- puff
- puff [puf]n.[ME puf < OE pyff < the v.]1.a) a short, sudden burst or gust, as of wind, or an expulsion, as of breathb) the sound of thisc) a small quantity of vapor, smoke, etc. expelled at one time2. a draw at a cigarette, pipe, etc.3. a swelling, or a protuberance caused by swelling4. a shell of soft, light pastry filled with whipped cream, custard, etc.5. a soft, bulging mass of material, full in the middle and gathered in at the edges6. a soft roll of hair on the head7. a soft pad for dabbing powder on the skin or hair8. a quilted bed covering with cotton, wool, or down filling9.a) Archaic vain show; bluffb) an advertisement, review, etc., as of a book, containing undue or exaggerated praisevi.[ME puffen < OE pyffan, of echoic orig.]1. to blow in puffs, as the wind2.a) to give forth puffs of smoke, steam, etc.b) to breathe rapidly and hard, as from running3. to move, giving forth puffs: with away, out, in, etc.4. to come in puffs, as smoke5.a) to fill (out or up), as with airb) to become inflated, as with pride: with out or upc) to swell (out or up), as skin tissue6. to take a puff or puffs at a cigarette, pipe, etc.vt.1. to blow, drive, give forth, etc. in or with a puff or puffs2. to swell; distend; inflate3. to praise unduly4. to write or print a puff of [to puff a novel]5. to smoke (a cigarette, pipe, etc.)6. to set (the hair) in soft, round masses or rolls
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.