I. buff 1 /bʌf/ BrE AmE noun
[ Sense 1: Date: 1900-2000 ; Origin: buff 'someone very interested in going to watch fires' (1900-2000) , from the buff-colored coats worn by volunteer New York City firefighters in the early 19th century. ]
[ Sense 2: Date: 1700-1800 ; Origin: buff 'yellow leather made from buffalo skin' (16-18 centuries) , from Old French buffle 'wild cattle' , from Old Italian bufalo ; ↑ buffalo ]
[ Sense 3: Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: buff 'bare skin' (17-19 centuries) , from 'leather' ; ⇨ ↑ buff 1 (2) ]
1 . wine/film/opera etc buff someone who is interested in wine, films etc and knows a lot about them
2 . [uncountable] a pale yellow-brown colour SYN beige
3 . in the buff old-fashioned not wearing any clothes SYN naked
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ expert someone who has a lot of knowledge about something or skill at doing something:
a computer expert
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an expert on beetles
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It’s best to ask an expert.
▪ specialist an expert who has studied a particular medical or technical subject for a long time and knows much more about it than other people:
She is a specialist in corporate finance.
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My doctor sent me to see a heart specialist.
▪ authority an expert whose knowledge and opinions are greatly respected:
The professor is one of the world’s leading authorities on African art.
▪ connoisseur /ˌkɒnəˈsɜː $ ˌkɑːnəˈsɜːr/ an expert on food, art, literature, or design, who has had a lot of experience and knows when something is of very good quality:
He was a connoisseur of fine wines.
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His works are popular among connoisseurs.
▪ buff /bʌf/ informal someone who is very interested in a subject and knows a lot about it:
a wine buff
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Jazz buffs will be familiar with the band’s first album.
▪ virtuoso /ˌvɜːtʃuˈəʊsəʊ $ ˌvɜːrtʃuˈoʊsoʊ/ an expert player or performer:
The piece was played by violin virtuoso Pavel Sporcl.
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a virtuoso pianist
II. buff 2 BrE AmE ( also buff up ) verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ buff 1 ; because leather was used for polishing ( ⇨ ↑ buff 1 (2) ) ]
to polish something with a cloth:
Sandra was buffing her nails.
buff up phrasal verb informal
to exercise in order to make your muscles bigger:
Smith buffed up for his role as Muhammad Ali.
III. buff 3 BrE AmE adjective
1 . having a pale yellow-brown colour:
buff envelopes
2 . informal attractive and looking as if you do a lot of exercise – used especially by young people:
He’s so buff!