Meaning & Definition of word "Puzzle"
to
Puzzle
/ˈpʌz.əl/
noun:
- 1. A game, toy, or problem that tests a person's ingenuity or knowledge.
- Example: She enjoys solving crossword puzzles during her free time.
- 2. A perplexing problem or situation.
- Example: The mystery of the missing files is a real puzzle for the investigators.
verb:
- 1. To confuse or bewilder someone; to make them unable to think clearly.
- Example: The complex riddle puzzled everyone in the room.
- 2. To solve or complete a puzzle.
- Example: He spent the afternoon puzzling over the jigsaw pieces.
Etymology
Middle English: from Old French 'espucler', from Latin 'pulsare', meaning 'to thump, beat'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
puzzle over:
to think carefully about something, especially to try to understand it.
piece together a puzzle:
to gather pieces of information to understand the situation better.
make sense of a puzzle:
to understand something that seems complicated.
Related Words
enigma:
A person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.
conundrum:
A confusing and difficult problem or question.
riddle:
A question or statement intentionally phrased to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer or meaning.
Slang Meanings of puzzle
Meaning: To be puzzled or confused.
Example Sentence: I'm totally puzzled by this math problem.
Meaning: To engage in a mental challenge or game.
Example Sentence: Let's puzzle this one out together.