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7 dictionary results for: Puzzle
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
puz·zle 
[puhz-uhl] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, -zled, -zling.
—Related forms
[puhz-uhl] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, -zled, -zling. –noun
–verb (used with object)
–verb (used without object)
—Verb phrase
| 1. | a toy, problem, or other contrivance designed to amuse by presenting difficulties to be solved by ingenuity or patient effort. |
| 2. | something puzzling; a puzzling question, matter, or person. |
| 3. | a puzzled or perplexed condition; bewilderment. |
| 4. | a crossword puzzle: Did you do the puzzle in the newspaper today? |
| 5. | a jigsaw puzzle. |
| 6. | to put (someone) at a loss; mystify; confuse; baffle: Her attitude puzzles me. |
| 7. | to frustrate or confound, as the understanding; perplex: The problem puzzled him for weeks. |
| 8. | to exercise (oneself, one's brain, etc.) over some problem or matter. |
| 9. | Archaic. to make intricate or complicated. |
| 10. | to be perplexed or confused. |
| 11. | to ponder or study over some perplexing problem or matter. |
| 12. | puzzle out, to solve by careful study or effort: I was unable to puzzle out the message. |
[Origin: 1585–95; orig. uncert.]
] —Related forms
puz·zled·ly, adverb
puz·zled·ness, noun
—Synonyms 2. Puzzle, riddle, enigma refer to something baffling or confusing that is to be solved. A puzzle is a question or problem, intricate enough to be perplexing to the mind; it is sometimes a contrivance made purposely perplexing to test one's ingenuity: a crossword puzzle; The reason for their behavior remains a puzzle. A riddle is an intentionally obscure statement or question, the meaning of or answer to which is to be arrived at only by guessing: the famous riddle of the Sphinx. Enigma, originally meaning riddle, now refers to some baffling problem with connotations of mysteriousness: He will always be an enigma to me. 6. confound.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| puz·zle
(pŭz'əl) Pronunciation Key
v. puz·zled, puz·zling, puz·zles v. tr.
v. intr.
n.
[Origin unknown.] puz'zler n. Synonyms: These verbs mean to cause bafflement or confusion. Puzzle suggests difficulty in solving or interpreting something: "The poor creature puzzled me once . . . by a question merely natural and innocent" (Daniel Defoe). |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
puzzle (v.)
puzzle (v.)
c.1595, pusle "bewilder, confound," possibly frequentative of pose (v.) in obsolete sense of "perplex" (cf. nuzzle from nose). The noun meaning "state of being puzzled" is recorded from 1607, from the verb; meaning "perplexing question" is from 1655; that of "a toy contrived to test one's ingenuity" is from 1814.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| puzzle | |
noun | |
| 1. | a particularly baffling problem that is said to have a correct solution; "he loved to solve chessmate puzzles"; "that's a real puzzler" |
| 2. | a game that tests your ingenuity |
verb | |
| 1. | be a mystery or bewildering to; "This beats me!"; "Got me--I don't know the answer!"; "a vexing problem"; "This question really stuck me" [syn: perplex] |
| 2. | be uncertain about; think about without fully understanding or being able to decide; "We puzzled over her sudden departure" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Puzzle
Puz"zle\, n. [For opposal, in the sense of problem. See Oppose, Pose, v.]1. Something which perplexes or embarrasses; especially, a toy or a problem contrived for testing ingenuity; also, something exhibiting marvelous skill in making. 2. The state of being puzzled; perplexity; as, to be in a puzzle.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Puzzle
Puz"zle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Puzzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Puzzling.]1. To perplex; to confuse; to embarrass; to put to a stand; to nonplus. A very shrewd disputant in those points is dexterous in puzzling others. --Dr. H. More. He is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders. --Addison. 2. To make intricate; to entangle. They disentangle from the puzzled skein. --Cowper. The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate, Puzzled in mazes, and perplexed with error. --Addison. 3. To solve by ingenuity, as a puzzle; -- followed by out; as, to puzzle out a mystery. Syn: To embarrass; perplex; confuse; bewilder; confound. See Embarrass.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Puzzle
Puz"zle\, v. i. 1. To be bewildered, or perplexed. A puzzling fool, that heeds nothing. --L'Estrange. 2. To work, as at a puzzle; as, to puzzle over a problem.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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