PUFF Meaning and
Definition
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Puff can be defined as a verb and a noun, with different meanings based on its usage.
As a verb, puff refers to the act of exhaling forcefully and audibly, typically with one's mouth, producing a short burst of breath accompanied by a slight blowing sound. It can also mean to blow or expel air or smoke in short breaths or with a quick pumping motion. For example, while smoking a cigarette or a pipe, a person may puff on it to draw in and expel the smoke.
As a noun, puff can refer to a short, forceful exhalation of air or a quick blast of wind. It can also describe a small, light mass or cloud of smoke, steam, or dust particles suspended in the air. Puff can also refer to a soft, light, and rounded mass or ball of something, often used in the context of pastry or confectionery.
Furthermore, puff can be used to describe a sudden and temporary increase or surge in something, such as a puff of wind or a puff of enthusiasm. In the fashion industry, a puff refers to a puffed-out section of fabric intended to create a fullness or decorative effect. Additionally, puff can also be used as an informal term to describe inflated or exaggerated praise or self-promotion, often without substantial basis or merit.
Overall, puff encompasses varied meanings ranging from physical actions involving breath or air to describing certain characteristics of objects and ideas.
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A whiff, a short blowing sound heard on auscultation.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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• A breath from the mouth emitted suddenly and with some force; a whiff; a slight gust of wind; anything swollen and light; an exaggerated commendation or advertisement.
• To send air from the mouth with a single and sudden blast; to swell, as with wind; to inflate; to swell with pride; to praise unduly; to breathe quick and hard, as after violent exertion.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for PUFF *
- puf 35.7142857%
- pff 7.1428571%
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for PUFF
Etymology of PUFF
The word "puff" has an uncertain etymology, with various possible origins. Here are a few proposed explanations:
1. Germanic Origin: Some sources suggest that "puff" could be derived from the Germanic word "pufen" or "puffen", which means to blow, huff, or pant. This Germanic root might have influenced the development of "puff" as a verb describing a sudden expulsion of air, such as blowing on something.
2. Onomatopoeia: Another possibility is that "puff" is an onomatopoeic word, meaning it imitates the sound associated with the action it describes. In this case, "puff" could represent the sound of a sudden release of air, like a gentle explosion or a billow.
Idioms with the word PUFF
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puff up
The idiom "puff up" generally means to inflate or exaggerate one's own importance or accomplishments, often with the intention of impressing others or gaining attention. It can also refer to making something seem larger or more significant than it actually is.
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puff and pant/blow
The idiom "puff and pant/blow" refers to exerting a great deal of effort or struggling physically. It usually describes someone breathing heavily and audibly due to exhaustion or physical strain. It suggests that the person is putting in a significant amount of energy and effort to accomplish a task or overcome an obstacle.
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vanish/go up/disappear in a puff of smoke
The idiom "vanish/go up/disappear in a puff of smoke" means to suddenly and completely vanish or disappear, often without any explanation or trace. It implies a sudden and mysterious disappearance, as if the person or thing has vanished instantly, leaving no evidence behind, similar to how smoke quickly dissipates in the air.
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puff away (at something)
The idiom "puff away (at something)" refers to the act of continuing to work on or persistently engage in a task or activity, often with great effort or intensity. It implies exerting considerable energy or determination towards achieving a particular goal or outcome.
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huff and puff
The idiom "huff and puff" is used to describe someone's exaggerated or dramatic effort to accomplish a task or achieve a goal. It refers to the act of breathing heavily, often with indignation or frustration, to show exertion or frustration while working on something.
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puff sm or sth up
The idiom "puff up someone or something" means to inflate, exaggerate, or make something or someone appear better, more impressive, or more important than they really are. It often refers to presenting a false image or promoting someone's or something's reputation beyond their actual capabilities or qualities.
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puff and blow
The idiom "puff and blow" typically refers to someone exerting a lot of effort or energy, often with little to no result. It conveys the idea of someone working hard but achieving very little or futilely struggling to accomplish something.
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cream puff
The definition of the idiom "cream puff" refers to a person who is easily intimidated, weak, or lacking impressive qualities, particularly in terms of physical strength or resilience. It is often used when describing someone who appears delicate or fragile, both physically and emotionally.
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puff and pant
The idiom "puff and pant" refers to the act of breathing heavily or huffing and puffing due to exhaustion or physical exertion. It is often used to describe someone who is out of breath, typically after engaging in strenuous activities or vigorous exercise.
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puff sth out
The idiom "puff sth out" means to blow air or breath forcefully into something in order to make it expand, inflate, or become larger in size. It can also refer to extinguishing a flame or making something stop burning by blowing on it.
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puff up (into sth)
The idiom "puff up (into sth)" means to expand or increase significantly in size, amount, or extent. It is often used figuratively to describe something or someone becoming larger, more important, or more impressive.
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puff along
The idiom "puff along" typically means to continue or proceed, but with effort or difficulty. It often implies that progress is slow or laborious, similar to the image of someone puffing and struggling to make their way forward.
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puff (away) at sth
The idiom "puff (away) at sth" refers to repeatedly inhaling and exhaling smoke from a cigarette, cigar, or pipe. It is often used to describe the action of smoking or the act of taking long and forceful draws on a smoking device.
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puff out
The idiom "puff out" means to expand or swell, typically in reference to the outward projection of a body part or a sudden increase in size or volume. It can also be used metaphorically to describe someone boasting or exaggerating their abilities or achievements.
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puff
The idiom "puff" refers to exaggerated praise or promotion of something or someone. It can also be used to describe someone who is showing off or boasting excessively.
Similar spelling words for PUFF
Conjugate verb Puff
CONDITIONAL PERFECT
I
would have puffed
you
would have puffed
he/she/it
would have puffed
we
would have puffed
they
would have puffed
I
would have puff
you
would have puff
he/she/it
would have puff
we
would have puff
they
would have puff
CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
I
would have been puffing
you
would have been puffing
he/she/it
would have been puffing
we
would have been puffing
they
would have been puffing
CONDITIONAL PRESENT
I
would puff
you
would puff
he/she/it
would puff
we
would puff
they
would puff
CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
I
would be puffing
you
would be puffing
he/she/it
would be puffing
we
would be puffing
they
would be puffing
FUTURE
I
will puff
you
will puff
he/she/it
will puff
we
will puff
they
will puff
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
I
will be puffing
you
will be puffing
he/she/it
will be puffing
we
will be puffing
they
will be puffing
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have puffed
you
will have puffed
he/she/it
will have puffed
we
will have puffed
they
will have puffed
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
will have been puffing
you
will have been puffing
he/she/it
will have been puffing
we
will have been puffing
they
will have been puffing
IMPERATIVE
you
puff
we
let´s puff
to puff
PAST CONTINUOUS
I
was puffing
you
were puffing
he/she/it
was puffing
we
were puffing
they
were puffing
PAST PARTICIPLE
puffed
PAST PERFECT
I
had puffed
you
had puffed
he/she/it
had puffed
we
had puffed
they
had puffed
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
had been puffing
you
had been puffing
he/she/it
had been puffing
we
had been puffing
they
had been puffing
PRESENT
I
puff
you
puff
he/she/it
puffs
we
puff
they
puff
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I
am puffing
you
are puffing
he/she/it
is puffing
we
are puffing
they
are puffing
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
puffing
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have puffed
you
have puffed
he/she/it
has puffed
we
have puffed
they
have puffed
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
have been puffing
you
have been puffing
he/she/it
has been puffing
we
have been puffing
they
have been puffing
PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE
he/she/it
puff
SIMPLE PAST
I
puffed
you
puffed
he/she/it
puffed
we
puffed
they
puffed
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