Baffle

/ˈbafəl/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a device that slows down or redirects the flow of fluids or sound.

The engineers designed a baffle to improve the acoustics of the concert hall.

verb

to confuse or perplex; to be unable to understand or explain something.

The magician's tricks never failed to baffle the audience.

to restrain or block something, such as a physical object or a process.

They installed a baffle to prevent water from flooding the basement.

Derived from Middle English 'bafle' meaning to stammer or to confuse.

baffle them with brilliance

to overwhelm someone with impressive skills or knowledge

baffle the mind

to perplex or confuse someone to the point of frustration

confuse

to make someone unable to think clearly

perplex

to cause someone to feel puzzled or troubled

bewilder

to cause someone to become confused or disoriented

to throw someone off

That unexpected plot twist really baffled me!

to be totally lost

I was baffled by what they were talking about.