# puff

/ˈpəf/ (US) · /pˈʌf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/puff
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. small amount of air/smoke

noun · CEFR B1

a small, sudden amount of air, smoke, or steam that moves through the air.

For teachers: a small, discrete quantity of gas, smoke, or vapour emitted in a sudden burst.

- A puff of white smoke came out of the chimney as the fire started.
- The steam engine released a rhythmic puff of grey soot every few seconds as it pulled away from the station.

### 2. inhaling smoke

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

one act of breathing in smoke from a cigarette or pipe.

For teachers: an act of inhaling and exhaling smoke from a tobacco product or similar device.

- He took a quick puff of his cigarette before going back inside the office.
- She paused for a final puff of her cigar, staring thoughtfully at the horizon before extinguishing it in the tray.

### 3. ability to breathe

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

your ability to breathe easily when you are doing exercise.

For teachers: the capacity for sustained respiration during physical exertion.

- I am so unfit that I lost my puff just walking up the stairs.
- The veteran runner struggled to find his puff during the final steep incline of the marathon.

### 4. light pastry

noun · CEFR B1

a light, hollow piece of pastry often filled with cream.

For teachers: a light, aerated pastry shell, typically made from choux or puff pastry and filled with sweet or savoury ingredients.

- She bought a cream puff from the bakery for dessert.
- The chef prepared a delicate salmon puff, served with a light dill sauce and seasonal greens.

### 5. to breathe hard

verb · CEFR B1

to breathe loudly and quickly because you have been running or working hard.

For teachers: to breathe in short, heavy gasps due to physical exhaustion.

- The hikers were puffing by the time they reached the top of the hill.
- He arrived at the meeting puffing and red-faced, having run three blocks to make it on time.

### 6. to swell or inflate

verb · CEFR B2

to make something look bigger by filling it with air.

For teachers: to cause to swell or become distended with air or pride.

- The bird puffed out its feathers to stay warm in the cold wind.
- The politician puffed up his chest and began to speak with great self-importance to the gathered crowd.

Usage: Often used with the particle 'out' or 'up'.

### 7. derogatory term for a man

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Vulgar

a very rude and offensive word for a gay man.

For teachers: a highly offensive and derogatory term for a homosexual man, particularly one perceived as effeminate.

- The bully used a nasty puff slur against the student.
- The use of the term 'puff' in the historical document reflects the deep-seated homophobia of that particular era.

Teaching tip: This is a hateful slur in modern English; learners should recognize it as offensive and avoid using it.

## Examples

- He let out a small puff of air.
- The train released a thick puff of steam as it pulled into the station.
- A sudden puff of wind scattered the papers across the desk, forcing the students to scramble for their notes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.