Meaning of Puff | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A sharp exhalation of a small amount of breath through the mouth.
   countable
2. The ability to breathe easily while exerting oneself.
   uncountable
3. A small quantity of gas or smoke in the air.
   countable
4. A sudden but small gust of wind, smoke, etc.
   countable
5. An act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette, cigar or pipe.
   countable, informal
6. The drug cannabis.
   slang, uncountable
7. A flamboyant or alluring statement of praise.
   countable
8. A portion of fabric gathered up so as to be left full in the middle.
   countable, uncountable
9. A light cake filled with cream, cream cheese, etc.
   countable
10. A puffball.
    countable, uncountable
11. A powder puff.
    countable, uncountable
12. A puffer, one who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold at auction to bid up the price; an act or scam of that type.
    countable, dated, slang, uncountable
13. A region of a chromosome exhibiting a local increase in diameter.
    countable, uncountable
14. Life.
    UK, countable, dated, slang, uncountable
15. Synonym of poof: a gay man; especially one who is effeminate.
    Northern-England, countable, derogatory, slang, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“out of puff”

“puff of smoke”

“to every puff of wind a slave”

“"The wind we had was only an early puff! You'll see we shall have our full allowance!"”

“When I went to bed that night I found that I could not get to sleep. At five o'clock I got up and took a hot bath. I climbed back into bed and lighted one of the Chinese-made "Great Wall" cigars my hosts had thoughtfully provided, and sat puffing on the cigar and making notes about the events of the momentous week.”

“[…] though I care not one straw for the personal puffs of which I myself am so often the subject […]”

“[…] we critics were not his fellow-guests, but simply deadheads whose business it was to "dress the house" and write puffs.”

“a sleeve with a puff at the shoulder”

“cream puff”

“Bozzacchio, an acorne. Also a puffe or mushrump full of dust.”

“Is nothing to be said in praise of the "Emporiums" and "Repositories" and "Divans," which formerly were mere insignificant tailors', toymen's, and tobacconists' shops? Is the transition from the barber's pole to the revolving bust of the perruquier, nothing? — the leap from the bare counter-traversed shop to the carpeted and mirrored saloon of trade, nothing? Are they not, one and all, practical puffs, intended to invest commerce with elegance, and to throw a halo round extravagance?”

“Here the duke is made the vehicle of the tailor's advertisement, and the prelusive compliments, ostensibly meant for his grace, merge into a covert recommendation of the coat. Several specimens might be given of this species of puff, which is to be met with in almost every paper, and is a favourite form with booksellers, professional men, &c.”

“He was the eighteenth century king of spin, or, in the language of the day, the "prince of puff".”

“Did you ever in your puff see such a perfect perisher?”

CEFR level