sniff

sniff1 [ snıf ] verb *

1. ) intransitive or transitive to breathe in noisily through your nose, for example because you have been crying:

Amanda sniffed and wiped her nose.

It wasn't my fault! he sniffed.

a ) to smell something:

sniff at: Henry sniffed at the flowers appreciatively.

b ) to deliberately breathe a harmful substance in through your nose

2. ) intransitive to criticize something or suggest it is not good enough for you:

sniff at: Critics tend to sniff at his music.

not to be sniffed at BRITISH INFORMAL

very good or good enough to consider having

,sniff a`round phrasal verb intransitive or transitive INFORMAL

1. ) sniff around something to try to find out information:

Military police have been sniffing around the bars.

2. ) sniff around someone to try to persuade someone to have a sexual relationship with you

,sniff `out phrasal verb transitive

1. ) to find something through smell:

This dog sniffed out 400 pounds of cocaine.

2. ) INFORMAL to discover something:

Record companies are eager to sniff out new bands.

sniff

sniff 2 [ snıf ] noun count

a sound or act of breathing in through your nose:

Take a good sniff of that mountain air!