Sniff | Mean of sniff in English Dictionary

/ˈsnɪf/

• Verb
• to take air into your nose in short breaths that are loud enough to be heard
1. She sniffed and wiped her nose with a tissue.
• to smell (something or someone) by putting your nose close to it and taking air in through your nose in short breaths
1. She put perfume on her wrist and sniffed it.
2. The dog sniffed the carpet.
3. He held the flower up to his nose and sniffed.
4. The cat sniffed at the food and walked away.
• to take (something, such as fumes or a drug) into your body by inhaling it through your nose in order to get intoxicated
1. sniffing glue/ether
2. sniffing [=(more commonly) snorting] cocaine

• to discover or find (something) by smelling
1. dogs that are trained to sniff out drugs
2. Several companies, sniffing [=sensing] profit potential, are investing in the area.
3. My mother is an expert at sniffing out trouble.
4. the ability to sniff out bargains
5. By asking around, we were able to sniff out the truth.
• to search for something by smelling
1. A dog sniffed (around) for drugs in the car.
2. The detective sniffed for clues.
3. She has been sniffing (around/about) for a new job.
• to say (something) in a way that shows dislike, disapproval, etc.
1. “I guess you don't need my help,” she sniffed.
• to try to get (someone) as a romantic partner, employee, etc.
1. His engagement hasn't stopped him from sniffing around other girls.
2. Rival companies have been sniffing around her for years.
• to show dislike or disapproval of (something) especially because you think it is not important or worthy of respect
1. Some people sniff at the idea of using fake flowers.
2. It's not a big profit, but it's not to be sniffed at. = It's not a big profit, but it's nothing to sniff at.
• Noun
• an act or the sound of drawing air into the nose especially in order to smell something or because you are sick or have been crying
1. He took a big sniff [=whiff] of the soup.
2. She said that she felt fine, but her sniffs and coughs told a different story.
• an expression of dislike or disapproval
1. “I refuse to answer that question,” she said with a sniff.
• a small amount or sign of something
1. He wanted to avoid the slightest sniff of a scandal.
2. They ran away at the first sniff [=hint] of trouble.
3. There was still a sniff of hope left for the team.
• an opportunity to come close to achieving or experiencing something
1. The team did not even get a sniff of the play-offs last year. [=did not even come close to reaching the play-offs]