Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Puzzle

Puz′zle

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To be bewildered, or perplexed.
A
puzzling
fool, that heeds nothing.
L’Estrange.
2.
To work, as at a puzzle;
as, to
puzzle
over a problem
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Puzzle

PUZ'ZLE

,
Verb.
T.
[from the root of pose, which see.]
1.
To perplex; to embarrass; to put to a stand; to gravel.
A shrewd disputant in those points, is dexterous in puzzling others.
He is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders.
2.
To make intricate; to entangle.
The ways of heaven are dark and intricate,
Puzzl'd in mazes and perplex'd with error.

PUZ'ZLE

,
Verb.
I.
To be bewildered; to be awkward.

PUZ'ZLE

,
Noun.
Perplexity; embarrassment.

Definition 2024


Puzzle

Puzzle

See also: puzzle

German

Noun

Puzzle n (genitive Puzzles, plural Puzzles)

  1. (games) jigsaw puzzle

puzzle

puzzle

See also: Puzzle

English

Rubik's cube is a type of puzzle.

Noun

puzzle (plural puzzles)

  1. Anything that is difficult to understand or make sense of.
    Where he went after he left the house is a puzzle.
  2. A game for one person that is more or less difficult to work out or complete.
  3. A crossword puzzle.
  4. A jigsaw puzzle.
  5. A riddle.
  6. (archaic) Something made with marvellous skill; something of ingenious construction.
  7. The state of being puzzled; perplexity.
    to be in a puzzle

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

puzzle (third-person singular simple present puzzles, present participle puzzling, simple past and past participle puzzled)

  1. (transitive) To perplex (someone).
    • Henry More (1614-1687)
      A very shrewd disputant in those points is dexterous in puzzling others, if they be not thoroughpaced speculators in those great theories.
    • Joseph Addison (1672-1719)
      He is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders.
    • 1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 4, in Pulling the Strings:
      The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff.
  2. To make intricate; to entangle.
    • Joseph Addison (1672-1719)
      The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate, / Puzzled in mazes, and perplexed with error.
    • William Cowper (1731-1800)
      They disentangle from the puzzled skein.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:confuse

Derived terms

  • puzzle over
  • puzzle through

Translations

Related terms

References

  1. puzzle” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).

Czech

Etymology

Borrowing from English puzzle.[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpazl̩/, /ˈput͡sle/

Noun

puzzle m

  1. jigsaw puzzle

Declension

Usage notes

Also used as an indeclinable noun of various genders, most often neuter.[2]

References

  1. puzzle in Jiří Rejzek, Český etymologický slovník, electronic version, Leda, 2007
  2. puzzle in Internetová jazyková příručka, Institute of the Czech Language of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

French

Etymology

Borrowing from English puzzle.

Pronunciation

Noun

puzzle m (plural puzzles)

  1. jigsaw puzzle

Italian

Etymology

Borrowing from English puzzle.

Noun

puzzle m (invariable)

  1. jigsaw puzzle
  2. (by extension) A difficult problem

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowing from English puzzle.

Noun

puzzle m (plural puzzles)

  1. jigsaw puzzle