noun
puffin
PUH-fihn
Puffin (noun) means a small black-and-white seabird with a large, brightly coloured beak, found around northern coastlines. Example: “Thousands of puffins nest on the cliffs every summer.”
noun
1
A small black-and-white seabird with a large, brightly coloured beak, found around northern coastlines.
"Thousands of puffins nest on the cliffs every summer."
"The puffin's colourful beak makes it easy to spot."
How to use puffin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe colourful little seabird with the big orange-and-black beak.
Common pairings
a colony of puffins
Atlantic puffin
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Word forms
- Plural
- puffins
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Thousands of _____ nest on the cliffs every summer.
Etymology
From Middle English poffin; possibly related to Middle Cornish or Breton words for the bird, and influenced by "puff."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for puffin
See all rhymes for puffin →Frequently asked questions
What does “puffin” mean?
The word “puffin” means a small black-and-white seabird with a large, brightly coloured beak, found around northern coastlines. In plain terms, the colourful little seabird with the big orange-and-black beak.
How do you pronounce “puffin”?
“Puffin” is pronounced PUH-fihn (/ˈpʌfɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “puffin” in a sentence?
Here is “puffin” used in a sentence: “Thousands of puffins nest on the cliffs every summer.”
What part of speech is “puffin”?
“Puffin” is a noun.
Where does the word “puffin” come from?
The word “puffin” comes from Middle English. From Middle English poffin; possibly related to Middle Cornish or Breton words for the bird, and influenced by "puff.".
