/ ˈbæfl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
to confuse sb completely; to be too difficult or strange for sb to understand or explain :
[ vn ]
His behaviour baffles me.
[ vn , vn wh- ]
I'm baffled as to why she hasn't called.
I'm baffled why she hasn't called.
► baffle·ment noun [ U ]:
His reaction was one of bafflement.
► baf·fling adjective
■ noun
( technical ) a screen used to control or prevent the flow of sound, light or liquid
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (in the sense cheat, deceive ): perhaps related to French bafouer ridicule or obsolete French beffer mock, deceive.