buff

1 of 3

noun

ˈbəf 

1

: a garment (such as a uniform) made of buff leather

2

: the state of being nude

sunbathing in the buff

3

a

: a moderate orange yellow

b

: a light to moderate yellow

4

: a device having a soft absorbent surface (as of cloth) by which polishing material is applied

5

[earlier buff an enthusiast about going to fires; perhaps from the buff overcoats worn by volunteer firefighters in New York City about 1820] : fan, enthusiast

buff

2 of 3

adjective

1

: of the color buff

2

or buffed

ˈbəft 

: having a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises

buff

3 of 3

verb

buffed; buffing; buffs

transitive verb

1

: polish, shine

waxed and buffed the floor

2

: to give a velvety surface to (leather)

Synonyms

Noun

• addict
• aficionado
• afficionado
• bug
• devotee
• enthusiast
• fan
• fanatic
• fancier
• fiend
• fool
• freak
• habitué
• habitue
• head
• hound
• junkie
• junky
• lover
• maniac
• maven
• mavin
• nut
• sucker

Verb

• file
• grind
• hone
• rasp
• rub
• sand

Examples of buff in a Sentence

Noun

he's such a film buff that he owns over 3,000 movies

protected by a fully enclosed backyard, the couple would frequently sunbathe in the buff

Adjective

He's at the gym every day trying to get buff.

the buff body of an athlete

Verb

The floors are waxed and buffed every year.

She is going to the salon to get her nails buffed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For movie buffs, the Star Wars Ahsoka Tano's T-6 Jedi Shuttle and Marvel Dancing Groot Toy make fun collector’s sets at a budget-friendly price. —Ali Faccenda, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024

The film is set to complete four weeks by this weekend and continues to enjoy the love of Hindi movies buffs. —Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

Adjective

But the magic of Christmas is found in the unexplained, not in watching a buff Santa rappelling into all the world’s chimneys. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2024

Chris Morgan — whose many credits include several entries in the Fast & Furious franchise — penned the screenplay from Garcia's story idea, and the result is a film that follows a very buff Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons), a.k.a. —EW.com, 25 Sep. 2024

Verb

Compact yet powerful, this nail drill boasts a 20,000 RPM rotary motor that’s adjustable to all your nail care needs: shaping, buffing, grinding, polishing, and cuticle-ling (should be a word). —WIRED, 29 Nov. 2024

Dior's Lip Sugar Scrub comes in a convenient tube format, and Sara Happ The Lip Scrub gently buffs away flakes. —Isadora Baum, Allure, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French buffle wild ox, from Old Italian bufalo

First Known Use

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing buff

• blindman's buff
• buff leather
• buff up
• in the buff
• to the buff

Kids Definition

buff

1 of 3 noun

ˈbəf 

1

: an orange yellow

2

: a device with a soft absorbent surface (as of cloth) for applying polishing material

3

: fan entry 3, enthusiast

a tennis buff

buff

2 of 3 adjective

: of the color buff

buff

3 of 3 verb

: to polish with or as if with a buff