sniff
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.
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Sniff
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is hornswoggle. Does it mean:
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To sniff
Collins
World English Dictionary
sniff (snɪf) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb (when intr, | |
| 1. | to inhale through the nose, usually in short rapid audible inspirations, as for the purpose of identifying a scent, for clearing a congested nasal passage, or for taking a drug or intoxicating fumes |
| 2. | to perceive or attempt to perceive (a smell) by inhaling through the nose |
| —n | |
| 3. | the act or sound of sniffing |
| 4. | a smell perceived by sniffing, esp a faint scent |
| [C14: probably related to snivelen to | |
| 'sniffing | |
| —n, —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
sniff
mid-14c., 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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary
sniff definition
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
Sniff definition
A C++/C programming environment providing browsing, cross-referencing, design visualisation, documentation and editing support. Developed by UBS Switzerland and marketed by takeFive Salzburg.
[Jargon File]
Example sentences
It is not until halfway through the story that the rest of the kids dare to emerge and sniff the air.
To test the technology, he has graduate students sniff samples of smelly air from plastic bags.
Walking in leaf-softened light on the red blossoms fallen from a silk-cotton tree, the pair slowed and exchanged a sniff.
All connections after the first are considered sniff sessions.
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