PUFF

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pyffan, of imitative origin Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. a. to blow in short gusts, to exhale forcibly, to breathe hard ; pant , to emit small whiffs or clouds (as of smoke) often as an accompaniment to vigorous action , to speak or act in a scornful, conceited, or exaggerated manner, 3. to become distended ; swell , to open or appear in or as if in a ~, to form a chromosomal ~, transitive verb 1. to emit, propel, blow, or expel by or as if by ~s ; waft , to draw on (as a cigar, cigarette, or pipe) with intermittent exhalations of smoke, 2. to distend with or as if with air or gas ; inflate , to make proud or conceited ; elate , c. to praise extravagantly and usually with exaggeration , advertise , II. noun Date: 13th century 1. an act or instance of ~ing ; whiff , a slight explosive sound accompanying a ~, a perceptible cloud or aura emitted in a ~, draw 1a, a light round hollow pastry, 3. a slight swelling ; protuberance , a fluffy mass: as, pouf 2, a small fluffy pad for applying cosmetic powder, a soft loose roll of hair, a quilted bed covering, a commendatory or promotional notice or review, an enlarged region of a chromosome that is associated with intensely active genes involved in RNA synthesis, ~iness noun ~y adjective III. adjective Date: 1943 of, relating to, or designed for promotion or flattery