WordGarden.iopuff
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈʌf/
US
- /ˈpəf/
Meanings
Noun
a short burst of air, breath, smoke, or steam
a flattering promotional article, statement, or advertisement
a light airy pastry or snack
Verb
to breathe hard or blow in short bursts, or to smoke by taking quick draws
to promote or praise something publicly in an exaggerated way
Beyond the definition
A puff is often a small burst of air, like when you blow out a candle or when the wind lightly moves your hair. It can also mean a small cloud of smoke, steam, or dust. Sometimes it describes someone swelling outward a little, like cheeks or a chest.
The word can also be about pride and show. Someone may puff themselves up to look important, or speak in a way that sounds like bragging. So the word can point to something light and airy, or to someone trying to seem bigger than they really are.
The word "puff" is used for several related ideas. Very often, it means a small, soft burst of air. You see this in a puff of wind, a puff from someone blowing on hot soup, or the short breaths a tired runner makes. It can also mean a small cloud of something light, such as smoke, steam, dust, or flour moving into the air for a moment.
As a verb, "puff" can mean to blow in short breaths or to breathe hard after effort. It can also mean to swell outward a little. Cheeks can puff out, and a person can puff out their chest to look bigger or more confident. In this sense, the word often suggests something expanding in a noticeable but not usually permanent way.
The word also has a social meaning. To puff someone or something can mean to praise it too much, especially in a way that sounds more like promotion than honest judgment. That is why people use the phrase "puff piece" for writing that makes a person, product, or idea look better than it really is. A person can also puff themselves up by acting proud, important, or full of themselves.
So the word can move between the physical and the emotional: a little breath of air, a brief cloud in the air, a shape that swells outward, or talk that is full of show. In each case, it usually suggests something light, brief, or slightly exaggerated.
Examples
- 1
Air movement
A puff of wind blew the map off the table.
- 2
Blowing
The little boy puffed on the dandelion, and the seeds floated away.
- 3
Breathlessness
By the time we reached the top floor, I was puffing.
- 4
Animal reaction
The cat puffed up its tail when the dog came closer.
- Patternpuff up
become bigger and fuller
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Hard breathing
We could hear him huffing and puffing as he carried the boxes upstairs.
- Phrasehuffing and puffing
breathing very hard because something is difficult
- 6
Pride
Don't let a little praise puff you up.
- Patternpuff someone up
make someone feel too important
- 7
Failed plans
Our weekend plans disappeared in a puff of smoke when the car broke down.
- Phrasein a puff of smoke
suddenly and completely
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- puffnounverbadjective
Forms
- puffspluralnounverbadjective
- puffedpast tenseverbnounadjective
- puffing-ing formverbnounadjective