English Dictionary
Definition of “puzzle”
puzzle (ˈpʌzəll
)
Definitions
verb
- to perplex or be perplexed
- (intr) over to attempt the solution (of); ponder (about) ⇒
he puzzled over her absence
- (tr) out to solve by mental effort ⇒
he puzzled out the meaning of the inscription
noun
- a person or thing that puzzles
- a problem that cannot be easily or readily solved
- the state or condition of being puzzled
- a toy, game, or question presenting a problem that requires skill or ingenuity for its solution See jigsaw puzzle
, Chinese puzzle
Alternative Forms
ˈpuzzling adjective Word Origin
C16: of unknown origin
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
perplex,
beat,
confuse,
baffle,
stump,
bewilder,
confound,
mystify,
faze,
flummox,
bemuse,
nonplus,
Translations
- British English:
puzzle
A puzzle is a question, game, or toy which you have to think about carefully in order to answer it correctly or put it together properly....a word puzzle.ˈpʌzl NOUN ...a word puzzle.
- Spanish:
rompecabezas
nm
- French:
énigme
nf
- German:
Rätsel
nnt Rätsel
- Chinese: 谜 n
- Arabic: لُغْز n
- Portuguese: charada nf
- Russian: головоломка nf
- Croatian: zagonetka nf
- Czech: záhada nf
- Danish: gåde nutr
- Dutch: puzzel nm
- Finnish: arvoitus n
- Greek: γρίφος nm
- Italian: puzzle nm
- Japanese: 難問 n
- Korean: 난문제 n
- Norwegian: puslespill nnt
- Polish: łamigłówka nf
- Brazilian Portuguese: charada nf
- European Spanish:
rompecabezas
nm
- Swedish: pussel nnt
- Thai: ปัญหายุ่งยาก n
- Turkish: bilmece n
- Vietnamese: vấn đề khó n
Usage examples
Some cases, the easy ones, were solved by it like an intellectual puzzle.
Butler, Gwendoline, Coffin in Fashion (1987)Olwyn Bowey described the task'to solving a giant jigsaw puzzle.
Country Life (2004)In the meantime, Guangdong has become a crucial piece of the puzzle.
Globe and Mail (2003)Sherman scented a mystery; but the real puzzle was why such a non-story ever got broadcast.
Independent (1998)What exacerbated the puzzle was talks with an array of the most brilliant minds I know in the behavioural world.
Friday, Nancy, Jealousy (1986)
