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baffle

baf·fle [ ˈba-fəl]

baffle

noun

Definition of baffle (Entry 2 of 2)

: a device (such as a plate, wall, or screen) to deflect, check, or regulate flow or passage (as of a fluid, light, or sound)

baffle

verb

[ˈba-fəl]

baffled; baffling\ ˈba-f(ə-)liŋ \

Definition of baffle

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to defeat or check (someone) by confusing or puzzling : to confuse or frustrate completely : disconcert
//Her behavior baffled her parents.

2 : to check or break the force or flow of by or as if by a baffle (see baffle entry 2)
//baffle the steam

Other Words from baffle

Verb

bafflement \ ˈba-fəl-mənt \ noun

baffler \ ˈba-f(ə-)lər \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for dainty

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Antonyms:verb

Choose the Right Synonym for dainty

Verb

frustrate, thwart, foil, baffle, balk mean to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal. frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.
//frustrated attempts at government reform thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.
// the army thwarted his attempt at a coup foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.
//foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.
//baffled by the maze of rules and regulations balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.
// officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

Recent Examples on the Web

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
//Nobody’s more baffled by the popular misuse of 'triggered' than people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), like me.
— Janey Starling, refinery29.com, "Why We Need To Stop Using 'Triggered' In The Wrong Context," 21 Aug. 2019
//Even though Trump's own senior aides are baffled by the idea and are unsure whether to take it seriously, the notion is not without precedent.
— Author: Rick Noack, Claire Parker, Anchorage Daily News, "Greenland to Trump: We are not for sale," 16 Aug. 2019
//Garcia’s placement atop the order was the latest lineup by manager Joe Maddon, who remains baffled by Cubs’ 19-30 road record that includes 11 one-run losses.
— Mark Gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "Cubs scrambling for the right mix in their lineup and bullpen," 27 July 2019
//Physicists are both thrilled and baffled by a new report from a neutrino experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory near Chicago.
— Quanta Magazine, "Evidence Found for a New Fundamental Particle," 1 June 2018
//Americans remained widely disillusioned and baffled by the reasons for the country’s entry into that conflict, which had cost 116,000 of their countrymen’s lives in just 19 months and seemed to accomplish nothing.
— Kevin Baker, The New Republic, "Why America needs truth and reconciliation after Trump," 17 May 2018
//Above: Zahavi celebrating a goal for Isreal in the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Austria The 32-year-old dug out a wonderful finish which completely baffled the onlooking goalkeeper, as the ball curled effortlessly into the far corner.
— SI.com, "Eran Zahavi: Outrageous Last-Minute Rabona Strike Wins Chinese Super League Game," 14 Sep. 2019
//Devante Jones’ family was distraught, even baffled, to learn this week that the 22-year-old Baltimore man was killed while allegedly attempting to rob five men, including an off-duty school police officer and a retired corrections officer.
— Lillian Reed, baltimoresun.com, "Alleged robber’s family looks for clarity from Baltimore Police after his fatal shooting," 27 Aug. 2019
//The result is an audio-visual bonanza told on a huge canvas, alternately psychedelic, baffling, gorgeous, soul-crushing, and hilarious.
— Peter Opaskar, Ars Technica, "Apocalypse Now Final Cut," 31 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
//The hole was resealed, and a metal baffle was installed to redirect any future leak away from the equipment.
— Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post, "The National Archives’ floating flood wall helped dodge disaster from epic rainfall," 11 July 2019
//Non-catalytic stoves draw the woodsmoke through a series of baffles [Fig.
— Roy Berendson, Popular Mechanics, "The Ultimate Guide To Cutting and Splitting Firewood," 28 Sep. 2018
//For those who are looking for pillow-top comfort instead of foam, this 3-inch bed topper is filled with two layers of 550 fill power down and feathers inside a cotton shell, while baffle box construction keeps the down clusters evenly distributed.
— Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, "7 Top-Rated Mattress Toppers, According to Textile Pros," 19 Dec. 2018
//Woodstoves come in two basic types: with and without a catalyst, which is a honeycomb-like baffle plated with precious metals (left in the image).
— Roy Berendson, Popular Mechanics, "The Ultimate Guide To Cutting and Splitting Firewood," 28 Sep. 2018
//The standard way of dealing with this is to add baffles or suppressors on the end of the barrel to divert and slow down the gas.
— David Hambling, Popular Mechanics, "The Science of Russia's New Silent Sniper Rifle," 29 Aug. 2018
//The speakers point downward, so a pair of baffles at the bottom called deflectors—one tuned to the frequencies emitted by each speaker—redirect the sound outward, in all directions, through the speaker grille.
— Kevin Dupzyk, Popular Mechanics, "What It Looks Like When You Take Apart an Amazon Echo," 24 Feb. 2017
//The 20-denier outer fabric is pleasantly soft and quiet, and low-stretch baffles ensure a stable sleeping surface.
— Outside Online, "The Best Women’s Thru-Hiking Gear of 2018," 15 May 2018
//Their thick bark and tall straight trunks — branchless for the first 150 to 200 feet — function like massive acoustic baffles, aided by a sound-damping carpet of dense duff.
— Robert Earle Howells, SFChronicle.com, "Should we hide the locations of Earth’s greatest trees?," 3 July 2018

First Known Use of baffle

Verb

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1881, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for baffle

Verb

probably alteration of Middle English (Scots) bawchillen to denounce, discredit publicly

Noun

noun derivative of baffle entry 1

Dictionary Entries near baffle

More Synonyms and Antonyms ofbaffle

Synonyms & Antonyms of baffle

1 to prevent from achieving a goal

the language barrier baffled everyone and discouraged us from attempting another teleconference

Synonyms for baffle

Words Related to baffle

Near Antonyms for baffle

Antonyms for baffle

2 to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

she was baffled by the wording of the clause in the insurance policy

Synonyms for baffle

Words Related to baffle

Phrases Synonymous with baffle

Near Antonyms for baffle

More Definitions forbaffle

baffle

verb

English Language Learners Definition of baffle

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to confuse (someone) completely

baffle

noun

English Language Learners Definition of baffle (Entry 2 of 2)

technical : a device (such as a wall or screen) that is used to control the flow of something (such as a fluid, light, or sound)

baffle

verb

baf·fle | \ ˈba-fəl \

baffled; baffling\ ˈba-fə-liŋ , ˈba-fliŋ \

Kids Definition of baffle

: to completely confuse The instructions baffled us.