[puhz-uh
l] 
noun, verb, -zled, -zling.| 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. |
