Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense baffles, present participle baffling, past tense, past participle baffled
verb
If something baffles you, you cannot understand it or explain it.
An apple tree producing square fruit is baffling experts. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: puzzle, beat [slang], amaze, confuse More Synonyms of baffle
bafflingadjective
I was constantly ill, with a baffling array of symptoms.
Synonyms: puzzling, strange, confusing, weird More Synonyms of baffle
baffledadjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
Police are baffled by the murder.
More Synonyms of baffle
baffle in British English
(ˈbæfəl)
verb(transitive)
1.
to perplex; bewilder; puzzle
2.
to frustrate (plans, efforts, etc)
3.
to check, restrain, or regulate (the flow of a fluid or the emission of sound or light)
4.
to provide with a baffle
5. obsolete
to cheat or trick
noun
6. Also called: baffle board, baffle plate
a plate or mechanical device designed to restrain or regulate the flow of a fluid, the emission of lightor sound, or the distribution of sound, esp in a loudspeaker or microphone
Derived forms
bafflement (ˈbafflement)
noun
baffler (ˈbaffler)
noun
Word origin
C16: perhaps from Scottish dialect bachlen to condemn publicly; perhaps related to French bafouer to disgrace
baffle in American English
(ˈbæfəl)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈbaffled or ˈbaffling
1.
to confuse so as to keep from understanding or solving; puzzle; confound
2.
to interfere with; hinder; impede
3.
to check the interference of (low-frequency sound waves) in a radio, phonograph, etc. by the use of a baffle
noun
4. Rare
a baffling or being baffled
5.
an obstructing device, as a wall or screen to hold back or turn aside the flow of liquids, gases, etc.
: also ˈbaffleˌplate
6.
a mounting or partition used to check the transmission of sound waves between the front and rear of the speaker of a radio, phonograph, etc.
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈfrusˌtrate
Derived forms
bafflement (ˈbafflement)
noun
baffler (ˈbaffler)
noun
baffling (ˈbaffling)
adjective
Word origin
16th-c. Scot; prob. respelling (as duff for dough, Affleck for Auchinleck) of obs. bauchle
baffle in Chemical Engineering
(bæfəl)
Word forms: (regular plural) baffles
noun
(Chemical Engineering: Heat transfer)
A baffle is a thin flat object which is suspended in a flow to change its direction.
As a result of the interaction between the flow with the baffles, vortices form in the mixture.
A number of different baffles are used to promote cross flow.
A baffle is a thin flat object which is suspended in a flow to change its direction.
baffle in Mechanical Engineering
(bæfəl)
Word forms: (regular plural) baffles
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Fluid engineering)
A baffle is a thin flat object which is hung in a flow of liquid or gas to cause partial obstruction.
The water is forced to pass under the baffles, slowing down the flow.
A number of different baffles are used to promote cross flow.
A baffle is a thin flat object which is hung in a flow of liquid or gas to cause partial obstruction.
Examples of 'baffle' in a sentence
baffle
But completely baffling if you grew up with rationing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He looks baffled, perhaps slightly flattered.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Police are baffled but some suggest a racial motivation.
The Sun (2011)
The study concluded that schemes with the highest fees often have baffling charging structures.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The few known facts added up to a baffling puzzle that invited colourful explanations.
Jack Turner SPICE: The History of a Temptation (2004)
Yet they are completely baffled as to how they did it.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Californians are regularly called upon to vote on a baffling array of issues.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Can it still baffle and intrigue today?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
King was proud of his success but slightly baffled.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This is all completely baffling to the international mind.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But many families will still be baffled by the sheer complexity of the care system.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Most of us find this association completely baffling.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Police are baffled by the sudden appearance of a portable lavatory in the middle of a busy street.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Police are baffled by the killing.
The Sun (2011)
As well as obscene and disgusting, it is utterly baffling.
The Sun (2014)
Mr. Saunders went from looking puzzled to looking baffled.
Diana Wynne Jones CHARMED LIFE (1977)
Maybe they might now address some of life's other baffling puzzles.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
If there is something truly baffling about the results to any question, you may want to talk it over with an elder you trust.
Christianity Today (2000)
IT'S the top-secret code which has baffled and bewildered England managers for decades.
The Sun (2012)
But, throw some big numbers at us and we are left baffled, bewildered or just bored.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She shook her head, baffled that something happening in France could have the effect of taking away her wages.
Tracy Chevalier Burning Bright (2007)
In the following weeks and months I was constantly ill, with a baffling array of symptoms.
Wilkinson, Steve M.E. and You - a self-help plan (1988)
They buy a thing that is plainly too big for a pocket and are bewildered, baffled, betrayed and vengeful when the pocket fights back.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
baffle
British English: baffle VERB
If something baffles you, you cannot understand it or explain it.
That decision completely baffled me.
American English: baffle
Brazilian Portuguese: aturdir
Chinese: 使困惑
European Spanish: desconcertar
French: déconcerter
German: verblüffen
Italian: lasciare perplesso
Japanese: 当惑させる
Korean: 당혹하게 하다
European Portuguese: aturdir
Latin American Spanish: desconcertar
Chinese translation of 'baffle'
baffle
(ˈbæfl)
vt
(= puzzle) 使困惑 (shǐ kùnhuò)
1 (verb)
Definition
to perplex
An apple tree producing square fruit is baffling experts.
Synonyms
puzzle
What puzzles me is why nobody has complained before now.
beat (slang)
amaze
He amazed us with his knowledge of local history.
confuse
Politics just confuses me.
stump
Well, maybe I stumped you on that one.
bewilder
The silence from her sister had hurt and bewildered her.
astound
He used to astound us with feats of physical endurance.
elude
The appropriate word eluded him.
confound
For many years medical scientists were confounded by these seemingly contradictory facts.
perplex
problems that perplexed me
disconcert
My lack of response clearly disconcerted him.
mystify
There was something strange in her attitude that mystified me.
flummox
This system has the potential to flummox most car thieves.
boggle the mind of
dumbfound
The question dumbfounded him.
Opposites
explain
,
interpret
,
clarify
,
spell out
,
clear up
,
make plain
,
elucidate
,
explicate
,
shed or throw light upon
2 (verb)
Synonyms
frustrate
The government has deliberately frustrated his efforts.
check
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
defeat
The challenges of constructing such a huge novel almost defeated her.
upset
The champion was upset by a rank outsider.
foil
A brave police chief foiled an armed robbery.
thwart
They were doing all they could to thwart the opposition.
hinder
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
balk
Additional synonyms
in the sense of amaze
Definition
to fill with surprise
He amazed us with his knowledge of local history.
Synonyms
astonish,
surprise,
shock,
stun,
alarm,
stagger,
startle,
bewilder,
astound,
daze,
confound,
stupefy,
flabbergast,
bowl someone over (informal),
boggle someone's mind,
dumbfound
in the sense of astound
Definition
to overwhelm with amazement
He used to astound us with feats of physical endurance.