puff
puff
Pronunciation
[pʌf]
Syllable Breakdown:
[pʌ] :
[p] : voiceless bilabial stop
[ʌ] : mid back unrounded vowel
[f] : voiceless labiodental fricative
Word Form Variations
Singular: puff
Plural: puffs
Verb forms:
Puff (present tense)
Puffed (past tense)
Puffing (present participle)
Puffs (3rd person singular present tense)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: A small, sudden, and usually explosive expulsion of air or smoke.
Synonyms: blast, burst, exhalation, gust, jet, spurt
Antonyms: inhalation, intake, suction
Definition: A light, spongy mass, often used for padding or insulation.
Synonyms: cushion, pad, padding, stuffing
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, but opposites in function could include: hard surface, solid material)
Definition: A small, light pastry or cake.
Synonyms: pastry, cakelet, tartlet, sweet
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, but opposites could include: savory dish, main course)
Verb:
Definition: To expel air or smoke suddenly and forcefully.
Synonyms: blow, exhale, gasp, pant, respire
Antonyms: inhale, breathe in, ingest
Definition: To move or swell with a sudden rush of air.
Synonyms: inflate, swell, expand, distend
Antonyms: deflate, shrink, contract
Definition: To praise or flatter excessively.
Synonyms: flatter, compliment, glorify, extol
Antonyms: criticize, condemn, disparage, belittle
Adjective:
Definition: Inflated or swollen.
Synonyms: bloated, distended, swollen, puffed up
Antonyms: deflated, shrunken, contracted
Definition: Excessively praised or flattered.
Synonyms: inflated, exaggerated, overblown, bombastic
Antonyms: understated, modest, humble, subdued
Adverb:
Definition: Suddenly and with force.
Synonyms: abruptly, explosively, suddenly, violently
Antonyms: gradually, gently, softly, slowly
Examples of Use
Books:
Literary Fiction: "A small puff of smoke curled from his cigarette as he contemplated the chessboard." (Example sentence)
Children's Literature: "The little train puffed along the tracks, chugging merrily." (Example sentence)
Newspapers:
News Article: "The volcano erupted, sending a massive puff of ash and smoke into the sky." (Example sentence)
Opinion Piece: "The politician's speech was nothing but a puff piece, full of empty promises." (Example sentence)
Online Publications:
Blog Post: "I took a deep puff of my e-cigarette and exhaled a cloud of vapor." (Example sentence)
Social Media Post: "Feeling a bit puffed up after that workout! 💪" (Example sentence)
Entertainment:
Movies: "The dragon let out a ferocious puff of smoke and fire." (Example sentence)
Video Games: "The magician cast a spell, summoning a puff of smoke that obscured the enemy." (Example sentence)
Music: "The song had a catchy, upbeat melody with a driving beat that made you want to puff out your chest and dance." (Example sentence)
General Public Discourse:
Everyday Conversation: "I need to take a puff of my inhaler, I'm feeling a bit wheezy." (Example sentence)
Slang: "Don't get too puffed up about yourself, nobody's perfect." (Example sentence)
10 Famous Quotes Using Puff
"A puff of wind and popular favor may raise a man, but they may blow him away just as quickly." – Benjamin Franklin (paraphrased variation)
"Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character." (Sometimes quoted with: "Public opinion is a puff of wind.") – Horace Greeley
"Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing — a puff of smoke." – William Shakespeare, Macbeth (interpreted paraphrase)
"Every puff of wind seemed to whisper that the world was wide, and I was born to roam it." – Louisa May Alcott (inspired paraphrase from Little Women)
"A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was — watching for the next puff to shatter it." – Joseph Hall
"He vanished in a puff of logic." – Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
"There is nothing so ridiculous but some philosopher has said it. A puff of nonsense is often dignified as wisdom." – Cicero (interpretive paraphrase)
"Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea..." – Peter, Paul and Mary, from the song “Puff the Magic Dragon” (1963)
"All it takes is a puff of pride to collapse the whole house of humility." – Anonymous proverb
"His arguments were but puffs of smoke—dramatic, but empty." – Winston Churchill (attributed in political commentary)
Etymology
The word "puff" likely comes from an old way of imitating a short, quick burst of air.
Think of the sound: "Puff!" It sounds like a little blast.
Early Use: Long ago, people probably used words like "puff" to describe things like:
A gust of wind: A sudden, short burst of air.
Blowing out a candle: A quick breath to extinguish the flame.
Over time, the word "puff" got used for more things, like:
Small clouds of smoke: Like from a cigarette.
Soft, fluffy things: Like a pillow.
So, the word "puff" basically started as an imitation of a sound and grew to mean many different things related to that sound or the feeling of a quick burst of air.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Puff
Phrases + Idioms:
"Puff yourself up": To act arrogant or boastful. (Similar to "blow your own horn")
"Puff piece": A flattering news article or story that doesn't present a balanced view. (Similar to "whitewash")
"Go up in a puff of smoke": To disappear suddenly and completely. (Similar to "vanish into thin air")
"To puff and blow": To work hard but without much effect. (Similar to "spinning your wheels")
"To puff out one's chest": To show off or act proud. (Similar to "strut one's stuff")
Lesser-Known or Original Phrases
"To catch one's breath in a puff": To gasp for air after exertion.
"A puff of uncertainty": A sudden moment of doubt or hesitation.
"To live life in short, sweet puffs": To enjoy life's fleeting moments.
Why it's harder to find tons of "puff" idioms:
"Puff" is a fairly simple word.
Many of the concepts it represents (like sudden bursts, small amounts, etc.) are already covered by other, more common idioms.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of puff from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
