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| whiff [ wif, hwif ] |
noun (plural whiffs) |
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| Definition: |
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1. slight or brief odor: a faint smell of something, pleasant or unpleasant, usually perceived briefly
  a whiff of disinfectant
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2. trace of something: a slight sign or trace of something
a whiff of corruption
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3. gentle gust or puff: a short light gust, puff, or breath of wind or smoke
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4. sniff of something: a sniff, smell, or brief inhalation of something
took one whiff of the concoction and started coughing
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5. U.K. nautical small skiff: a narrow skiff for one rower
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6. U.S. baseball strike-out: in baseball, an instance of swinging at and missing the third strike in a turn at bat
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7. golf complete miss: in golf, a swing that completely misses the ball
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verb (past and past participle whiffed, present participle whiff·ing, 3rd person present singular whiffs) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb waft or puff: to come in short light gusts or puffs, or send something out in short light gusts or puffs
The smoke whiffed and curled around the room.
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2. transitive verb sniff something: to sniff, smell, or inhale something
The hyena whiffed the night air for predators.
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3. transitive and intransitive verb U.S. baseball strike out: in baseball, to strike out a batter, or strike out
That pitcher whiffed all the batters this inning.
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4. intransitive verb golf fail to hit ball: in golf, to swing at and miss a ball completely
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| [Late 16th century. Thought to suggest a light puff of wind that carries a smell] |
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| whiff·er noun |
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