Puffing - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Puffing means breathing quickly and loudly, often after exertion, or emitting short bursts of air or smoke. It can also describe exaggerated praise in sales or advertising.
Definition:
Breathing heavily in short bursts, often due to exertion or excitement.
Synonyms:
panting, gasping, huffing, wheezing
Part of Speech:
verb, noun
Antonyms:
resting, relaxing
Common Collocations:
puffing smoke, puffing hard, puffing away
Derivatives:
puffer, puffed
Usage Tips:
Use "puffing" to describe quick breaths, like after running or when excited; avoid for calm breathing.
Common Phrases:
huffing and puffing, puffing like a train, puffing out one's chest
Etymology:
From Middle English "puffen," meaning to blow in short gusts; imitative of the sound.
Examples:
- 1. The dog was puffing after chasing the ball.
- 2. She sat on the bench, puffing from her brisk walk.
- 3. He kept puffing on his pipe while reading the newspaper.
- 4. The steam engine went by, puffing clouds of smoke into the air.