transitive verb, intransitive verb

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

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

noun

1. the act or practice of bluffing
2. a person who bluffs
   also bluffer bluff′er