English Dictionary

Definition of “whiff”

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1whiff1 (wɪfPronunciation for whiff1) 

Definitions

noun

  1. a passing odour
  2. a brief gentle gust of air
  3. a single inhalation or exhalation from the mouth or nose

verb

  1. to come, convey, or go in whiffs; puff or waft
  2. to take in or breathe out (tobacco smoke, air, etc)
  3. (tr) to sniff or smell
  4. (intr) British slang to have an unpleasant smell; stink

Alternative Forms

ˈwhiffer noun

Word Origin

C16: of imitative origin

2whiff2 (wɪfPronunciation for whiff2) 

Definitions

noun

  1. mainly British a narrow clinker-built skiff having outriggers, for one oarsman

Word Origin

C19: special use of whiffC19: special use of 1

Usage examples

  • She was allergic to marijuana: just the whiff of it could give her vertigo.
    Fay Weldon, NOTHING TO WEAR AND NOWHERE TO HIDE: A Collection of Short Stories (2002)
  • But for all but the most sceptical, he provides an overpowering whiff of warming.
    New Scientist (2004)
  • Although vehicles react physically convincingly to collisions you can kill innumerable bystanders and not have a whiff of repercussion.
    canada.com (2005)
  • Webern, after all, compressed an entire world of expression into the merest whiff of music.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • The minister who did not appear to have observed it before took a whiff.
    William Dalrymple, WHITE MUGHALS: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-century India (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'W'

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