puff
//pʌf//
Noun
A short, quick burst of breath, air, smoke, or wind.
A puff of wind blew the leaves off the table.
A light, soft, rounded mass, such as a cloud or a piece of pastry.
White puffs of cloud floated across the blue sky.
A soft pad used for applying powder to the skin.
She used a soft puff to apply powder to her face.
An exaggerated or false praise, especially in advertising or reviews.
The movie review was just puff written by the studio's marketing team.
Verb
To blow air out in short bursts, often while breathing heavily.
She puffed as she climbed the steep hill.
To smoke a cigarette, pipe, or cigar.
He puffed on his pipe while reading the newspaper.
To swell or cause to swell, especially with air or pride.
The bird puffed up its feathers to stay warm.
To praise excessively or insincerely.
The critics puffed the new novel, but readers found it disappointing.