[pʌf], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a short, explosive burst of breath or wind
(e.g: a puff of wind swung the weathercock round)

- a light pastry case, typically one made of puff pastry, containing a sweet or savoury filling
(e.g: a jam puff)

- a review of a work of art, book, or theatrical production, especially an excessively complimentary one
(e.g: the publishers sent him a copy of the book hoping for a puff)

- a gathered mass of material in a dress or other garment

- a powder puff
(e.g: she sent her a box of dusting powder with a swansdown puff)


Phrases:
- in all one's puff
- puff and blow

Origin:
Old English pyffan (verb), imitative of the sound of a breath

[pʌf], (Verb)

Definitions:
- breathe in repeated short gasps
(e.g: exercises that make you puff)

- swell or become swollen
(e.g: he suddenly sucked his stomach in and puffed his chest out)

- advertise with exaggerated or false praise
(e.g: publishers have puffed the book on the grounds that it contains new discoveries)


Phrases:
- in all one's puff
- puff and blow

Origin:
Old English pyffan (verb), imitative of the sound of a breath