Puzzle
/ˈpʌz.əl/
Meaning & Definition
noun
A game, toy, or problem that tests a person's ingenuity or knowledge.
She enjoys solving crossword puzzles during her free time.
A perplexing problem or situation.
The mystery of the missing files is a real puzzle for the investigators.
verb
To confuse or bewilder someone; to make them unable to think clearly.
The complex riddle puzzled everyone in the room.
To solve or complete a puzzle.
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
To be puzzled or confused.
I'm totally puzzled by this math problem.
To engage in a mental challenge or game.
Let's puzzle this one out together.