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puzzle

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Chinese puzzle

1. A puzzle game consisting of intricate and complex pieces that fit together in a specific manner, especially of multiple boxes that fit inside one another. My uncle gave me this Chinese puzzle for Christmas, and I still haven't been able to solve it!

2. Any problem, question, or situation that is especially complex or difficult to understand. Dealing with growing income inequality is truly a Chinese puzzle for lawmakers today. I can't understand a thing about how this engine works, it's like a dang Chinese puzzle!

See also: Chinese, puzzle

puzzle over someone or something

to consider or ponder. I can't puzzle out the mean—someone or something. Anne is a bit strange. I've spent some time puzzling over her. While I was puzzling over why she had slapped me, she did it again.

See also: puzzle

puzzle something out

to figure something out. It took me a while to puzzle it out. I can't puzzle out the meaning of this argument.

See also: out, puzzle

puzzle out something

also puzzle something out

to study something in order to understand it The reader shouldn't have to puzzle out what the writer means.. Related vocabulary: figure out something

See also: out, puzzle

puzzle over something

to give a lot of attention and thought to something I puzzled over those words, trying to understand their hidden message.

Related vocabulary: tease out something

See also: puzzle

puzzle out

Clarify or solve something, as in It took him a while to puzzle out the significance of the statement. [Late 1700s]

See also: out, puzzle

puzzle out

v.

To come to a conclusion or find an answer, especially as the result of a careful thought process: I puzzled out the identity of the murderer before finishing the novel. The answer escaped me at first, but I finally puzzled the problem out.

See also: out, puzzle