snuff

1
[ snuhf ]
See synonyms for snuff on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to draw in through the nose by inhaling.

  2. to perceive by or as by smelling; sniff.

  1. to examine by smelling, as an animal does.

verb (used without object)
  1. to draw air into the nostrils by inhaling, as to smell something; snuffle: After snuffing around, he found the gas leak.

  2. to draw powdered tobacco into the nostrils; take snuff.

  1. Obsolete. to express disdain, contempt, displeasure, etc., by sniffing (often followed by at).

noun
  1. an act of snuffing; an inhalation through the nose; a sniff.

  2. smell, scent, or odor.

  1. a preparation of tobacco, either powdered and taken into the nostrils by inhalation or ground and placed between the cheek and gum.

  2. a pinch of such tobacco.

Idioms about snuff

  1. up to snuff, Informal.

    • British. not easily imposed upon; shrewd; sharp.

    • up to a certain standard; satisfactory: His performance wasn't up to snuff.

Origin of snuff

1
First recorded in 1520–30; probably from Middle Dutch snuffen, snoffen

Other words from snuff

  • snuff·ing·ly, adverb

Other definitions for snuff (2 of 2)

snuff2
[ snuhf ]

noun
  1. the charred or partly consumed portion of a candlewick.

  2. a thing of little or no value, especially if left over.

verb (used with object)
  1. to cut off or remove the snuff of (candles, tapers, etc.).

Verb Phrases
  1. snuff out,

    • to extinguish: to snuff out a candle.

    • to suppress; crush: to snuff out opposition.

    • Informal. to kill, murder, or bring to a sudden end: Many lives were snuffed out during the epidemic.

Origin of snuff

2
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun snof(fe), snuffe; further origin uncertain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use snuff in a sentence

  • A dog which the soldiers had with them scented them, stopped, and after snuffing about for a few seconds, began to bark furiously.

    Hunted and Harried | R.M. Ballantyne
  • Jem ran to him, and found him standing snuffing the air with his great broad nostrils, like a stag.

British Dictionary definitions for snuff (1 of 3)

snuff1

/ (snʌf) /


verb
  1. (tr) to inhale through the nose

  2. (when intr, often foll by at) (esp of an animal) to examine by sniffing

noun
  1. an act or the sound of snuffing

Origin of snuff

1
C16: probably from Middle Dutch snuffen to snuffle, ultimately of imitative origin

Derived forms of snuff

  • snuffer, noun

British Dictionary definitions for snuff (2 of 3)

snuff2

/ (snʌf) /


noun
  1. finely powdered tobacco for sniffing up the nostrils or less commonly for chewing

  2. a small amount of this

  1. any powdered substance, esp one for sniffing up the nostrils

  2. up to snuff informal

    • in good health or in good condition

    • mainly British not easily deceived

verb
  1. (intr) to use or inhale snuff

Origin of snuff

2
C17: from Dutch snuf, shortened from snuftabale, literally: tobacco for snuffing; see snuff 1

British Dictionary definitions for snuff (3 of 3)

snuff3

/ (snʌf) /


verb(tr)
  1. (often foll by out) to extinguish (a light from a naked flame, esp a candle)

  2. to cut off the charred part of (the wick of a candle, etc)

  1. (usually foll by out) informal to suppress; put an end to

  2. snuff it British informal to die

noun
  1. the burned portion of the wick of a candle

Origin of snuff

3
C14 snoffe, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with snuff

snuff

In addition to the idiom beginning with snuff

  • snuff out

also see:

  • up to par (snuff)

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.