sniff

¹sniff

verb \ˈsnif\

Definition of SNIFF

intransitive verb

1

: to draw air audibly up the nose especially for smelling <sniffed at the flowers>

2

: to show or express disdain or scorn

3

: snoop, nose <sniffed around for clues>

transitive verb

1

: to smell or take by inhalation through the nose

2

: to utter contemptuously

3

: to recognize or detect by or as if by smelling <sniff out trouble>

Examples of SNIFF

1. She sniffed and wiped her nose with a tissue.
2. She put perfume on her wrist and sniffed it.
3. The dog sniffed the carpet.
4. He held the flower up to his nose and sniffed.
5. “I guess you don't need my help,” she sniffed.

Origin of SNIFF

Middle English

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SNIFF

Synonyms: nose, scent, smell, snuff, whiff

Related Words: breathe, drink (in), inhale, respire; snort, snuffle; savor (also savour)

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Rhymes with SNIFF

biff, cliff, diff, glyph, if, iff, jiff, miff, quiff, riff, skiff, spiff, spliff, stiff, syph, tiff, whiff