sniff Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun sensing an odor by inhaling through the nose
    snuff.
  2. verb perceive by inhaling through the nose
    whiff.
    • sniff the perfume
  3. verb inhale audibly through the nose
    sniffle.
    • the sick student was sniffling in the back row

WordNet

Sniff intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. sneven; akin to snivel, snuff; cf. Dan. snive to sniff. See Snuff, v. t.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Sniffed or Snift; present participle & verbal noun Sniffing
Definitions
  1. To draw air audibly up the nose; to snuff; -- sometimes done as a gesture of suspicion, offense, or contempt.
    So ye grow squeamish, gods, and sniff at heaven. M. Arnold.
Sniff transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To draw in with the breath through the nose; as, to sniff the air of the country.
  2. To perceive as by sniffing; to snuff, to scent; to smell; as, to sniff danger.
Sniff noun
Definitions
  1. The act of sniffing; perception by sniffing; that which is taken by sniffing; as, a sniff of air.

Webster 1913