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.
Marilla sniffed, to express her contempt for Matthew’s opinions concerning anything feminine, and walked off to the dairy with the pails.
“I’ve had that said to me before, but I have my doubts about it,” remarked skeptical Anne, sniffing at her narcissi.
“Humph,” sniffed Marilla.
Other matches
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