A puzzle is a problem or challenge designed to test your thinking skills and reward you with the satisfaction of finding the solution. Jigsaw puzzles ask you to fit oddly shaped pieces together to form a picture. Crossword puzzles give you clues to fill in words that intersect on a grid. Logic puzzles present you with facts and ask you to figure out what must be true.

What makes something a puzzle rather than just a problem? Puzzles are created intentionally to be solved, and there's always a correct answer waiting to be discovered. When you're puzzled by something, you're confused or uncertain about it, like when you can't figure out why your friend seems upset or how a magic trick works. A puzzling situation is one that doesn't make immediate sense.

People have created puzzles for thousands of years, from ancient riddles to modern video game challenges. The Rubik's Cube, invented in 1974, became one of history's most popular puzzles, with billions sold worldwide. Some people solve puzzles for fun and relaxation, while others compete in puzzle tournaments.

As a verb, puzzle means to confuse someone or make them think hard. The best puzzles hit that sweet spot: hard enough to make you think, but not so hard that you give up. That moment when the answer suddenly clicks into place, when all the pieces fit together, makes all the head-scratching worthwhile.