lions Club member receives fellowship award ...community news," 14 July 2018 Nowadays, Danny stays busy being a dad, practicing putts on his miniature green to reduce his 9 handicap and procrastinating about the air conditioner the classic car buff wants to put in the 1968 Camaro sitting in his garage. — David Haugh, chicagotribune.com, "Operating on Danny Farquhar's brain didn't change what was in White Sox pitcher's heart," 12 July 2018 Fitness buffs huff and puff up and down the amphitheater aisles all year long, and wise ones keep their eyes open. — Christopher Reynolds, latimes.com, "Sitting in the palm of nature: The unique energy — and performances — of Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre," 12 July 2018 Civil War buffs traditionally don’t give Houston much consideration. — Chris Gray, Houston Chronicle, "Expansive exhibit highlights Houston’s quiet but vital role during Civil War," 11 July 2018 My dog was held to his handsome, strong, buff chest. — Jocelyn Mcclurg, USA TODAY, "Lisa Scottoline and daughter dish on cute dogs and why crush Bradley Cooper is 'hot'," 10 July 2018 Everything about the weeklong Caribbean cruise is meant to buff life’s unpleasant edges into sea glass. — Michael Ian Black, New York Times, "Cruises Are So Uncool They Are Cool," 3 July 2018 Daniel Strada was an inspirational fitness buff who made goofy YouTube videos and wrapped his mother in giant bear hugs. — Michael Williams, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Lake Mary man was killed by a stray bullet — all because of a fight he had no part in," 12 July 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Many animals compensate for puny muscles with speed, but muscles—even in the buffest bodybuilder—can only contract so fast. — National Geographic, "Watch Spider Jaws Move as Quickly as World's Fastest Runner," 7 Apr. 2016Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The tester came with 21-inch five-spoke wheels ($1,000 extra) to buff the profile. — Robert Duffer, chicagotribune.com, "Mercedes-AMG's first compact performance crossover takes a bite out of competition," 2 Aug. 2017 Learning how to wax and buff your car properly can save you a bunch of money over time. — Ben Murphy, Popular Mechanics, "How to Wax Your Car," 6 Feb. 2017 The other person suggested the damage could be buffed out, and asked if Lewis had been killed on impact. — The Washington Post, NOLA.com, "After killing black Leesville man in crash, white 18-year-old called him racial slur, police say," 3 June 2018 To achieve the 19-year-old starlet’s look, Kennedy began by sketching the shape of the eye with the coppery-brown colored ChanelPrecision Eye Definer in Brun-Cuivre, then buffing it out. — Lesley Mckenzie, The Hollywood Reporter, "Amandla Stenberg’s MTV Awards Makeup Paid Homage to an Eighties Illustrator," 18 June 2018 At stake: Billions of dollars in beach-buffing funds, not to mention the tourist dollars attracted to Florida’s golden coast. — Anne Geggis, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Widening beaches might bring more hazards, researchers say," 4 May 2018 More often, that A-list glow comes by way of body bronzers — plus a 24/7 glam squad that can rub and buff them to perfection. — refinery29.com, "I Tried $292 Worth Of Body Bronzers — & Didn't Ruin All My Clothes," 29 May 2018 The star sprayed a small amount of the product on a paper towel and buffed at the lines. — Jillian Ruffo, PEOPLE.com, "Ashley Graham Uses Windex to Fix Her Spray Tan Streaks," 29 May 2018 The win buys Steve Bieser’s team additional time to buff up its resume, which isn’t good enough to safely get into the NCAA Tournament. — Alex Schiffer, kansascity, "Mizzou Monday: A Jontay Porter return? Jordan Barnett in the NBA and more | The Kansas City Star," 21 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'buff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for buff
buff
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of buff
(Entry 1 of 2)
: having a strong, muscular body or form
buff
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of buff (Entry 2 of 2)
: to make (a surface) smooth and shiny by rubbing it
See the full definition for buff in the English Language Learners Dictionary
buff
noun
\
Kids Definition of buff
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : a pale orange yellow
2 : a stick or wheel with a soft surface for applying polish
3 : fan entry 3 a music buff
buff
verbKids Definition of buff (Entry 2 of 2)
: to polish with or as if with a buff
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