buff

1 of 3

noun

1
: a garment (such as a uniform) made of buff leather
2
: the state of being nude
sunbathing in the buff
3
a
: a moderate orange yellow
b
: a light to moderate yellow
4
: a device having a soft absorbent surface (as of cloth) by which polishing material is applied
5
[earlier buff an enthusiast about going to fires; perhaps from the buff overcoats worn by volunteer firefighters in New York City about 1820] : fan, enthusiast

buff

2 of 3

adjective

1
: of the color buff
2
or buffed : having a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises

buff

3 of 3

verb

buffed; buffing; buffs

transitive verb

1
: polish, shine
waxed and buffed the floor
2
: to give a velvety surface to (leather)

Examples of buff in a Sentence

Noun he's such a film buff that he owns over 3,000 movies protected by a fully enclosed backyard, the couple would frequently sunbathe in the buff Adjective He's at the gym every day trying to get buff. the buff body of an athlete Verb The floors are waxed and buffed every year. She is going to the salon to get her nails buffed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Fun, Surprising Subscription Gifts for Everyone on Your List Delightful boxes for artists, foodies, history buffs, and more. Suzy Forman, SELF, 6 Nov. 2024 Its production and subsequent ascendance among film buffs hold lessons for business owners as well for unearthing the extraordinary from unexpected places. Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2024
Adjective
But the magic of Christmas is found in the unexplained, not in watching a buff Santa rappelling into all the world’s chimneys. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2024 Chris Morgan — whose many credits include several entries in the Fast & Furious franchise — penned the screenplay from Garcia's story idea, and the result is a film that follows a very buff Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons), a.k.a. EW.com, 25 Sep. 2024
Verb
Dior's Lip Sugar Scrub comes in a convenient tube format, and Sara Happ The Lip Scrub gently buffs away flakes. Isadora Baum, Allure, 19 Nov. 2024 If the copper is heavily tarnished, let the toothpaste's active ingredients work on the patina for ten minutes or so before buffing. Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for buff 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French buffle wild ox, from Old Italian bufalo

First Known Use

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of buff was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near buff

Cite this Entry

“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buff. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

buff

1 of 3 noun
1
: an orange yellow
2
: a device with a soft absorbent surface (as of cloth) for applying polishing material
3
: fan entry 3, enthusiast
a tennis buff

buff

2 of 3 adjective
: of the color buff

buff

3 of 3 verb
: to polish with or as if with a buff

More from Merriam-Webster on buff

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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