Puffed

Part of speech: adjective, verb

Pronunciation: /pʌft/

Definitions

1. Having been inflated or made larger by the introduction of air or gas
2. Referring to an appearance that suggests enlargement or extravagance, often by superficial means
3. Expanded or filled out due to air or gas being introduced ; having a visibly swollen or overly expanded look often caused by superficial factors

Etymology: "Puffed" is simply the past tense and past participle of "puff," so its story is really the story of "puff," with the "-ed" ending tacked on. Its dictionary form, "puffed out," is the older-looking one: the adjective "puffed" is a shortening of that fuller phrase, meaning swollen with air or breathless. Over time the shorter form has dropped the "out" and kept the sense of inflation. The word "puff" itself goes back to an imitation of the sound of a quick burst of breath, which is why it works equally well for a blowing gust, a cloud of smoke, or a wind-filled pastry. Once you hear a short expulsion of air in the word, the adjective makes sense: something that has been filled with breath is literally puffed up.

Synonyms: inflated, swelled, expanded, blown, augmented

Antonyms: deflated, collapsed, shrunk, diminished, contracted