puff(名词/动词):(烟、气等的)一口;一团(烟/蒸汽/空气);(风的)一阵;轻轻吹/喷出(空气、烟等);也可指(因用力或情绪)气喘吁吁。(另有“泡芙/酥皮点心”等含义,语境不同)
/pʌf/
She took a puff of her inhaler.
她吸了一口吸入器里的药雾。
The old train puffed black smoke as it climbed the hill, its engine struggling against the cold wind.
老火车爬坡时一股股地喷出黑烟,发动机在寒风中吃力地运转着。
puff 多被认为是拟声词,模仿气体突然喷出或轻吹时的声音与动作;早期用法与“吹气、喘气、喷烟”相关,后来引申为“(烟/气)一口、一团”以及“夸大、吹捧(puff up)”等含义。