bluff

The definition of bluff refers to the act of pretending something that is not true or a very steep, broad-faced cliff next to the ocean or a river.

(noun)

An example of a bluff is when someone playing poker pretends he has a full house even when he doesn't have a good hand.
An example of a bluff is the steep-sided hills along the banks of the Missouri River in Council Bluffs Iowa.

To bluff is to pretend something that is not true.

(verb)

An example of bluff is when you bet big in a card game to fool people into thinking you have a better hand than you do.

See bluff in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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transitive verb, intransitive verb

to mislead or seek to mislead (a person) by a false, bold front
to frighten (a person) by threats not intended to be carried out
to manage to get (one's way) by bluffing
Poker to try to mislead (other players) by betting on one's hand when one knows or believes it is not the best hand

Origin: 17th c.: prob. < Du bluffen, to brag, boast or verbluffen, to baffle, mislead

noun

adjective

Origin: orig. a naut. term, prob. < Du blaf, flat, broad

noun

a high, steep, broad-faced bank or cliff

Related Forms:

See bluff in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb bluffed, bluff·ing, bluffs

verb, transitive

To mislead or deceive.
To impress, deter, or intimidate by a false display of confidence.
Games To try to mislead (opponents) in a card game by heavy betting on a poor hand or by little or no betting on a good one.

verb, intransitive

To engage in a false display of strength or confidence.

noun