sniff
/snɪf/ verb B2- To make a short, audible inhalation, through the nose, as when smelling something; to smell (something). · The dog sniffed around the park, searching for a nice scent.· I sniffed the meat to see whether it had gone off.
- To say (something) while sniffing, such as in case of illness or unhappiness, or in contempt. · "He's never coming back, is he?" she sniffed while looking at a picture of him.
- To be dismissive or contemptuous of something; used with at. · This opportunity is not to be sniffed at.
- To perceive vaguely.
- To pry; to investigate in an interfering manner.
- To intercept and analyse packets of data being transmitted over a network. · packet sniffer
He/she/it sniffs · Past sniffed · Past participle sniffed · -ing form sniffing
Verb forms
- Base form
- sniff
- He/she/it
- sniffs
- Past
- sniffed
- Past participle
- sniffed
- -ing form
- sniffing
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
“You’re both queer enough, if that’s what you mean by kindred spirits,” said Marilla with a sniff.
Placing this before the Cowardly Lion, who sniffed at it as if he did not like it, the Wizard said:
As for the Lion, he sniffed the fresh air with delight and whisked his tail from side to side in pure joy at being in the country again, while Toto ran around them and chased the moths and butterflies, barking merrily all the time.
Sherlock Holmes sniffed sardonically.
Other matches
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