puff

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A sharp exhalation of a small amount of breath through the mouth.

2. 2

   The ability to breathe easily while exerting oneself.

   • out of puff
3. 3

   A small quantity of gas or smoke in the air.

   • puff of smoke
4. ›+ 23 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A sudden but small gust of wind, smoke, etc.

      • to every puff of wind a slave
      • "The wind we had was only an early puff! You'll see we shall have our full allowance!"
   2. 5

      An act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette, cigar or pipe.

   3. 6

      The drug cannabis.

   4. 7

      A flamboyant or alluring statement of praise.

      • […] though I care not one straw for the personal puffs of which I myself am so often the subject […]
      • […] we critics were not his fellow-guests, but simply deadheads whose business it was to "dress the house" and write puffs.
   5. 8

      A portion of fabric gathered up so as to be left full in the middle.

      • a sleeve with a puff at the shoulder
   6. 9

      A light cake filled with cream, cream cheese, etc.

      • cream puff
   7. 10

      A puffball.

      • Bozzacchio, an acorne. Also a puffe or mushrump full of dust.
   8. 11

      A powder puff.

   9. 12

      A puffer, one who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold at auction to bid up…

      A puffer, one who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold at auction to bid up the price; an act or scam of that type.

      • He was the eighteenth century king of spin, or, in the language of the day, the "prince of puff".
   10. 13

       A region of a chromosome exhibiting a local increase in diameter.

   11. 14

       Life.

       • Isn't this the chance of a lifetime? Have either of you ever made a couple of quids at once in your puff before—pinching goods from the back of delivery vans and smooching lead off empty houses?
       • Did you ever in your puff see such a perfect perisher?
   12. 15

       Synonym of poof

       Synonym of poof: a gay man; especially one who is effeminate.

   13. 16

       To emit smoke, gas, etc., in puffs.

       • Still on the down line, the engine puffed away to the South, and in a few moments had disappeared in the darkness!
   14. 17

       To pant.

       • By and by comes the ass back again, Puffing and Blowing, from the Chase.
       • Puffing and panting, we plodded on until within about a mile of the harbor we came upon a sight that brought us all up standing.
   15. 18

       To advertise.

   16. 19

       To blow as an expression of scorn.

       • It is really to defy Heaven to puff at damnation.
   17. 20

       To swell with air

       To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated.

       • 'tis easy for a man to have a great opinion of his own knowledge , and be puff'd up by it
   18. 21

       To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner

       To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner; hence, to assume importance.

       • Then came brave Glory puffing by.
   19. 22

       To drive with a puff, or with puffs.

       • The clearing north will puff the clouds away.
   20. 23

       To repel with words

       To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously.

       • I puff the prostitute away.
   21. 24

       To cause to swell or dilate

       To cause to swell or dilate; to inflate.

       • a bladder puffed with air
       • the sea puffed up with winds
   22. 25

       To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, etc.

       To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, etc.; often with up.

       • puffed up with military success
   23. 26

       To praise with exaggeration

       To praise with exaggeration; to flatter; to call public attention to by praises; to praise unduly.

       • puffed with wonderful skill

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