puff

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 ~ (at / on sth) to smoke a cigarette, pipe, etc: [V] He puffed (away) on his pipe. * [VN] I sat puffing my cigar. 2 ~ (sth) (out) to make smoke or steam blow out in clouds; to blow out in clouds: [VN] Chimneys were puffing out clouds of smoke. * [V] Steam puffed out. 3 (informal) to breathe loudly and quickly, especially after you have been running: [V] I was starting to puff a little from the climb. [also Vspeech] seealsoPUFFED, PUFFEDOUT 4 [V+adv./prep.] to move in a particular direction, sending out small clouds of smoke or steam: The train puffed into the station. IDIOMS be puffed up with pride, etc. to be too full of pride, etc: He felt grown-up, puffed up with self-importance. puff and pant (also puff and blow, informal) to breathe quickly and loudly through your mouth after physical effort: Eventually, puffing and panting, he arrived at the gate. moreatHUFFv. PHRASALVERBS puff sth<->out to make sth bigger and rounder, especially by filling it with air: She puffed out her cheeks. puff up