buff — a person who is very interested in and knows a lot about a particular subject
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a person who is very interested in and knows a lot about a particular subject
Pronunciation (IPA): /bʌf/
Example Sentences
- My grandpa is a jazz buff who owns 500 vinyl records.
- After buffing his car for three hours, it looked like a mirror.
- She became buff from carrying heavy textbooks all semester.
buff
NOUN[/bʌf/]
a person who is very interested in and knows a lot about a particular subject
a person who is very interested in and knows a lot about a particular subject. To increase the strength or effectiveness of a character or ability in a game.
A muscle BUFF who's actually a history BUFF with books!
Even a fitness buff finds some stuff too tough!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from 16th-century French 'buffle' (buffalo), referring to buffalo hide. Polishing cloth made from this durable leather was called 'buff' and used to burnish weapons and tools to a shine. The sense 'enthusiast' emerged in the 19th century from the bright buff-colored uniforms worn by volunteer firefighters, initially referring to fire enthusiasts before generalizing to any devoted fan.
Breakdown
buffle (French for buffalo) → buff (buffalo leather; to polish/shine) → buff (devotee, enthusiast). The modern 'enthusiast' sense stems from metonymy: the distinctive buff-colored uniforms of 19th-century firefighters became associated with their passionate devotion.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandpa is a jazz buff who owns 500 vinyl records.”
“After buffing his car for three hours, it looked like a mirror.”
“She became buff from carrying heavy textbooks all semester.”
“The wine buff could identify the grape variety just by smell.”
📚Related Words
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