buff

Everyday

1. A buff is a person who knows and loves a lot about one subject: «a film buff», «a history buff». tree →
2. Buff is a pale yellow-brown colour, like light leather. tree →
3. To buff something is to polish it by rubbing with a soft cloth until it shines. tree →
4. (slang) Buff means having strong, big muscles: «He's really buff». tree →
5. (UK slang) Buff can mean good-looking. tree →
6. (informal) In the buff means with no clothes on. tree →
7. In games, a buff makes a character stronger; to buff is to make stronger. tree →
8. Blindman's buff is a party game in which one player is blindfolded and tries to catch the others. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life you buff shoes, cars or floors. In stories and talk a «buff» is a fan with lots of knowledge. Kids who play video games talk about buffs and nerfs. Phrases: film buff, history buff, in the buff, buff up.

Examples

• My uncle is a real train buff. tree →
• Dad buffed his shoes until they shone. tree →
• The envelope was a pale buff colour. tree →
• After months at the gym, he got really buff. tree →
• The babies ran around the garden in the buff. tree →
• The new update buffed my favourite character. tree →
• She's a history buff who knows every king. tree →
• Some played at blindman’s buff, others at tag. tree →

Note

«Buff» for muscles and «in the buff» are informal. Do not confuse with «bluff» (pretending). Comparative of the adjective is «buffer», which is also a different noun (a buffer on a railway).