I. puz ‧ zle 1 /ˈpʌz ə l/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a game or toy that has a lot of pieces that you have to fit together ⇨ jigsaw :
a child’s wooden puzzle
2 . a game in which you have to think hard to solve a difficult question or problem:
a crossword puzzle
3 . [usually singular] something that is difficult to understand or explain
puzzle of
the puzzle of how the sun works
The meaning of the poem has always been a puzzle.
He thought he had solved the puzzle.
4 . piece of the puzzle a piece of information that helps you to understand part of a difficult question, mystery etc
II. puzzle 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
to confuse someone or make them feel slightly anxious because they do not understand something:
a question that continues to puzzle scientists
He was puzzled by the reactions to his remark.
What puzzles me is why his books are so popular.
puzzle something ↔ out phrasal verb
to solve a confusing or difficult problem by thinking about it carefully:
He lay looking at the ceiling, trying to puzzle things out.
puzzle over something phrasal verb
to think for a long time about something because you cannot understand or solve it:
The class puzzled over a poem by Shakespeare.