Flutter vs. Puff — What's the Difference?

(of a bird or other winged creature) fly unsteadily or hover by flapping the wings quickly and lightly

A short, explosive burst of breath or wind

An act of fluttering

A light pastry case, typically one made of puff pastry, containing a sweet or savoury filling

A small bet

A review of a work of art, book, or theatrical production, especially an excessively complimentary one

To wave or flap rapidly in an irregular manner

A gathered mass of material in a dress or other garment.

To fly by a quick light flapping of the wings.

A powder puff

To flap the wings without flying.

Breathe in repeated short gasps

To move or fall in a manner suggestive of tremulous flight

Swell or become swollen

To vibrate or beat rapidly or erratically

Advertise with exaggerated or false praise

To move quickly in a nervous, restless, or excited fashion; flit.

A short forceful exhalation of breath.

To cause to flutter

A short sudden gust of wind.

The act of fluttering.

A brief sudden emission of air, vapor, or smoke.

A condition of nervous excitement or agitation

A short sibilant sound produced by a puff.

A commotion; a stir.

An amount of vapor, smoke, or similar material released in a puff.

(Medicine) Abnormally rapid pulsation, especially of the atria or ventricles of the heart.

An act of drawing in and expelling the breath, as in smoking tobacco.

Rapid fluctuation in the pitch of a sound reproduction resulting from variations in the speed of the recording or reproducing equipment.

A swelling or rounded protuberance.

Chiefly British A small bet; a gamble

Puff pastry.

(intransitive) To flap or wave quickly but irregularly.

A light soft pad for applying powder or lotion.

(intransitive) Of a winged animal: to flap the wings without flying; to fly with a light flapping of the wings.

A gathered, protruding portion of fabric.

To undergo divergent oscillations (potentially to the point of causing structural failure) due to a positive feedback loop between elastic deformation and aerodynamic forces.

A light padded bed covering.

(transitive) To cause something to flap.

An approving or flattering recommendation.

(transitive) To drive into disorder; to throw into confusion.

A piece of writing, as on the jacket of a book, containing often exaggerated praise, used for promotional purposes.

(intransitive) To be in a state of agitation or uncertainty.

(Genetics) A localized region of swelling in certain chromosomes indicating the active synthesis of RNA.

To be frivolous.

To blow in puffs.

To subject to a lie detector test.

To come forth in puffs

The act of fluttering; quick and irregular motion.

To breathe forcefully and rapidly

A state of agitation.

To emit puffs.

An abnormal rapid pulsation of the heart.

To take puffs on smoking material

An extremely dangerous divergent oscillation caused by a positive feedback loop between the elastic deformation of an object and the aerodynamic forces acting on it, potentially resulting in rapid structural failure.

To swell or seem to swell, as with pride or air. Often used with up

(British) A small bet or risky investment.

To emit or give forth in puffs.

A hasty game of cards or similar.

To impel with puffs.

The rapid variation of signal parameters, such as amplitude, phase, and frequency.

To smoke (a cigar, for example).

To vibrate or move quickly; as, a bird flutters its wings.

To inflate or distend

To drive in disorder; to throw into confusion.

To fill with pride or conceit

The act of fluttering; quick and irregular motion; vibration; as, the flutter of a fan.

To publicize with often exaggerated praise

Hurry; tumult; agitation of the mind; confusion; disorder.

(countable) A sharp exhalation of a small amount of breath through the mouth.

The act of moving back and forth

(uncountable) The ability to breathe easily while exerting oneself.

Abnormally rapid beating of the auricles of the heart (especially in a regular rhythm); can result in heart block

(countable) A small quantity of gas or smoke in the air.

A disorderly outburst or tumult;

(countable) A sudden but small gust of wind, smoke, etc.

The motion made by flapping up and down

An act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette, cigar or pipe.

Move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart

The drug cannabis.

Move back and forth very rapidly;

(countable) A flamboyant or alluring statement of praise.

Beat rapidly;

A portion of fabric gathered up so as to be left full in the middle.

Wink briefly;

(countable) A light cake filled with cream, cream cheese, etc.

A puffball.

A powder puff.

A puffer, one who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold at auction to bid up the price; an act or scam of that type.

(genetics) A region of a chromosome exhibiting a local increase in diameter.

Life.

Syn of poof: a male homosexual, especially an effeminate one.

(intransitive) To emit smoke, gas, etc., in puffs.

(intransitive) To pant.

To advertise.

To blow as an expression of scorn.

To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated.

To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner; hence, to assume importance.

To drive with a puff, or with puffs.

To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously.

To cause to swell or dilate; to inflate.

To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, etc.; often with up.

To praise with exaggeration; to flatter; to call public attention to by praises; to praise unduly.

A sudden and single emission of breath from the mouth; hence, any sudden or short blast of wind; a slight gust; a whiff.

Anything light and filled with air. Specifically: (a) A puffball. (b) kind of light pastry. (c) A utensil of the toilet for dusting the skin or hair with powder.

An exaggerated or empty expression of praise, especially one in a public journal.

To blow in puffs, or with short and sudden whiffs.

To blow, as an expression of scorn; - with at.

To breathe quick and hard, or with puffs, as after violent exertion.

To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated.

To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner; hence, to assume importance.

To drive with a puff, or with puffs.

To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously.

To cause to swell or dilate; to inflate; to ruffle with puffs; - often with up; as, a bladder puffed with air.

To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, or the like; - often with up.

To praise with exaggeration; to flatter; to call public attention to by praises; to praise unduly.

Puffed up; vain.

A short light gust of air

A light inflated pastry or puff shell

Exaggerated praise (as for promotional purposes)

Bedding made of two layers of cloth filled with stuffing and stitched together

A soft spherical object made from fluffy fibers; for applying powder to the skin

Thick cushion used as a seat

A slow inhalation (as of tobacco smoke);

Forceful exhalation through the nose or mouth;

Smoke and exhale strongly;

Suck in or take (air);

Breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted;

Make proud or conceited;

Praise extravagantly;

Speak in a blustering or scornful manner;

To swell or cause to enlarge,

Blow hard and loudly;

Gathered for protruding fullness;