26984 words

puzzles

7 definitions • 13 examples
1
a situation that is difficult to understand:

Examples:

Scientists have been trying to solve this puzzle for years.
The situation remains a puzzle to all of us.
2
a game or toy in which you have to fit separate pieces together:

Examples:

The building blocks are like the pieces of a puzzle.
3
a problem or question that you have to answer by using your skill or knowledge:

Examples:

4
to cause someone to feel confused and slightly worried because they cannot understand something:

Examples:

The findings of the survey puzzle me - they're not at all what I would have expected.
[ + question word ] It puzzles me why she said that.
5
to try to solve a problem or understand a situation by thinking carefully about it:

Examples:

Management are still puzzling about how the accident could have happened.
Scientists are puzzling over the results of the research.
6
something that is difficult to understand:

Examples:

Their son is a puzzle to them.
The police are trying to solve the puzzle of who sent them the letter.
7
A puzzle is also a game or toy in which you have to fit separate pieces together, or a problem or question which you have to answer by using your skill or knowledge:

Examples:

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