baf|fle

baf|fle
baf|fle «BAF uhl», verb, -fled, -fling, noun.
–v.t.
1. to be too hard for (a person) to understand or solve; bewilder: »

This puzzle baffles me.

SYNONYM(S): confound, perplex, disconcert.
2. to keep or hold back; hinder; thwart: »

The thief baffled pursuit by locking us in before escaping.

SYNONYM(S): foil, balk. See syn. under frustrate. (Cf. ↑frustrate)
3. to control or regulate (the flow of air or other gases, water, sound waves, or electrons) by a baffle.
4. to check; hold back: »

If the wind does not baffle us … (Frederick Marryat).

–v.i.
to struggle without success: »

The ship baffled against high winds and finally foundered on the rocks.

–n.
a device for hindering or changing flow, especially of air or other gases, water, sound waves, or electrons. A baffle on a rocket engine can change the direction of the exhaust thus causing a change in direction of the rocket.
╂[< Scottish baffull to dishonor in effigy, probably related to French bafouer abuse]
–baf´fle|ment, noun.
–baf´fler, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • baf´fle|ment — baf|fle «BAF uhl», verb, fled, fling, noun. –v.t. 1. to be too hard for (a person) to understand or solve; bewilder: »This puzzle baffles me. SYNONYM(S): confound, perplex, disconcert. 2. to keep or hold back; …   Useful english dictionary

  • baf|fle|gab — «BAF uhl gab», noun. Informal. very involved or confusing language; gobbledygook: »financial bafflegab. ╂[< baffle + gab] …   Useful english dictionary

  • baf|fle|plate — «BAF uhl PLAYT», noun. = baffle. (Cf. ↑baffle) …   Useful english dictionary

  • fle — baf·fle·ment; buf·fle·horn; caf·fle; cof·fle; cur·fuf·fle; fle·eth; fuf·fle; gof·fle; jif·fle; ker·fuf·fle; maf·fle; mof·fle; ni·fle; raf·fle·sia; raf·fle·si·a·ce·ae; rif·fle·man; ri·fle·man; ri·fle·ry; ri·fle·scope; scraf·fle; scruf·fle;… …   English syllables

  • baf — baf·fle·ment; baf·fler; baf·fle; baf·fling·ly; baf·fling·ness; …   English syllables

  • baf´fler — baf|fle «BAF uhl», verb, fled, fling, noun. –v.t. 1. to be too hard for (a person) to understand or solve; bewilder: »This puzzle baffles me. SYNONYM(S): confound, perplex, disconcert. 2. to keep or hold back; …   Useful english dictionary

  • baffle — baf·fle …   English syllables

  • baffle — baf•fle [[t]ˈbæf əl[/t]] v. fled, fling, n. 1) to confuse, bewilder, or perplex 2) to frustrate or confound; thwart by creating confusion or bewilderment 3) bui hfi to check or deflect the movement of (sound, light, gases, etc.) 4) Obs. to cheat; …   From formal English to slang

  • baffle — baf|fle [ bæfl ] verb transitive if a problem, someone s behavior, etc. baffles you, you cannot understand it or solve it: a rare skin condition that has baffled doctors for years Detectives remain baffled by these murders. ╾ baf|fling adjective …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Baffle — Baf|fle [bæfl] der od. das; s, s <aus engl. baffle »Prallfläche«> Vorrichtung, die das Eintreten von Öldämpfen aus Vakuumpumpen in das Hochvakuum verhindert (Techn.) …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

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