Puff means to breathe out air in short bursts, or to blow something up by filling it with air. When you're exhausted after running hard, you puff and pant, pushing air quickly from your lungs. A birthday girl puffs out her cheeks and blows to extinguish the candles on her cake.

The word also describes things that are light and filled with air. A puff of smoke rises from a chimney. A powder puff is a soft, fluffy tool for applying makeup. Puff pastry is a flaky dough that rises into airy layers when baked, creating delicate croissants or turnovers.

When something puffs up, it swells or expands. A marshmallow puffs up over a campfire, growing bigger as it heats. An angry toad might puff itself up to look larger and more threatening.

The word can describe pride too. Someone who puffs themselves up acts overly proud or boastful, like inflating their importance.