Whiff - English meaning

noun

A distinctive, typically pleasant smell.

Usage examples:

The tantalizing aroma of fresh coffee

noun

A strong, usually pleasant smell

Usage examples:

The aroma of coffee and frying eggs, an aromatic pine forest

noun

A strong, pleasant smell, usually from food or drink

Usage examples:

The aroma of freshly baked bread, a wine with a light, fruity aroma

noun

A destructive wave of highly compressed air spreading outwards from an explosion.

Usage examples:

They were thrown backwards by the blast

verb

Blow up or break apart (something solid) with explosives.

Usage examples:

The school was blasted by an explosion

exclamation

Expressing annoyance.

Usage examples:

‘blast! the car won't start!’

noun

The air taken into or expelled from the lungs.

Usage examples:

I was gasping for breath

noun

The air that you take into and let out of your lungs

Usage examples:

[ c usually sing ] she drew/took a deep breath., [ u ] he seemed a little out of breath (= to be br…

noun

The air that goes into and out of your lungs

Usage examples:

Out of breath he burst into the room, red-faced and out of breath (= unable to breathe comfortably …

noun

A current of cool air in a room or other confined space.

Usage examples:

Heavy curtains at the windows cut out draughts

adjective

Denoting beer or cider served from a barrel or tank rather than from a bottle or can.

Usage examples:

Draught ale

verb

Prepare a preliminary version of (a document).

Usage examples:

I drafted a letter of resignation

noun

A small swirling mass of something, especially snow or leaves, moved by sudden gusts of wind.

Usage examples:

A flurry of snow

verb

(especially of snow or leaves) be moved in small swirling masses by sudden gusts of wind.

Usage examples:

Gusts of snow flurried through the door

noun

A sudden light fall of snow, blown in different directions by the wind

Usage examples:

Heavy snow will be tapering off to flurries in the morning., there was a flurry of excitement as th…

noun

A very strong wind.

Usage examples:

I slept well despite the howling gales outside

noun

A very strong wind

Usage examples:

Hundreds of old trees were blown down in the gales.

noun

A sudden strong rush of wind.

Usage examples:

As the players went back on to the court there were incredibly strong gusts of wind blowing through…

verb

(of the wind) blow in gusts.

Usage examples:

The wind was gusting through the branches of the tree

noun

A sudden strong wind

Usage examples:

Gust of a sudden gust of wind blew his umbrella inside out., figurative she could hear gusts of lau…

noun

A distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one.

Usage examples:

The odour of cigarette smoke

noun

A short, explosive burst of breath or wind.

Usage examples:

A puff of wind swung the weathercock round

verb

Breathe in repeated short gasps.

Usage examples:

Exercises that make you puff

verb

Move with urgent haste.

Usage examples:

Oliver rushed after her

noun

A sudden quick movement towards something, typically by a number of people.

Usage examples:

There was a rush for the door

noun

An erect, tufted marsh or waterside plant resembling a sedge or grass, with inconspicuous greenish or brownish flowers. widely distributed in temperate areas, some kinds are used for matting, chair seats, and baskets.

Usage examples:

Then the land went down, and there was marsh of rushes and willow and hazel.

noun

A distinctive smell, especially one that is pleasant.

Usage examples:

The scent of freshly cut hay

verb

Impart a pleasant scent to.

Usage examples:

A glass of tea scented with a local herb

noun

A smell, esp. when pleasant, or a smell left behind by an animal or person

Usage examples:

[ c ] the scent of lilacs permeated the air., [ c ] the dogs were onto the lost boy’s scent (= were…

verb

Draw up air audibly through the nose to detect a smell, to stop it running, or to express contempt.

Usage examples:

His dog sniffed at my trousers

noun

An act or sound of sniffing.

Usage examples:

He gave a sniff of disapproval

verb

Perceive by inhaling through the nose

verb

Find or discover by investigation.

Usage examples:

Police are trying to trace a white van seen in the area

noun

A mark, object, or other indication of the existence or passing of something.

Usage examples:

Remove all traces of the old adhesive

noun

Each of the two side straps, chains, or ropes by which a horse is attached to a vehicle that it is pulling.

Usage examples:

The horses pulling the carriage suddenly snapped the traces and bolted off

verb

(with reference to a scent, sound, etc.) pass or cause to pass gently through the air.

Usage examples:

The smell of stale fat wafted out from the cafe

noun

A gentle movement of air.

Usage examples:

Thus even a not-entirely-great movie like city by the sea feels like wafts of fresh air.

verb

To move gently through the air, or to cause this to happen

Usage examples:

[ i always + adv/prep ] a warm breeze wafted through the city.