buff

Someone who is very interested in a subject and knows a lot about it.

• My dad is a history buff.
• Film buffs will enjoy this collection of old movies.
• Are you a music buff too?

Similar words: enthusiast, fan, aficionado

Common phrases: history buff, film buff, music buff

A change to a game that makes a character, item, or attack more powerful.

• The new patch gives this weapon a buff.
• Players welcomed the buff to their favorite character.
• Several buffs made the smaller units more useful.

How to use it: a buff to something (The update includes a buff to the weakest weapons.)

Similar words: improvement, power increase

Opposites: nerf

Common phrases: weapon buff, damage buff, buff to something

A person’s bare skin, especially in the expression “in the buff,” meaning without clothes.

• He was sunbathing in the buff.
• She walked out of the shower in the buff.
• They stripped to the buff before jumping into the lake.

How to use it: in the buff (He sleeps in the buff.)

Similar words: bare skin

Common phrases: in the buff, to the buff

Having large, strong muscles.

• He looks really buff.
• She got buff after months of lifting weights.
• The buff lifeguard carried the heavy equipment easily.

Similar words: muscular, well-built

Common phrases: buff guy, get buff, look buff

To rub a surface until it becomes smooth and shiny.

• Buff your shoes with a cloth.
• He buffed the car until it shone.
• The workers are buffing the wooden floor.

How to use it: buff something with something (Buff the silver with a soft cloth.); buff something to a shine (She buffed the table to a shine.)

Similar words: polish

Common phrases: buff your shoes, buff a surface, buff something up

To make a character or item in a game more powerful.

• This spell will buff your character.
• The developers buffed the weakest weapons last week.
• Can you buff the whole team before the battle?

Similar words: strengthen, enhance

Opposites: nerf

Common phrases: buff a character, buff a weapon, buff someone’s attack