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   Puff

   /pəf/

   

   noun

   • 1. a short, explosive burst of breath or wind: "a puff of wind swung the weathervane around" Similar gustblastrushsquallgalewhiffbreathflurrydraftwaftbreezeblowliterary:zephyr
   • ▪ the sound of air or vapor escaping suddenly: "the whistle and puff of steam"
   • ▪ a small quantity of vapor or smoke, emitted in one blast: "the fire breathed out a puff of blue smoke"
   • ▪ an act of drawing quickly on a pipe, cigarette, or cigar: "he took a puff of his cigar" Similar pullinformal:drag
   • 2. a light pastry case, typically one made of puff pastry, containing a sweet or savory filling: "a cream puff"
   • 3. a review of a work of art, book, or theatrical production, especially an excessively complimentary one: informal "the publishers sent him a copy of the book hoping for a puff" Similar favorable mentionpiece of publicityfavorable reviewadvertisementpromotionrecommendationcommendationmentiongood wordcommercialinformal:pushadboostadvert
   • ▪ an advertisement, especially one exaggerating the value of the goods advertised: British "the distinction between a trader's puff and a statement having legal significance is a fine one" Similar publicityadvertisingpromotionmarketingpropagandapushpufferybuildupboostingpatterlinepitchsales talkpresentationinformal:spielhypeballyhoo
   • 4. a gathered mass of material in a dress or other garment.
   • ▪ a rolled protuberant mass of hair: "her hair was drawn up into a series of padded puffs and curves"
   • ▪ a soft quilt: North American "plump pillows and puffs"
   • 5. a powder puff: "she sent her a box of dusting powder with a swansdown puff"

   verb

   • 1. breathe in repeated short gasps: "exercises that make you puff" Similar breathe heavilybreathe loudly/rapidly/quicklypantpuff and pantpuff and blowblowgaspfight for breathcatch one's breath
   • ▪ (of a person, engine, etc.) move with short, noisy breaths or bursts of air or steam: "the train came puffing in"
   • ▪ smoke a pipe, cigarette, or cigar: "he puffed on his pipe contentedly" Similar smokedraw onpull ondrag onsuck at/on
   • ▪ blow (dust, smoke, or a light object) in a specified direction with a quick breath or blast of air: "he lighted his pipe and puffed forth smoke"
   • ▪ move through the air in short bursts: "his breath puffed out like white smoke"
   • 2. cause to swell or become swollen: "he suddenly sucked his stomach in and puffed his chest out"
   • ▪ be conceited: "he was never puffed up about his writing"
   • 3. advertise with exaggerated or false praise: "publishers have puffed the book on the grounds that it contains new discoveries" Similar advertisepromotegive publicity topublicizepushrecommendcommendendorseput in a good word forbeat the drum forinformal:give a puff tohype (up)plugrare:merchandise

   Word Origin Middle English: imitative of the sound of a breath, perhaps from Old Englishpyf (noun), pyffan (verb).

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • P

     3

   • U

     1

   • F

     4

   • F

     4

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