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Definition of puffball

puffball

/ˈpʌfˌbɔːl/
puff · ball
Plural:puffballs
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puffball Lexical Profile

puffball Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various terrestrial fungi (especially of the family Agaricaceae, formerly Lycoperdaceae) characterized by a round, stalkless fruiting body that is edible in several species when young and white inside, and that bursts open at maturity to release a cloud of brown, dust-like spores.

Example

"While hiking through the damp meadow, the forager spotted a giant puffball growing at the edge of the woods."

2

Something soft, light, round, and fluffy, such as the downy seed head of a dandelion or a small, fluffy animal.

Example

"The newly hatched chick looked like a tiny yellow puffball nestled in the straw."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for puffball

• Rhymes for puffball

• Nearby Words

puff adder
puffadder
puffback
puffball
puffbird
puffer
pufferfish

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-17th century as a compound of 'puff' and 'ball', referencing the round fruiting body of the fungus that releases a cloud of dust-like spores when compressed.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Puffball. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/puffball
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