puff Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a short light gust of air
whiff; puff of air.
noun a light inflated pastry or puff shell
noun exaggerated praise (as for promotional purposes)
noun bedding made of two layers of cloth filled with stuffing and stitched together
comforter; comfort; quilt.
noun a soft spherical object made from fluffy fibers; for applying powder to the skin
powderpuff.
noun thick cushion used as a seat
ottoman; pouf; hassock; pouffe.
noun a slow inhalation (as of tobacco smoke)
drag; pull.
- he took a puff on his pipe
- he took a drag on his cigarette and expelled the smoke slowly
noun forceful exhalation through the nose or mouth
blow.
- he gave his nose a loud blow
- he blew out all the candles with a single puff
verb smoke and exhale strongly
whiff.
- puff a cigar
- whiff a pipe
verb suck in or take (air)
drag; draw.
- draw a deep breath
- draw on a cigarette
verb breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
gasp; heave; pant.
- The runners reached the finish line, panting heavily
verb make proud or conceited
- The sudden fame puffed her ego
verb praise extravagantly
puff up.
- The critics puffed up this Broadway production
verb speak in a blustering or scornful manner
- A puffing kind of man
verb to swell or cause to enlarge, "Her faced puffed up from the drugs"
puff up; blow up; puff out.
- puffed out chests
verb blow hard and loudly
chuff; huff.
- he huffed and puffed as he made his way up the mountain
adjective satellite gathered for protruding fullness
puffed.
- puff sleeves

Akin to G. & Sw. puff a blow, Dan. puf, D. pof; of imitative origin. Cf. Buffet.

A sudden and single emission of breath from the mouth; hence, any sudden or short blast of wind; a slight gust; a whiff. " To every puff of wind a slave." Flatman.
Anything light and filled with air. Specifically: (a) A puffball. (b) kind of light pastry. (c) A utensil of the toilet for dusting the skin or hair with powder.
An exaggerated or empty expression of praise, especially one in a public journal.

Akin to G. puffen to pop, buffet, puff, D. poffen to pop, puffen to blow, Sw. puffa to push, to cuff, Dan. puffe to pop, thump. See Puff, n.

imperfect & past participle Puffed ; present participle & verbal noun Puffing

To blow in puffs, or with short and sudden whiffs.
To blow, as an expression of scorn; -- with at.
It is really to defy Heaven to puff at damnation. South.
To breathe quick and hard, or with puffs, as after violent exertion.
The ass comes back again, puffing and blowing, from the chase. L' Estrange.
To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated. Boyle.
To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner; hence, to assume importance.
Then came brave Glory puffing by. Herbert.

To drive with a puff, or with puffs.
The clearing north will puff the clouds away. Dryden.
To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously.
I puff the prostitute away. Dryden.
To cause to swell or dilate; to inflate; to ruffle with puffs; -- often with up; as a bladder puffed with air.
The sea puffed up with winds. Shak.
To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, or the like; -- often with up.
Puffed up with military success. Jowett (Thucyd. )
To praise with exaggeration; to flatter; to call public attention to by praises; to praise unduly. " Puffed with wonderful skill." Macaulay.