n.
- a short burst of breath or wind.
▸a small quantity of vapour or smoke emitted in one blast.
▸an act of drawing quickly on a pipe, cigarette, or cigar.
▸Brit. informal breath.
- a light pastry case containing a sweet or savoury filling.
- informal a complimentary review of a book, play, etc.
▸Brit. an advertisement.
- a gathered mass of material in a dress or other garment.
- a rolled protuberant mass of hair.
- N. Amer. an eiderdown.
v.
- breathe in repeated short gasps.
▸move with short, noisy breaths or bursts of air or steam.
▸blow (dust, smoke, etc.) with quick breaths or blasts.
▸smoke a pipe, cigarette, or cigar.
-
(puff out/up or puff something out/up)
become swollen or cause something to swell.
▸cause to become conceited.
- informal advertise with exaggerated or false praise.
Phrase
- in all one's puff
Brit. informal in one's whole life. - puff and blow
breathe in gasps during or after exertion.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: imitative of the sound of a breath, perh. from OE pyf (n.), pyffan (v.).