baffle
Leave someone stumped
Baffle means to confuse or perplex completely: The instructions baffled me.
Something baffling defies understanding or explanation.
A baffle is also a device that controls flow—of air, sound, or liquid—by blocking or redirecting it: acoustic baffles in the ceiling, a baffle in the exhaust system.
The connection is obstruction: one blocks comprehension, the other blocks passage.
Cause utter confusion
- mystifyConfuse beyond understanding
- confoundTo thoroughly puzzle
- flummoxTo thoroughly confuse
- befuddleTo thoroughly confuse
stump · nonplus · puzzle · dumbfound · bamboozle · disconcert · addle · faze
Prevent success of
- foilDefeat a plan
- frustratePrevent from succeeding
- blockSolid mass, or impede
- impedeTo obstruct movement
hinder · hamper · stall · check · defeat · circumvent · counter · outwit
Flat dish for food
- pipeHollow conveyance channel
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- regulatorDevice maintaining steady output
- valveFluid flow controller
vent · tank · deflector · separator · diverter · partition · chamber · turbulence
Preventing noise transmission
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- dampeningReducing or wetting slightly
- mufflingReducing sound intensity
- insulationThermal transfer prevention
deadening · diffusion · deflection · attenuation · panels · partitions · enclosure · anechoic
bewilder
Cause utter confusion
befuddle · stump · nonplus · puzzle · dumbfound · bamboozle · disconcert · addle · faze · vex
thwart
Prevent success of
impede · hinder · hamper · stall · check · defeat · circumvent · counter · outwit · elude
plate
Flat dish for food
valve · vent · tank · deflector · separator · diverter · partition · chamber · turbulence · circulation
soundproofing
Preventing noise transmission
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- dampeningReducing or wetting slightly
- mufflingReducing sound intensity
insulation · deadening · diffusion · deflection · attenuation · panels · partitions · enclosure · anechoic · echo
- ventilationvent, vents, air duct, air ducts, ductwork
- audiosound, headphones, audio track, volume control, sound recording
- audio equipmentspeakers, microphone, headphones, amplifier, amplifiers
- barrierswalls, wall, fences, fence, barrier
- birding gearbinoculars, field guide, spotting scope, bird feeder, birdseed
- control devicesregulator, valve, thermostat, controller, switch
- baffling windUnpredictable directional airflow
baffled, baffling, bafflement, baffles, bafflingly, baffler, bafflers