noun
Uncommon
puff
puhf
Puff (noun) means a short burst of breath, air, or smoke. Example: “A puff of smoke rose from the chimney.”
noun
1
A short burst of breath, air, or smoke.
"A puff of smoke rose from the chimney."
"He took a puff of his cigarette and looked away."
verb
1
To breathe quickly and heavily, especially from exertion.
"She was puffing hard by the top of the hill."
2
To swell or inflate, often followed by "up."
"The bird puffed up its feathers in the cold."
3
To praise something excessively, especially for promotional purposes.
"The reviews were clearly puffed by the studio's own marketing team."
How to use puff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA quick burst of air or breath — or, as a verb, to breathe hard, swell up, or oversell something.
Common pairings
puff of smoke
out of puff
puff up
puff a cigarette
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Word forms
- Plural
- puffs
- Third person singular
- puffs
- Past tense
- puffed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ of smoke rose from the chimney.
Etymology
From Old English pyf, "a blast of wind," of imitative (sound-based) origin.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for puff
See all rhymes for puff →Frequently asked questions
What does “puff” mean?
The word “puff” means a short burst of breath, air, or smoke. In plain terms, a quick burst of air or breath — or, as a verb, to breathe hard, swell up, or oversell something.
How do you pronounce “puff”?
“Puff” is pronounced puhf (/pʌf/ in IPA).
How do you use “puff” in a sentence?
Here is “puff” used in a sentence: “A puff of smoke rose from the chimney.”
What part of speech is “puff”?
Depending on how it is used, “puff” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “puff” come from?
The word “puff” comes from Old English. From Old English pyf, "a blast of wind," of imitative (sound-based) origin.
Is “puff” a common word?
“Puff” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “puff” have?
“Puff” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short burst of breath, air, or smoke.
What is the difference between "puff" and "blow" as verbs?
"Puff" typically describes short, repeated bursts of breath or smoke, or breathing quickly and heavily from exertion, such as puffing up a hill. "Blow" is a more general term for forcing air out in a single or sustained action, without the same connotation of short bursts or exertion.
What does it mean when something "puffs up"?
When something "puffs up," it swells or inflates, often used for bread rising, a bird fluffing its feathers, or a person's face swelling. It can also describe a person becoming figuratively inflated with pride.
What does it mean to "puff" a product in advertising or promotional writing?
To "puff" something in this sense means to praise it excessively, especially for promotional purposes, often exaggerating its qualities. This usage gives rise to the term "puff piece," describing an overly flattering article or review.
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