Puff

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ÊŒf

Origin

Old English pyffian

Full definition of puff

Noun

1. (countable) A sharp exhalation of a small amount of breath through the mouth.
2. (uncountable) The ability to breathe easily while exerting oneself.out of puff
3. (countable) A small quantity of gas or smoke in the air.puff of smoke
• Flatmanto every puff of wind a slave
4. (informal, countable) An act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette, cigar or pipe.
5. (countable) A flamboyant or alluring statement about an object's quality.
• 1842, "A Paper on Puffing", in Ainsworth's MagazineIs nothing to be said in praise of the "Emporiums" and "Repositories" and "Divans," which formerly were mere insignificant tailors', toymen's, and tobacconists' shops? Is the transition from the barber's pole to the revolving bust of the perruquier, nothing? — the leap from the bare counter-traversed shop to the carpeted and mirrored saloon of trade, nothing? Are they not, one and all, practical puffs, intended to invest commerce with elegance, and to throw a halo round extravagance?
• 1848, Mrs. White, "Puffs and Puffing", in Sharpe's London MagazineHere the duke is made the vehicle of the tailor's advertisement, and the prelusive compliments, ostensibly meant for his grace, merge into a covert recommendation of the coat. Several specimens might be given of this species of puff, which is to be met with in almost every paper, and is a favourite form with booksellers, professional men, &c.
• 2008, David Paton-Williamspage, Katterfelto, page xiiHe was the eighteenth century king of spin, or, in the language of the day, the "prince of puff".
6. A puffball.
7. A powder puff.
8. (uncountable, slang) The drug cannabis.
9. (countable) A light cake filled with cream, cream cheese, etc.cream puff
10. (derogatory, slang, British, particularly northern UK) a homosexual; a poof
11. (slang, dated, UK) life
• 1938, P. G. Wodehouse (Bertie Wooster speaking of Spode) in The Code of the WoostersDid you ever in your puff see such a perfect perisher?

Synonyms

• (sharp exhalation of a small amount of breath through the mouth)
• (ability to breathe easily while exerting oneself) wind
• (small quantity of gas or smoke in the air)
• (act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette, cigar or pipe) drag
• (cannabis) blow, dope, ganja, pot, weed; see also
• (type of cake) pastry
• (poof) See poof

Derived terms

• powder puff
• puff pastry
• puffery
• puffing
• puff piece

Verb

1. (intransitive) To emit smoke, gas, etc., in puffs.
2. (intransitive) To pant.
• L'EstrangeThe ass comes back again, puffing and blowing, from the chase.
• 1918, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Land That Time Forgot (novel) Chapter VIPuffing and panting, we plodded on until within about a mile of the harbor we came upon a sight that brought us all up standing.
3. (transitive, archaic) To advertise.
4. To blow as an expression of scorn.
• SouthIt is really to defy Heaven to puff at damnation.
5. To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated.
6. To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner; hence, to assume importance.
• HerbertThen came brave Glory puffing by.
7. To drive with a puff, or with puffs.
• DrydenThe clearing north will puff the clouds away.
8. To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously.
• DrydenI puff the prostitute away.
9. To cause to swell or dilate; to inflate.a bladder puffed with air
• Shakespearethe sea puffed up with winds
10. To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, etc.; often with up.
• Jowettpuffed up with military success
11. To praise with exaggeration; to flatter; to call public attention to by praises; to praise unduly.
• Macaulaypuffed with wonderful skill

Derived terms

• puffed
• puff up
• puff out