sniff.html - {v.} To hunt or drive from hiding; to bring out into the open; search for and find. * /John ferreted out the answer to the question in the library./ * /Jane smelled out the boys' secret hiding place in the woods./

sniff.html - {v.} To hunt or drive from hiding; to bring out into the open; search for and find. * /John ferreted out the answer to the question in the library./ * /Jane smelled out the boys' secret hiding place in the woods./

sniff.html - v. & n.
--v.

1 intr. draw up air audibly through the nose to stop it running or to detect a smell or as an expression of contempt.
2 tr. (often foll. by up) draw in (a scent, drug, liquid, or air) through the nose.
3 tr. draw in the scent of (food, drink, flowers, etc.) through the nose.

--n.

1 an act or sound of sniffing.
2 the amount of air etc. sniffed up.

sniff at 1 try the smell of; show interest in.
2 show contempt for or discontent with. sniff out detect; discover by investigation.

sniffingly adv. [ME, imit.]

sniff.html - n.
1 a person who sniffs, esp. one who sniffs a drug or toxic substances (often in comb.: glue-sniffer).
2 sl. the nose.
3 colloq. any device for detecting gas, radiation, etc.

sniffer-dog colloq. a dog trained to sniff out drugs or explosives.

sniff.html - v. & n.
--v.

intr. sniff slightly or repeatedly.

--n.

1 the act of sniffling.
2 (in sing. or pl.) a cold in the head causing a running nose and sniffling.

sniffler n. sniffly adj. [imit.: cf. SNIVEL]

sniff.html - adj.
colloq. (sniffier, sniffiest)
1 inclined to sniff.
2 disdainful; contemptuous.

sniffily adv. sniffiness n.