puzzle
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puz·zle
(pŭz′əl)n.
1. Something, such as a game, toy, or problem, that requires ingenuity and often persistence in solving or assembling.
2. Something that baffles or confuses; an enigma: the puzzle of the author's true identity.
3. The condition of being perplexed; bewilderment: I'm really in a puzzle over how this happened.
v. puz·zled, puz·zling, puz·zles
v.tr.
1. To baffle or confuse mentally by presenting or being a difficult problem or matter. See Synonyms at perplex.
2. To clarify or solve (something confusing) by reasoning or study: He puzzled out the significance of the statement.
v.intr.
1. To be perplexed.
2. To ponder over a problem in an effort to solve or understand it.
[Origin unknown.]
puz′zler n.
puzzle
(ˈpʌzəl)vb
1. to perplex or be perplexed
2. (foll by: over) to attempt the solution (of); ponder (about): he puzzled over her absence.
3. (usually foll by: out) to solve by mental effort: he puzzled out the meaning of the inscription.
n
4. a person or thing that puzzles
5. a problem that cannot be easily or readily solved
6. the state or condition of being puzzled
7. (Games, other than specified) a toy, game, or question presenting a problem that requires skill or ingenuity for its solution. See jigsaw puzzle, Chinese puzzle
[C16: of unknown origin]
ˈpuzzling adj
puz•zle
(ˈpʌz əl)n., v. -zled, -zling. n.
1. a toy, problem, or other contrivance designed to amuse by presenting difficulties to be solved by ingenuity or patient effort.
2. a puzzling question, matter, or person.
3. a puzzled or perplexed condition.
v.t. 4. to mystify; confuse; baffle.
5. to exercise (oneself, one's brain, etc.) over some problem or matter.
v.i. 6. to ponder over some perplexing problem or matter.
7. puzzle out, to solve by careful study or effort.
[1585–95; orig. uncertain]
puz′zled•ly, adv.
puz′zle•ment, n.
puz′zler, n.
puzzle
- rebus - A puzzle in which one must decode a message consisting of pictures representing syllables and words.
- puzzle - Comes from Old French opposaile, "thing set before one," "bewildering thing"; as a verb, it first meant "be beset by difficulties."
- cabobble - To mystify, puzzle, or confuse.
- word search - A puzzle consisting of letters arranged in a grid which contains a number of hidden words written in various directions.
puzzle
Past participle: puzzled
Gerund: puzzling
Imperative |
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puzzle |
puzzle |
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Noun | 1. | ![]() problem - a question raised for consideration or solution; "our homework consisted of ten problems to solve" sudoku - a number puzzle in which the numbers 1 through 9 must be placed into a grid of cells so that each row or column contains only one of each number acrostic, word square - a puzzle where you fill a square grid with words reading the same down as across |
2. | puzzle - a game that tests your ingenuity Chinese puzzle - intricate or ingenious puzzle consisting of boxes within boxes game - the game equipment needed in order to play a particular game; "the child received several games for his birthday" jigsaw puzzle - a puzzle that requires you to reassemble a picture that has been mounted on a stiff base and cut into interlocking pieces tangram - a Chinese puzzle consisting of a square divided into seven pieces that must be arranged to match particular designs crossword, crossword puzzle - a puzzle in which words corresponding to numbered clues are to be found and written in to squares in the puzzle | |
Verb | 1. | ![]() bewilder, dumbfound, flummox, baffle, mystify, nonplus, perplex, stupefy, amaze, gravel, vex, pose, stick, beat, get befuddle, confound, confuse, discombobulate, fox, bedevil, fuddle, throw - be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly; "These questions confuse even the experts"; "This question completely threw me"; "This question befuddled even the teacher" riddle - set a difficult problem or riddle; "riddle me a riddle" elude, escape - be incomprehensible to; escape understanding by; "What you are seeing in him eludes me" puzzle over - try to solve figure out, puzzle out, solve, lick, work out, work - find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of; "did you solve the problem?"; "Work out your problems with the boss"; "this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out"; "did you get it?"; "Did you get my meaning?"; "He could not work the math problem" |
2. | puzzle - be uncertain about; think about without fully understanding or being able to decide; "We puzzled over her sudden departure" meditate, mull, mull over, muse, ponder, chew over, think over, excogitate, reflect, ruminate, speculate, contemplate - reflect deeply on a subject; "I mulled over the events of the afternoon"; "philosophers have speculated on the question of God for thousands of years"; "The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate" |
puzzle
verb
noun
puzzle over something think about, study, wonder about, mull over, muse on, think hard about, ponder on, brood over, ask yourself about, cudgel or rack your brains puzzling over the complexities of Shakespeare's verse
puzzle
verbphrasal verb
puzzle outnoun
Translations
لُغْزلُغْز، اُحْجِيَهمُشْكِلَهيُرْبِك، يُحَيِّريُفَكِّرُ مَلِيَّا
hádankahlavolamlámat si hlavuzáhadazmást
gådegruble overpuslespilforundreforvirre
arvoitusaskarruttaapähkinäpulmatehtävä
zagonetkazbunitismesti
rejtvényfejtörést okozpuzzle
òraut; krossgáta; pússluspilráîgátavalda heilabrotum, ruglavelta fyrir sér
難問
난문제
dėstasgalvosūkiskibučiaistebintisunkiai suvokiamas
apmulsinātgrūts uzdevumslauzīt galvumīkla
križankasestavljankaugankazmesti
pussel
ปริศนา
vấn đề khó
puzzle
[ˈpʌzl]A. N
1. (= game, jigsaw) → rompecabezas m inv; (= crossword) → crucigrama m
C. VI to puzzle about or over → dar vueltas (en la cabeza) a
puzzle
[ˈpʌzəl] n
(also crossword puzzle) → grille f de mots croisés
vt [+ person] → dérouter, rendre perplexe
vi → se creuser la tête
to puzzle over sth → chercher à comprendre qchpuzzle book n → recueil m de casse-têtes
to puzzle over sth → chercher à comprendre qchpuzzle book n → recueil m de casse-têtes
puzzle
n
(= wordgame etc) → Rätsel nt; (= toy) → Geduldsspiel nt; (= jigsaw) → Puzzle(spiel) nt; books of puzzles or puzzle books for children → Rätselbücher pl → für Kinder
vt
(= baffle) → verblüffen; to be puzzled about something → sich über etw (acc) → im Unklaren sein; the authorities are puzzled → die Behörden stehen vor einem Rätsel
to puzzle something out → etw (her)austüfteln
puzzle
[ˈpʌzl]1. n
a. (game) → rompicapo; (word game) → rebus m inv; (crossword) → parole fpl incrociate, cruciverba m inv; (riddle) → indovinello; (jigsaw puzzle) → puzzle m inv
puzzle out vt + adv (problem) → risolvere; (mystery, person, attitude) → capire; (writing, instructions) → decifrare; (answer, solution) → trovare
I'm trying to puzzle out why → sto cercando di scoprire il perché
I'm trying to puzzle out why → sto cercando di scoprire il perché
puzzle over puzzle about vt + adv (sb's actions) → cercare di capire; (mystery, problem) → cercare di risolvere
puzzle
(ˈpazl) verb1. to perplex, baffle or bewilder. The question puzzled them; What puzzles me is how he got here so soon.
2. to think long and carefully about a problem etc. I puzzled over the sum for hours.
noun1. a problem that causes a lot of thought. Her behaviour was a puzzle to him.
2. a kind of game or toy to test one's thinking, knowledge or skill. a jig-saw puzzle; a crossword puzzle.
ˈpuzzling adjective difficult to understand. a puzzling remark.
puzzle out to solve (a problem etc).