puzzle

A puzzle is a type of game or mental challenge. Many puzzles involve putting together pieces of information in order to find a solution or solve a mystery.

• Children and adults enjoy jigsaw puzzles.
• We put together a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle.
• It’s fun to work on crossword puzzles found in newspapers.
• It took me all day to finish the crossword puzzle in the New York Times.
• The police couldn’t figure out how the art thieves were able to enter the museum. It was a real puzzle.
• The police solved the crime once they found the missing piece of the puzzle.
• One of our coworkers is kind of a puzzle. No one knows anything about where he lives or what he does after work.

jigsaw puzzle

You can use "puzzle" as a verb:

• The disappearance of the airplane over the ocean puzzled investigators.
• To tie shoelaces on shoes can puzzle a toddler.
• The origins of the universe puzzle the imagination.

The words "puzzled" and "puzzling" are adjectives:

• When Laura received her order she had a puzzled look on her face because the order was wrong.
• The puzzled expression on the young man’s face showed that he did not know how to use the ticket kiosk at the airport.
• You look puzzled. Do you have a question?
• An ostrich is a puzzling creature whose behavior and appearance are unusual compared to other types of birds.
• This situation is very puzzling.

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December 20, 2019