IPA: //snɪf//
KK: /snɪf/
To take a quick breath in through the nose, often to smell something or to express a feeling.
The dog sniffed around the garden, looking for something interesting.
Past: sniffed
Past Participle: sniffed
A sound made when someone breathes in through their nose, often to clear it or to smell something.
She took a quick sniff of the flowers to enjoy their fragrance.
To take air in through the nose in a quick way, often to smell something or to show disapproval.
The dog sniffed the ground to find the scent of the rabbit.
Past: sniffed
Past Participle: sniffed
The word 'sniff' originates from Middle English 'sniffen', which is of uncertain origin but is thought to be imitative of the sound made when inhaling through the nose. It describes the action of inhaling audibly through the nose to detect a smell.
Imagine the sound of someone inhaling sharply through their nose to catch a scent — that's what 'sniff' means.