puff

A small cloud or short burst of smoke, gas, or air.

• A puff of smoke rose above the roof.
• The engine released small puffs of steam.
• A sudden puff of air lifted the paper.

How to use it: a puff of something (A puff of steam escaped from the kettle.)

Similar words: wisp, burst

Common phrases: a puff of smoke, a puff of steam, a puff of air

One act of breathing smoke in from a cigarette, cigar, or pipe.

• He took a puff on his cigarette.
• After two puffs, she put the cigar down.
• Can one puff make you cough?

How to use it: a puff on something (He took a puff on his pipe.); a puff of something (She took one puff of the cigarette.)

Similar words: drag

Common phrases: take a puff, a puff on something, one last puff

A short, quick breath blown out of the mouth.

• One puff blew out the candle.
• He gave a short puff through his lips.
• She cleared the lens with a gentle puff of breath.

How to use it: a puff of something (A puff of breath blew the dust away.)

Common phrases: a puff of breath, a gentle puff, one quick puff

A small, light cake or pastry filled with cream, cheese, or another soft food.

• She bought a cream puff.
• The baker filled the puffs with custard.
• Would you like a cheese puff with your tea?

Similar words: pastry

Common phrases: cream puff, cheese puff, a chocolate puff

The breath or energy you need for physical effort.

• I'm out of puff.
• We ran out of puff halfway up the hill.
• Have you got enough puff left for another lap?

How to use it: be out of puff (I was out of puff after climbing the stairs.)

Similar words: breath, stamina

Common phrases: out of puff, run out of puff, enough puff left

To breathe in short, noisy breaths, usually because you are tired from physical effort.

• He was puffing after the run.
• We puffed up the steep hill.
• Why are you huffing and puffing so much?

Similar words: pant, breathe hard

Common phrases: huff and puff, puff up stairs, puff along

To send out smoke or gas in small clouds or short bursts.

• The engine puffed out steam.
• Smoke puffed from the chimney.
• The little train was puffing white clouds into the sky.

How to use it: puff out something (The old engine puffed out thick smoke.); puff something into something (The chimney puffed smoke into the cold air.)

Similar words: emit, give off

Common phrases: puff out smoke, puff smoke into something, puff out steam

To make something larger or rounder by filling it with air or making it swell.

• She puffed out her cheeks.
• The bird puffed up its feathers against the cold.
• Heat makes the pastry puff up in the oven.

How to use it: puff something out (He puffed his cheeks out and held his breath.); puff something up (The bird puffed its feathers up.)

Similar words: inflate, swell, expand

Opposites: deflate

Common phrases: puff out something, puff up something, puff out cheeks