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
In addition to being an American history buff, Mr. Middelton enjoyed writing poetry and was an accomplished watercolor artist who liked painting landscapes and towns. — Frederick N. Rasmussen, baltimoresun.com, "James W. 'Bill' Middelton, former bank president and investment banker, dies," 13 July 2018 Over the three-day conference, engineers, business buffs, urban planners, government officials, and transportation researchers grappled with how to tell the public that its wonder drug of a transportation solution will have its limitations. — Aarian Marshall, WIRED, "Home From the Honeymoon, the Self-Driving Car Industry Faces Reality," 13 July 2018 This may be the first cartoon in history designed for this particular overlap of audiences: military buffs and the very, very young. — Ben Kenigsberg, New York Times, "A War Dog Salutes in ‘Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero’," 12 Apr. 2018 Mingle with other film buffs, talk about movies, but try not to get burnt out too quickly. — Trevor Fraser, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Florida Film Festival: April 6," 6 Apr. 2018 Black-capped chickadee The black-capped chickadee has gray coloring on its back and wings, and a buff-colored chest and belly. — Martin Finucane, BostonGlobe.com, "What’s that bird call in your backyard? Here’s a brief primer," 4 Apr. 2018 But while Bob Bradley is a history buff his theories, particularly around Major League Soccer’s newest club, are anything but conformist. — Martin Rogers, USA TODAY, "MLS' newest rivalry? In its first year, LAFC looks to dethrone city rival LA Galaxy," 30 Mar. 2018 ABC News Higher learning Kim Kardashian and Kanye West visited the architecture school at Harvard (Kanye is reportedly a huge building buff), and even the veritable, hallowed halls of Cambridge were not immune to a paparazzi-style turnout. — Lauren Le Vine, Redbook, "Morning Headlines: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Address Divorce Rumors, Batkid Saves Gotham — and More," 18 Nov. 2013 Rinse the pot, then rub on a small amount of ketchup topped with a sprinkling of salt, and buff in with a soft cloth. — Heloise, Houston Chronicle, "Jam, jelly … what's the difference?," 11 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
Chris, again in his standard black trousers, silk tie, and buffed shoes, demonstrated laying the table by first measuring the exact middle for the centerpiece, around which everything else would be arranged. — Jonathan Reynolds, Town & Country, "At Your Service," 11 July 2014 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 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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