snuff Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the charred portion of a candlewick
  2. noun a pinch of smokeless tobacco inhaled at a single time
  3. noun finely powdered tobacco for sniffing up the nose
  4. noun sensing an odor by inhaling through the nose
    sniff.
  5. verb sniff or smell inquiringly
    snuffle.
  6. verb inhale audibly through the nose
    • snuff coke
  7. adjective satellite snuff colored; of a greyish to yellowish brown
    chukker-brown; snuff-brown; mummy-brown.

WordNet

Snuff noun
Etymology
Cf. G. schnuppe candle snuff, schnuppen to snuff a candle (see Snuff, v. t., to snuff a candle), or cf. Snub, v. t.
Definitions
  1. The part of a candle wick charred by the flame, whether burning or not.
    If the burning snuff happens to get out of the snuffers, you have a chance that it may fall into a dish of soup. Swift.
Snuff transitive verb
Etymology
OE. snuffen. See Snuff of a candle Snuff to sniff.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Snuffed ; present participle & verbal noun Snuffing
Definitions
  1. To crop the snuff of, as a candle; to take off the end of the snuff of.
Snuff transitive verb
Etymology
Akin to D. snuffen, G. schnupfen, schnuppen, to snuff, schnupfen a cold in the head, schnuppen to snuff (air), also, to snuff (a candle). Cf. Sniff, Snout, Snub, v. i.
Definitions
  1. To draw in, or to inhale, forcibly through the nose; to sniff.
    He snuffs the wind, his heels the sand excite. Dryden.
  2. To perceive by the nose; to scent; to smell.
Snuff intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To inhale air through the nose with violence or with noise, as do dogs and horses. Dryden.
  2. To turn up the nose and inhale air, as an expression of contempt; hence, to take offense.
    Do the enemies of the church rage and snuff? Bp. Hall.
Snuff noun
Definitions
  1. The act of snuffing; perception by snuffing; a sniff.
  2. Pulverized tobacco, etc., prepared to be taken into the nose; also, the amount taken at once.
  3. Resentment, displeasure, or contempt, expressed by a snuffing of the nose. Obs.

Webster 1913