puzzle
Use Puzzle in a sentence
əl noun
1.
a toy, problem, or other contrivance designed to amuse by presenting difficulties to be solved by ingenuity or patient effort.
3.
a puzzled or perplexed condition; bewilderment.
4.
a crossword puzzle: Did you do the puzzle in the newspaper today?
5.
verb (used with object)
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.
00:10
Puzzle
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is peculate. Does it mean:
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
| to bark; yelp. |
verb (used without object)
Verb phrases 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; origin uncertain
1585–95; origin uncertain
Related forms
puz·zled·ly, adverb
puz·zled·ness, noun
un·puz·zle, verb (used with object), un·puz·zled, un·puz·zling.
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.
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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To puzzle
Collins
World English Dictionary
puzzle (ˈpʌzəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb (foll by over) (usually foll by out) | |
| 1. | to perplex or be perplexed |
| 2. | to attempt the solution (of); ponder (about): he puzzled over her absence |
| 3. | to solve by mental effort: he puzzled out the meaning of the inscription |
| —n | |
| 4. | a person or thing that puzzles |
| 5. | a problem that cannot be easily or readily solved |
| 6. | the state or condition of being puzzled |
| 7. | jigsaw puzzle See Chinese puzzle a toy, game, or question presenting a problem that requires skill or ingenuity for its solution |
| [C16: of unknown origin] | |
| 'puzzling | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
puzzle
1590s, 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 c.1600, from the verb; meaning "perplexing question" is from 1650s; that of "a toy contrived to test one's ingenuity"
is from 1814.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
To learn a language is to piece together a puzzle that is never quite done.
Fewer people will puzzle over his meanings in this book and come away partially frustrated.
Well there was a pretty good turn out for this weeks puzzle.
Rearrange the pieces to solve the puzzle in this addictive game.
Images for puzzle
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