Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Slightly swollen or inflated: Describes something that appears swollen, often due to fluid retention, air, or inflammation, giving a soft, rounded, and enlarged appearance.
   • Consisting of or resembling puffs: Describes something that is gathered into soft, rounded masses or clouds, such as certain hairstyles, clouds, or fabrics.
   • Breathing heavily; panting: Describes a manner of breathing that is short and labored, often from exertion. (This sense is less common in modern usage).

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • She woke up with puffy eyes after crying all night.
  • The puffy clouds drifted slowly across the summer sky.
  • He was puffy and out of breath after running to catch the bus. (less common)

Advanced Usage

• "Puffy sleeves": A fashion term describing sleeves that are full and gathered, creating a soft, rounded, voluminous shape.

  • The vintage dress featured elegant puffy sleeves.

• In a medical/descriptive context: Often used to describe symptoms of edema or allergic reactions.

  • The insect bite left a puffy, red mark on her arm.

Variants and Related Words

• Puff (n/v): A short, quick blast of air, smoke, or breath; to swell or cause to swell.

  • A puff of wind. / The pastry will puff up in the oven.

• Puffed (adj): Swollen or out of breath.

  • He sat down, puffed from the climb.

• Puffiness (n): The state or quality of being puffy.

  • The puffiness under her eyes was due to lack of sleep.

Synonyms

• Swollen: Enlarged or expanded, typically from pressure or fluid.
• Bloated: Swollen with fluid, gas, or excess.
• Distended: Swollen or stretched out, especially from internal pressure.
• Tumescent: Slightly swollen.
• Bouffant: (For hair/style) Puffed out; full.

Related Phrases

• Puff out: To cause to swell or become larger.

  • The frog can puff out its throat to make a loud sound.

• Puff up: To swell or become inflated; also, to become conceited.

  • His face started to puff up from the allergic reaction.

Related Idioms

• Huff and puff: To breathe loudly and heavily, especially from exertion; to show obvious but often ineffective anger or effort.
  • After huffing and puffing, he finally managed to lift the box.

Adjective

1. blowing in puffs or short intermittent blasts
   • puffy off-shore winds
   • gusty winds
2. abnormally distended especially by fluids or gas
   • hungry children with bloated stomachs
   • he had a grossly distended stomach
   • eyes with puffed (or puffy) lids
   • swollen hands
   • tumescent tissue
   • puffy tumid flesh
3. being puffed out; used of hair style or clothing
   • a bouffant skirt