puff

1 of 3

verb

ˈpəf 

puffed; puffing; puffs

intransitive verb

1

a(1)

: to blow in short gusts

(2)

: to exhale forcibly

b

: to breathe hard : pant

c

: to emit small whiffs or clouds (as of smoke) often as an accompaniment to vigorous action

puff at a pipe

2

: to speak or act in a scornful, conceited, or exaggerated manner

3

a

: to become distended : swell

—usually used with up

b

: to open or appear in or as if in a puff

4

: to form a chromosomal puff

transitive verb

1

a

: to emit, propel, blow, or expel by or as if by puffs : waft

b

: to draw on (a cigar, cigarette, pipe, etc.) with intermittent exhalations of smoke

2

a

: to distend with or as if with air or gas : inflate

b

: to make proud or conceited : elate

c(1)

: to praise extravagantly and usually with exaggeration

authors puffing their own work

(2)

: advertise

puff

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: an act or instance of puffing : whiff

b

: a slight explosive sound accompanying a puff

c

: a perceptible cloud or aura emitted in a puff

d

: draw sense 1a

2

: a light round hollow pastry

3

a

: a slight swelling : protuberance

b

: a fluffy mass: such as

(1)

: pouf sense 2

(2)

: a small fluffy pad for applying cosmetic powder

(3)

: a soft loose roll of hair

(4)

: a quilted bed covering

4

: a commendatory or promotional notice or review

5

: an enlarged region of a chromosome that is associated with intensely active genes involved in RNA synthesis

puff

3 of 3

adjective

: of, relating to, or designed for promotion or flattery

a puff piece in the paper

Synonyms

Verb

• blow
• gasp
• heave
• hyperventilate
• pant
• wheeze

Noun

• air
• breath
• breeze
• waft
• zephyr

Examples of puff in a Sentence

Verb

She sat on the porch puffing on a cigarette.

The chimney puffed white smoke into the sky.

We watched the train puff away on its journey west.

He was puffing and panting from running.

The bikers puffed up the hill.

Noun

He let me have a puff off his pipe.

She took two puffs on her inhaler before going for a run.

puffs filled with cream cheese and apricot jam

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Harris’s cheeks puffed in and out rhythmically, drawing a meditative drone from the didgeridoo while the strings scraped out a sad melody just this side of Ornette Coleman or Rahsaan Roland Kirk. —Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024

Bake cookies: Bake for 11-13 minutes, until the cookies have puffed up and are just starting to brown. —Alyssa Sybertz, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2024

Noun

There is intense peer pressure among owners to win this cup, mostly with skillful captains and crews, but sometimes the right puff of wind can make the difference between first and second place. —Tonya Russell, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2024

And across from that, a peach tree, heavy with small roundish puffs that in the fresco symbolize old age. —Mark Schapiro, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Grande’s voluminous tulle gown featured puff sleeves, a corseted bodice and crystal embellishments. —Hannah Malach, WWD, 3 Nov. 2024

Unlike its frumpy counterparts, the body-skimming dress adds intrigue with its ruched bodice, puff sleeves, open back, and side slit. —Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English pyffan, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a(1)

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1943, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing puff

• cream puff
• huff and puff
• powder puff
• puff adder
• puff out
• puff pastry
• puff piece
• puff (up) with pride

Kids Definition

puff

1 of 3 verb

ˈpəf 

1

a

: to blow in short gusts

b

: to breathe hard : pant

puffed as we climbed the hill

c

: to blow by or as if by puffs

the locomotive puffed smoke

2

: to swell or become swollen with or as if with air

the sprained ankle puffed up

puffed up with pride

puff

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: an act or instance of puffing : whiff, gust

b

: a cloud (as of smoke or steam) given off in a puff

2

: a light pastry that rises high in baking

3

a

: a slight swelling

b

: a small fluffy pad for applying cosmetic powder

c

: a quilted bed covering

puffiness

ˈpəf-ē-nəs 

noun

puffy

ˈpəf-ē 

adjective

puff

3 of 3 adjective

: of, relating to, or designed for promotion or flattery

a puff piece

Medical Definition

puff

1 of 2 intransitive verb

ˈpəf 

1

: to become distended : swell

—usually used with up

2

: to form a chromosomal puff

puff

2 of 2 noun

1

: windgall

2

: an enlarged region of a chromosome that is associated with intensely active genes involved in RNA synthesis

Legal Definition

puff

noun

1

: an act or instance of puffing

2

: a statement that amounts to puffing

whether the seller's statement was a “puff” or an express warranty

—J. J. White and R. S. Summers