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