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buff

/bəf/

/bəf/

Other forms: buffs; buffed; buffing; buffest

Buff is a busy word. If you’re a movie buff, you’re a film fan! If you are buff, your muscles are toned. If your sweater is buff, it's a caramel brown color. And to buff is to polish. Whew!

You may decide to paint your living room buff or write a long letter on buff-colored stationery. There is also a soft-surfaced, yellowish kind of leather that's called buff, which is where the word came from — it was called buffe leather, or "leather made of buffalo hide," in the 16th century, and the practice of polishing leather gives buff its meaning as a verb: to polish. You might also have heard the phrase "in the buff," which means "not wearing any clothes."

Definitions of buff
  1. noun
    a soft thick undyed leather from the skins of e.g. buffalo or oxen
    see moresee less
    type of:
    leather
    an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
  2. noun
    a medium to dark tan color
    synonyms: caramel, caramel brown, raw sienna, yellowish brown
    see moresee less
    types:
    snuff-color, snuff-colour
    dark yellowish brown
    type of:
    brown, brownness
    an orange of low brightness and saturation
  3. noun
    bare skin; naked
    “swimming in the buff
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    type of:
    cutis, skin, tegument
    a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
  4. adjective
    of the yellowish-beige color of buff leather
    Synonyms:
    chromatic
    being, having, or characterized by hue
  5. verb
    polish and make shiny
    buff the wooden floors”
    buff my shoes”
    synonyms: burnish, furbish
    see moresee less
    type of:
    polish, shine, smooth, smoothen
    make (a surface) shine
  6. noun
    an implement consisting of soft material mounted on a block; used for polishing (as in manicuring)
    synonyms: buffer
    see moresee less
    type of:
    implement
    instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end
  7. noun
    an ardent follower and admirer
    synonyms: devotee, fan, lover
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 6 types...
    hide 6 types...
    aerophile
    a lover of aviation
    aficionado
    a serious devotee of some activity, genre, or performer
    amorist
    one dedicated to love and lovemaking especially one who writes about love
    bacchanal, bacchant
    a drunken reveller; a devotee of Bacchus
    groupie
    an enthusiastic young fan (especially a young woman who follows rock groups around)
    metalhead
    a fan of heavy metal music
    type of:
    follower
    a person who accepts the leadership of another
  8. verb
    strike, beat repeatedly
    synonyms: buffet
    see moresee less
    type of:
    hit
    deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument
Pronunciation
US

/bəf/

UK

/bəf/

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘buff'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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