puff
/pʌf/
verb
- To blow out air, smoke, or steam in short bursts.
- She puffed out her cheeks and blew out the candles.
- He puffed on his pipe while reading the newspaper.
- The old train puffed smoke as it climbed the hill.
- To breathe quickly and with difficulty, usually after exercise.
- The dog puffed with its tongue hanging out after the long walk.
- She puffed as she carried the heavy box to the car.
- After running up the stairs, he was puffing and sweating.
- To swell or cause to swell with air or pride.
- The cake puffed up nicely in the oven.
- He puffed out his chest when he won the award.
- The bird puffed up its feathers to look bigger.
- To advertise or praise something in an exaggerated way.
- They puffed the product in every commercial.
- The magazine puffed the new restaurant as the best in town.
- Critics accused the newspaper of puffing the politician's record.
noun
- A small, short burst of air, smoke, or wind.
- He took a puff of his cigar and watched the smoke rise.
- The dragon let out a puff of steam from its nostrils.
- A puff of wind blew the papers off the desk.
- A light, soft, and fluffy mass or piece of something, such as food or fabric.
- For breakfast, I had a cheese puff and a glass of juice.
- She added a puff of whipped cream to her hot chocolate.
- The baby's quilt was made of soft cotton puffs.
- A type of light, flaky pastry that puffs up when baked.
- He ordered a puff pastry with spinach and feta.
- She baked a batch of cheese puffs for the party.
- The bakery sells cream puffs filled with vanilla custard.
- A piece of writing or speech that praises someone or something excessively.
- The company sent out a puff piece about their CEO's achievements.
- The article was just a puff for the new movie, not a real review.
- Critics dismissed the biography as a puff.