Buff — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈbəf/

Meaning & Definition of Buff

Buff (noun)

  1. a garment (such as a uniform) made of buff leather
  2. the state of being nude
  3. a moderate orange yellow

Buff (adjective)

  1. of the color buff
  2. having a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises

Buff (verb)

  1. polish, shine
  2. to give a velvety surface to (leather)

Buff (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person with a strong and habitual liking for something

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

    similar: addict, aficionado, bug, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic, fancier, fiend, fool, freak, habitué, head, hound, junkie, lover, maniac (informal), maven, nut, sucker
    related: groupie, admirer, amateur, collector, connoisseur, dilettante, authority, expert, adherent, convert, cultist, disciple, follower, hanger-on, votary, advocate, apostle, backer, champion, evangelist, exponent, friend, patron, promoter, proponent, supporter, partisan, zealot, booster, rooter, well-wisher, faddist
    opposite: nonfan
    near: nonadmirer, belittler, carper, critic, detractor

  2. the state of having no clothes on one's body

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

    similar: altogether, bareness, birthday suit, bottomlessness, nakedness, nude, nudity, raw
    related: toplessness, naturism, nudism

Buff (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make smooth by friction

    "she learned to buff semiprecious stones in order to make her own jewelry"

    similar: file, grind, hone, rasp, rub, sand
    related: plane, scrape, sandblast, scour, burnish, dress, gloss, polish, shine, smooth, edge, sharpen, strop, whet, regrind
    near: coarsen, rough (up), roughen, scuff

  2. to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure

    "the janitor buffed the lobby floor until it shone"

    similar: burnish, dress, furbish, gloss, grind, polish, rub, shine, smooth, smoothen
    related: sleek, slick, coat, glaze, japan, lacquer, varnish, face, finish, veneer, brighten, file, rasp, sand, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scrub, bob, bone, lap
    near: rough (up), roughen, ruffle, scuff (up)

Related Entry: Buffed (adjective)

Buffed is a different word from Buff. The synonyms below are for buffed, not for buff.

  1. having a shiny surface or finish

    "a beautiful, buffed antique table"

    similar: burnished, glistening, glossy, lustrous, polished, rubbed, satin, satiny, sleek
    related: brushed, eggshell, semigloss, semilustrous, silken, silky, slick, slippery, glassy, glazed, lacquered, shellacked, varnished, gleaming, glittering, reflective, shining
    opposite: dim, dull, flat, lusterless, matte
    near: lackluster, unvarnished

Related Entry: In the buff (phrase)

In the buff is a different word from Buff. The synonyms below are for in the buff, not for buff.

  1. lacking or shed of clothing

    "They were surprised when they stumbled upon a section of beach where all the sunbathers were in the buff."

    similar: au naturel, bare, bottomless, disrobed, mother-naked, naked, nude, raw, starkers (chiefly British), stripped, unclad, unclothed, undressed, in the altogether, in the nude, in the raw, stark naked
    related: seminude, topless, denuded, peeled, unveiled
    opposite: appareled, attired, clad, clothed, dressed, garbed, invested, robed, suited
    near: covered, veiled, arrayed, caparisoned, decked (out), rigged (out), tricked (out), vested, decent

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Buff

The most common words with a similar meaning to Buff:

Informal: maniac
addict, aficionado, bug, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic, fancier, fiend, fool, freak, habitué, head, hound, junkie, lover, maven, nut, sucker, altogether, bareness, birthday suit, bottomlessness, nakedness, nude, nudity, raw, file, grind, hone, rasp, rub, sand, burnish, dress, furbish, gloss, polish, shine, smooth

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Buff

Words with the opposite meaning of Buff:

nonfan

Related Words for Buff

groupie, admirer, amateur, collector, connoisseur, dilettante, authority, expert, adherent, convert, cultist, disciple, follower, hanger-on, votary, advocate, apostle, backer, champion, evangelist, exponent, friend, patron, promoter, proponent, supporter, partisan, zealot, booster, rooter

Near Antonyms of Buff

nonadmirer, belittler, carper, critic, detractor, coarsen, rough (up), roughen, scuff, ruffle, scuff (up)

Word Forms of Buff

Inflections: buffed, buffing, buffs

Origin & Etymology of Buff

Middle French buffle wild ox, from Old Italian bufalo

First known use: 1570

Words & Phrases Containing Buff

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

Frequently Asked Questions about Buff

What does "Buff" mean?

"Buff" means a garment (such as a uniform) made of buff leather. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: a garment (such as a uniform) made of buff leather. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Buff"?

Other words for "Buff" include addict, aficionado, bug, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic and fancier. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Buff" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Buff"?

There are 102 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Buff". Common alternatives include addict, aficionado, bug, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic, fancier, fiend and fool.

What is the opposite of "Buff"?

Antonyms of "Buff" include nonfan. Near antonyms include nonadmirer, belittler, carper and critic.

How do you use "Buff" in a sentence?

Examples of "Buff" in a sentence: "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"; "she learned to buff semiprecious stones in order to make her own jewelry".

Is "Buff" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Buff" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Buff"?

"Buff" is pronounced /ˈbəf/.

What is the origin of the word "Buff"?

"Buff" comes from Middle French buffle wild ox, from Old Italian bufalo. First known use: 1570.