bluff

Noun · Verb · Adjective
US[bluhf]/blʌf/1 syllable
Synonyms: four flushbluff outboldsheer

Open English WordNet

Noun (3)bluffs

  1. a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)Type of bank
  2. pretense that your position is stronger than it really is“his bluff succeeded in getting him accepted”Type of pretense, pretence
  3. the act of bluffing in poker; deception by a false show of confidence in the strength of your cardsSynonyms: four flushType of deception, deceit

Verb (2)bluffs, bluffed, bluffing

  1. deceive an opponent by a bold bet on an inferior hand with the result that the opponent withdraws a winning handSynonyms: bluff outMore general move, go
  2. frighten someone by pretending to be stronger than one really isMore general frighten, fright

Adjective (2)

  1. very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front“a bluff headland”“where the bold chalk cliffs of England rise”“a sheer descent of rock”Synonyms: boldsheerOpposite gradualSimilar steep
  2. bluntly direct and outspoken but good-natured“a bluff but pleasant manner”“a bluff and rugged natural leader”Opposite indirectSimilar direct

Related words bluffer noun, bluffness noun

Word of the day · Oct 18About this word
kindleverb

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Bluff (…), adjective

Origin: Cf. OD. blaf flat, broad, blaffaert one with a broad face, also, a boaster; or G. verblüffen to confuse, LG. bluffen to frighten; to unknown origin.

1. Having a broad, flattened front; as, the bluff bows of a ship. “Bluff visages.” Irving.

2. Rising steeply with a flat or rounded front. “A bluff or bold shore.” William Falconer

Its banks, if not really steep, had a bluff and precipitous aspect.— Sylvester Judd

3. Surly; churlish; gruff; rough.

4. Abrupt; roughly frank; unceremonious; blunt; brusque; as, a bluff answer; a bluff manner of talking; a bluff sea captain. “Bluff King Hal.” Sir Walter Scott

There is indeed a bluff pertinacity which is a proper defense in a moment of surprise.— Isaac Taylor
Bluff noun

1. A high, steep bank, as by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine or plain; a cliff with a broad face.

Beach, bluff, and wave, adieu.— John Greenleaf Whittier

2. An act of bluffing; an expression of self-confidence for the purpose of intimidation; braggadocio; as, that is only bluff, or a bluff.

3. A game at cards; poker. U.S. John Russell. Bartlett

Bluff transitive verb [past tense & past participle Bluffed (…); present participle & verbal noun Bluffing.]

1. Poker To deter (an opponent) from taking the risk of betting on his hand of cards, as the bluffer does by betting heavily on his own hand although it may be of less value. US

2. To frighten or deter from accomplishing a purpose by making a show of confidence in one's strength or resources; as, he bluffed me off. colloquial

Bluff intransitive verb

To act as in the game of bluff.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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