puffy
/'pʌfi/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- blowing in puffs or short intermittent blasts
- puffy off-shore winds
- gusty winds
- 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
- being puffed out; used of hair style or clothing
- a bouffant skirt