BLUFF • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Bluff

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/bləf/ Listen

noun

Bluff n.

1.

A high, steep bank, as by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine or plain; a cliff with a broad face. "Beach, bluff, and wave, adieu."

2.

An act of bluffing; an expression of self-confidence for the purpose of intimidation; braggadocio; as, that is only bluff, or a bluff.

3.

A game at cards; poker. (U.S.)

verb

Bluff v. t. (past & past part. bluffed; pres. part. bluffing)

1.

(Poker) To deter (an opponent) from taking the risk of betting on his hand of cards, as the bluffer does by betting heavily on his own hand although it may be of less value. (U. S.)

2.

To frighten or deter from accomplishing a purpose by making a show of confidence in one's strength or resources; as, he bluffed me off. (Colloq.)

Bluff v. i. To act as in the game of bluff.

adjective

Bluff adj.

1.

Having a broad, flattened front; as, the bluff bows of a ship. "Bluff visages."

2.

Rising steeply with a flat or rounded front. "A bluff or bold shore." "Its banks, if not really steep, had a bluff and precipitous aspect."

3.

Surly; churlish; gruff; rough.

4.

Abrupt; roughly frank; unceremonious; blunt; brusque; as, a bluff answer; a bluff manner of talking; a bluff sea captain. "Bluff King Hal." "There is indeed a bluff pertinacity which is a proper defense in a moment of surprise."

See images of 'Bluff'

Etymology of 'Bluff'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Bluff" Quotes from Famous Books

... where the road hugged close the concave outline of a bushy bluff, Bud slowed and turned out behind a fringe of ...

— Cabin Fever • B. M. Bower

... no laughing matter, Melchior," said the broad-shouldered, bluff, sturdy-looking Englishman. "I don't want to ...

— The Crystal Hunters - A Boy's Adventures in the Higher Alps • George Manville Fenn

... measure. His hair was a sort of wolf's gray, was clipped all over within an inch of his head, and stood up like the bristles on a wild boar's back. His brows were bushy, and jutted, roof-like, over his deeply-sunken eyes; his nose was bluff as a bull-dog's; his cheek-bones were rough and high; his eyes were wide-set; his mouth was cut square across almost from ear to ear; his chin was square and massy; he had an Adam's apple as large as a gilly-flower ripening on his ...

— Summerfield - or, Life on a Farm • Day Kellogg Lee

... They've always thried to reform man, an' they haven't yet got onto th' fact that maybe he's not worth reformin'. They don't undherstan' why a man shud be allowed to pizen himsilf into th' belief that he amounts to something, but thin they don't undherstand man. They little know what a bluff he is an' how 'tis on'y be fortifyin' himsilf with stuff that they regard as iv no use except to burn undher a tea-kettle that he dares to go on livin' at all. He knows how good dhrink makes him look to himsilf, an' he dhrinks. They see how it makes him look to ivrybody else, an' they want to take ...

— Mr. Dooley Says • Finley Dunne

... thoughtful man in command—it wanted dash and bluff. It could have been done in those early days. The landing WAS a success—a brilliant, blinding success—but it stuck at the very moment when it should have rushed forward. It was no one's fault if you understand. It was sheer luck. It just didn't "come off"—and ...

— At Suvla Bay • John Hargrave

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