SNIFF

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sniff mean? 

• SNIFF (noun)
  The noun SNIFF has 1 sense:

1. sensing an odor by inhaling through the nose

  Familiarity information: SNIFF used as a noun is very rare.

• SNIFF (verb)
  The verb SNIFF has 2 senses:

1. perceive by inhaling through the nose

2. inhale audibly through the nose

  Familiarity information: SNIFF used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SNIFF (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sensing an odor by inhaling through the nose

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

sniff; snuff

Hypernyms ("sniff" is a kind of...):

smell; smelling (the act of perceiving the odor of something)

Derivation:

sniff (perceive by inhaling through the nose)

• SNIFF (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they sniff    ... he / she / it sniffs   
Past simple: sniffed   
Past participle: sniffed   
-ing form: sniffing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Perceive by inhaling through the nose

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

sniff; whiff

Context example:

sniff the perfume

Hypernyms (to "sniff" is one way to...):

smell (inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Also:

sniff out (recognize or detect by or as if by smelling)

Derivation:

sniff (sensing an odor by inhaling through the nose)

sniffer (a person who sniffs)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Inhale audibly through the nose

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

sniff; sniffle

Context example:

the sick student was sniffling in the back row

Hypernyms (to "sniff" is one way to...):

breathe in; inhale; inspire (draw in (air))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

sniffer (a person who sniffs)

 Context examples 

Placing this before the Cowardly Lion, who sniffed at it as if he did not like it, the Wizard said: Drink.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

The cub knew only that the sniff was strange, a something unclassified, therefore unknown and terrible—for the unknown was one of the chief elements that went into the making of fear.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Don't raise your voice, for they have long ears—sharp eyes, too, but no power of scent, so far as I could judge, so I don't think they can sniff us out.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Everybody sniffed when they came to that part.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Sniff not treason where none is meant.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“And they made themselves many inventions,” I began merrily, then paused to sniff the air.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Strange and sudden change in Renfield last night. About eight o'clock he began to get excited and sniff about as a dog does when setting.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

This over, he came out of his angle and the pack crowded around him, sniffing in half-friendly, half-savage manner.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

He sniffed the sweetness of the tawny grass, which entered his brain and set his thoughts whirling on from the particular to the universal.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

If this research holds up, we could see a future in which dogs are sniffing out diseases, as well as drugs and contraband all over the world.

(The Dog's Nose Knows Malaria, Kevin Enochs/VOA)