n.
Pronunciation: ' snif
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1 : to draw air audibly up the nose especially for smelling < sniff ed at the flowers>
2 : to show or express disdain or scorn
3 : SNOOP , NOSE < sniff ed around for clues>
transitive verb
1 : to smell or take by inhalation through the nose
2 : to utter contemptuously
3 : to recognize or detect by or as if by smelling < sniff out trouble>