puff
(pŭf)n.1. a. A short forceful exhalation of breath.
b. A short sudden gust of wind.
c. A brief sudden emission of air, vapor, or smoke.
d. A short sibilant sound produced by a puff.
2. An act of drawing in and expelling the breath, as in smoking tobacco.
3. Genetics A localized region of swelling in certain chromosomes indicating the active synthesis of RNA.
v. puffed, puffing, puffs
v.intr.1. To blow in puffs.
2. To breathe forcefully and rapidly: huffed and puffed up the stairs.
3. To take puffs on smoking material: puffing on a cigar.
v.tr.1. To emit or give forth in puffs.
2. To smoke (a cigar, for example).
3. To fill with pride or conceit: The compliment puffed up his ego.
puff′i·ly adv.
puff′i·ness n.
puff′y adj.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.