puzzle

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 a game, etc. that you have to think about carefully in order to answer it or do it: a crossword puzzle * a book of puzzles for children 2 (especially AmE) = JIGSAW 3 [usuallysing.] something that is difficult to understand or explain SYNMYSTERY: The deeper meaning of the poem remains a puzzle. * The detectives were beginning to solve the murder. All the pieces in the puzzle were falling neatly into place. verb [VN] to make sb feel confused because they do not understand sth: What puzzles me is why he left the country without telling anyone. puzzling adjective: one of the most puzzling aspects of the crime PHRASALVERBS puzzle over / about sth to think hard about sth in order to understand or explain it: Karen puzzled over the question all evening. puzzle sth<->out to find the answer to a difficult or confusing problem by thinking carefully: [+wh-] He was trying to puzzle out why he had been brought to the house.