bluff
1
[ bluhf ]
/ blʌf /
adjective, bluff·er, bluff·est.
good-naturedly direct, blunt, or frank; heartily outspoken: a big, bluff, generous man.
presenting a bold and nearly perpendicular front, as a coastline: a bluff, precipitous headland.
Nautical.
(of the bow of a vessel) having a full, blunt form.
noun
a cliff, headland, or hill with a broad, steep face.
North Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Canadian Prairie Provinces.
a clump or grove of trees on a prairie or other generally treeless area.
Origin of bluff
1
1620–30; perhaps < Middle Low German
blaff smooth, even, or < Middle Dutch
blaf broad, flat
SYNONYMS FOR bluff
synonym study for bluff
1. See
blunt.
OTHER WORDS FROM bluff
bluff·ly, adverb bluff·ness, nounWords nearby bluff
Example sentences from the Web for bluffer
British Dictionary definitions for bluffer (1 of 2)
bluff
1
/ (blʌf) /
verb
to pretend to be confident about an uncertain issue or to have undisclosed resources, in order to influence or deter (someone)
noun
deliberate deception intended to create the impression of a stronger position or greater resources than one actually has
call someone's bluff
to challenge someone to give proof of his claims
Derived forms of bluff
bluffer, nounWord Origin for bluff
C19: originally US poker-playing term, from Dutch
bluffen to boast
British Dictionary definitions for bluffer (2 of 2)
bluff
2
/ (blʌf) /
noun
a steep promontory, bank, or cliff, esp one formed by river erosion on the outside bend of a meander
Canadian
a clump of trees on the prairie; copse
adjective
good-naturedly frank and hearty
(of a bank, cliff, etc) presenting a steep broad face
Derived forms of bluff
bluffly, adverb bluffness, nounWord Origin for bluff
C17 (in the sense: nearly perpendicular): perhaps from Middle Dutch
blaf broad
Idioms and Phrases with bluffer
bluff
see call someone's bluff.