Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

sniff

 - 6 dictionary results
Sniffs Tissues
100s of stylish designs. Order by the case & save!
www.TheTissueStore.com

sniff

  [snif]
Use sniff in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to draw air through the nose in short, audible inhalations.
2. to clear the nose by so doing; sniffle.
3. to smell by short inhalations.
4. to show disdain, contempt, etc., by or as by sniffing.
–verb (used with object)
5. to perceive by or as by smelling: to sniff a scandal.
6. to inhale through the nose: to sniff the air.
–noun
7. an act of sniffing; a single, short, audible inhalation.
8. the sound made by such an act.
9. a scent or odor perceived: a sniff of perfume.
Origin:
1300–50; ME; back formation from snivel

Related forms:
sniff⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To sniff
Sniffs Tissues
100s of stylish designs. Order by the case & save!
www.TheTissueStore.com
sniff   (snĭf)   
v.   sniffed, sniff·ing, sniffs

v.   intr.

    1. To inhale a short, audible breath through the nose, as in smelling something.

    2. To sniffle.

  2. To use the sense of smell, as in savoring or investigating: sniffed at the jar to see what it held.

  3. To regard something in a contemptuous or dismissive manner: The critics sniffed at the adaptation of the novel to film.

  4. Informal To pry; snoop: The reporters came sniffing around for more details.

v.   tr.

  1. To inhale forcibly through the nose: sniffed the cool morning air.

  2. To smell, as in savoring or investigating: sniffed the lilacs; sniffed the breeze for traces of smoke.

  3. To perceive or detect by or as if by sniffing: dogs that sniffed out the trail through the snow; sniffed trouble ahead.

  4. To utter in a contemptuous or haughty manner: The countess sniffed her disapproval.

n.  

  1. An instance or the sound of sniffing.

  2. Something sniffed or perceived by or as if by sniffing; a whiff: a sniff of perfume; a sniff of scandal.


[Middle English sniffen, probably of Scandinavian origin.]
sniff'a·ble adj., sniff'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
sniff

  1. n.
    a drink of liquor. (See also snort.) : I'd like just a sniff of that Scotch.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

sniff 
c.1340, of imitative origin; possibly related to snyvelen (see snivel). As a synonym for smell (v.) it dates from 1845. In ref. to cocaine from 1925. The noun is first recorded 1767; the scornful sense is from 1859.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Computing Dictionary

Sniff
A C++/C programming environment providing browsing, cross-referencing, design visualisation, documentation and editing support. Developed by UBS Switzerland and marketed by takeFive Salzburg.
[The Jargon File]

sniff
poll

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
Cite This Source
Search another word or see sniff on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way