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buff1 definition

buff (buf)

noun

  1. a heavy, soft, brownish-yellow leather made from the skin of the buffalo or from other animal hides
  2. a military coat made of this leather
    1. a stick or small block covered with leather or cloth, used for cleaning or shining
    2. buffing wheel
  4. a dull brownish yellow
  5. ☆ Informal a devotee or enthusiast, as of a particular area of interest a jazz buff

Etymology: earlier buffe, buffalo < Fr buffle < It bufalo, buffalo

adjective

  1. made of buff
  2. of the color buff
  3. Slang physically, often sexually attractive, as by being pleasingly fit and muscular or having a sexually desirable figure

transitive verb

  1. to clean or shine with a buff or treated cloth
  2. to make smooth or soft like buff
buff Idioms

in the buff

naked; nude
buff2 definition

buff (buf)

noun

a blow

Etymology: ME & OFr buffe: see buffet

transitive verb

to lessen the force of

intransitive verb

to be a buffer

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms buff idiom

buff Synonyms

buff

modif.

tan, ocher, tawny, brownish yellow; see brown, tan, yellow 1.

in the buff*

naked, nude, bare, unclothed; see naked 1.


buff

v.

polish, burnish, brush; see polish, shine 3. See syn. study at polish.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

buff Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • avid: An avid film buff, who loves to go to flicks on a regular basis.

Modifies a noun

  • facing: The old distinction of velvet facings for regiments of Horse was allowed to continue, with the Bays retaining their buff facings.

Modifying Another Word

  • gently: Gently buff the skin with the abrasive side of the sponge using light to moderate pressure - see pictures below.

Noun used with modifier

  • trivia: For the REAL trivia buff, the original choice to play the Cardinal was Kenneth Griffith.

Infinitive complement

  • shine: Apply the wax in a thin coat with a lint free cloth and then carefully buff to shine with a separate lint free material.

Preposition: with

  • brush: Once applied and left to dry it can be buffed with a soft brush.
buff usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"buff." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/buff>

APA Style

buff. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/buff

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