noun
Uncommon
buff
buhf
Buff (noun) means a person deeply knowledgeable or enthusiastic about a particular subject. Example: “He's a real history buff and can talk for hours about ancient Rome.”
noun
1
A person deeply knowledgeable or enthusiastic about a particular subject.
"He's a real history buff and can talk for hours about ancient Rome."
"My dad is a film buff who owns hundreds of old movies."
"Every wine buff in the village came to the tasting evening."
adj
1
Muscular and physically fit, especially with visible muscle tone.
"She got noticeably buff after a year of weight training."
"He looked much buffer after months of climbing and lifting at the gym."
"The actor got buff for the role by training every single morning."
2
A pale, brownish-yellow color, originally that of buffalo-hide leather.
"The walls were painted a soft buff shade."
"She chose a buff envelope because it matched the colour of the old paper."
"The cottage had buff stone walls that glowed in the evening sun."
verb
1
To polish something until it shines by rubbing it.
"He buffed the car's hood until it gleamed."
"Buff the shoes with a soft cloth until the leather shines."
"She buffed the silver spoons before the guests arrived for dinner."
2
In games, to make a character, item, or ability stronger through a change or update.
"The developers buffed the healer class in the latest patch."
"Players complained when the designers buffed the sword and made it far too strong."
"I hope they buff this weak character in the next update."
How to use buff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCan mean an enthusiast ("movie buff"), muscular ("looking buff"), a pale color, or to polish/strengthen something.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
film buff
buff up
buffed to a shine
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Word forms
- Plural
- buffs
- Third person singular
- buffs
- Past tense
- buffed
- Comparative
- buffer, more buff
- Superlative
- buffest, most buff
Fill the gap
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He's a real history _____ and can talk for hours about ancient Rome.
Etymology
From "buffe," an old word for buffalo-hide leather, via Middle French "buffle" meaning "buffalo."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for buff
See all rhymes for buff →Frequently asked questions
What does “buff” mean?
The word “buff” means a person deeply knowledgeable or enthusiastic about a particular subject. In plain terms, can mean an enthusiast ("movie buff"), muscular ("looking buff"), a pale color, or to polish/strengthen something.
How do you pronounce “buff”?
“Buff” is pronounced buhf (/bʌf/ in IPA).
How do you use “buff” in a sentence?
Here is “buff” used in a sentence: “He's a real history buff and can talk for hours about ancient Rome.”
What part of speech is “buff”?
Depending on how it is used, “buff” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “buff” come from?
The word “buff” comes from Middle French. From "buffe," an old word for buffalo-hide leather, via Middle French "buffle" meaning "buffalo.".
Is “buff” a common word?
“Buff” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “buff” have?
“Buff” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person deeply knowledgeable or enthusiastic about a particular subject.
What does it mean to call someone a "film buff"?
A buff is a person deeply knowledgeable or enthusiastic about a particular subject, so a "film buff" is someone with strong knowledge of and passion for movies. It's a positive, informal label for an avid hobbyist or expert.
What is the difference between "buff" and "nerf" in gaming?
In games, to buff a character, item, or ability means to make it stronger through a change or update, while to nerf it means to make it weaker. The two terms describe opposite balance changes.
What does it mean to describe someone as "buff"?
As an adjective, buff describes someone as muscular and physically fit, especially with visible muscle tone. It's an informal, complimentary way to describe physique.
Is "buff" also a color?
Yes, as an adjective buff can describe a pale, brownish-yellow color, originally named after the color of buffalo-hide leather.
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