puff

Study(25)

/pʌf/

noun 5verb 5

Collocations

(noun.) of air/smoke/wind

ADJ

little, tiny

PREP

~ of

A sudden puff of wind blew the papers off my desk this morning.

(noun.) on a cigarette/pipe, etc.

ADJ

long | short

VERB + PUFF

have, take

She had a quick puff of her cigarette before heading into the meeting.

PREP

~ at/on

He took a quick puff at his cigar before heading into the meeting.

(verb.) smoke

ADV

furiously, vigorously

ADV

contentedly, happily | thoughtfully

away

Sarah sat on the porch and puffed away on her cigarette while watching the sunset.

PREP

He puffed at his pipe while reading the newspaper in his armchair.

She relaxed after work by puffing on a cigarette on the balcony.

(verb.) breathe loudly

ADV

hard

After climbing three flights of stairs, he was puffing hard and needed to sit down.

loudly

PREP

along, from

He was puffing along the path after running to catch the bus.

He was puffing up the stairs after running to catch his bus.

PHRASES

huff and puff/puff and pant

After running up the stairs, he was huffing and puffing loudly.

puffing and blowing

After climbing the stairs, my grandfather arrived at the top, puffing and blowing like he'd run a marathon.

Definitions

noun

A sharp exhalation of a small amount of breath through the mouth.

The ability to breathe easily while exerting oneself.

out of puff

A small quantity of gas or smoke in the air.

puff of smoke

A sudden but small gust of wind, smoke, etc.

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!"

An act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette, cigar or pipe.

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.

verb

To emit smoke, gas, etc., in puffs.

Still on the down line, the engine puffed away to the South, and in a few moments had disappeared in the darkness!

To pant.

By and by comes the ass back again, Puffing and Blowing, from the Chase.

Puffing and panting, we plodded on until within about a mile of the harbor we came upon a sight that brought us all up standing.

To advertise.

To blow as an expression of scorn.

It is really to defy Heaven to puff at damnation.

To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated.

'tis easy for a man to have a great opinion of his own knowledge , and be puff'd up by it

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — forceful exhalation through the nose or mouth

blow

noun — a slow inhalation (as of tobacco smoke)

noun — thick cushion used as a seat

noun — a soft spherical object made from fluffy fibers

powderpuff

noun — bedding made of two layers of cloth filled with stuffing and

noun — a short light gust of air

whiff

verb — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted

verb — blow hard and loudly

verb — smoke and exhale strongly

whiff

verb — suck in or take (air)

adjective — gathered for protruding fullness

puffed

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

out of puff

Wiktionary

puff of smoke

Wiktionary

to every puff of wind a slave

Wiktionary

Still on the down line, the engine puffed away to the South, and in a few moments had disappeared in the darkness!

Wiktionary

By and by comes the ass back again, Puffing and Blowing, from the Chase.

Wiktionary

Puffing and panting, we plodded on until within about a mile of the harbor we came upon a sight that brought us all up standing.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, puff is marked as informal, archaic. Watch for register when choosing this word.

Your note

not saved

0 chars