puff

Puff is a word with several distinct meanings in English, used as a noun, a verb, and as part of proper names. It commonly refers to a brief exhalation of air or smoke—a puff of wind, a puff of smoke, or the act of puffing on a cigarette or blowing air to inflate something. The term can also describe something swollen or rounded, as in a puff sleeve or a puffball.

In food and pastry, puff denotes two related items. Puff pastry is a light, flaky dough that rises and puffs up when baked. Cream puff refers to a dessert made from choux pastry filled with whipped cream or pastry cream and often dusted with sugar. The idea of “puff” in baking emphasizes rising, airiness, and a soft texture.

In arts and culture, Puff the Magic Dragon is a well-known fictional dragon from a 1960s folk song, which has become a cultural reference beyond the song itself. The name Puff is sometimes used in other media as a playful, friendly character, reflecting the soft, rounded connotations of the term.

In consumer goods, Puffs is a widely recognized brand name for facial tissues, valued for softness and absorbency in everyday use. The singular form, puff, is sometimes used informally to refer to such tissue products.

In science and nature, a puffball is a type of fungus that releases a cloud of spores when disturbed. In medicine and pharmacology, a puff can describe a measured dose drawn from an inhaler, delivering medication to the lungs.