I. ˈsnif 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
II. noun
Date: 1767
1. : an act or sound of sniffing
2. : a quantity that is sniffed