puff

The definition of a puff is a short gust of wind, a breath of air or a soft pastry.

(noun)

To puff is defined as to blow in short bouts of wind or air, or to fill with air.

(verb)

An example of to puff is to blow circles with smoke.
An example of to puff is to fluff up a down comforter, inflating the comforter with air.

See puff in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

1. a short, sudden burst or gust, as of wind, or an expulsion, as of breath
2. the sound of this
3. a small quantity of vapor, smoke, etc. expelled at one time
a draw at a cigarette, pipe, etc.
a swelling, or a protuberance caused by swelling
a shell of soft, light pastry filled with whipped cream, custard, etc.
a soft, bulging mass of material, full in the middle and gathered in at the edges
a soft roll of hair on the head
a soft pad for dabbing powder on the skin or hair
a quilted bed covering with cotton, wool, or down filling
1. Archaic vain show; bluff
2. an advertisement, review, etc., as of a book, containing undue or exaggerated praise

Origin: ME puf < OE pyff < the v.

intransitive verb

to blow in puffs, as the wind
1. to give forth puffs of smoke, steam, etc.
2. to breathe rapidly and hard, as from running
to move, giving forth puffs: with away, out, in, etc.
to come in puffs, as smoke
1. to fill (out or up), as with air
2. to become inflated, as with pride: with out or up
3. to swell (out or up), as skin tissue
to take a puff or puffs at a cigarette, pipe, etc.

Origin: ME puffen < OE pyffan, of echoic orig.

transitive verb

See puff in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. A short forceful exhalation of breath.
b. A short sudden gust of wind.
c. A brief sudden emission of air, vapor, or smoke.
d. A short sibilant sound produced by a puff.
An amount of vapor, smoke, or similar material released in a puff.
An act of drawing in and expelling the breath, as in smoking tobacco.
A swelling or rounded protuberance.
Puff pastry.
A light soft pad for applying powder or lotion.
A gathered, protruding portion of fabric.
A light padded bed covering.
a. An approving or flattering recommendation.
b. A piece of writing, as on the jacket of a book, containing often exaggerated praise, used for promotional purposes.
Genetics A localized region of swelling in certain chromosomes indicating the active synthesis of RNA.

verb puffed, puff·ing, puffs

verb, intransitive

To blow in puffs.
To come forth in puffs: steam puffing from an engine.
To breathe forcefully and rapidly: huffed and puffed up the stairs.
To emit puffs.
To take puffs on smoking material: puffing on a cigar.
To swell or seem to swell, as with pride or air. Often used with up: He puffed up and glared at the importuning questioner.

verb, transitive

To emit or give forth in puffs.
To impel with puffs.
To smoke (a cigar, for example).
To inflate or distend.
To fill with pride or conceit.
To publicize with often exaggerated praise: publishers who puff their new books.

Origin:

Origin: From Middle English puffen, to puff

Origin: , from Old English pyffan

Origin: , perhaps of imitative origin

Related Forms: