Ambitransitive To make a short, audible inhalation, through the nose, as when smelling something.
The dog sniffed around the park, searching for a nice scent.
I sniffed the meat to see whether it had gone off.
1 more example
Carrot ran past him to get to the barrel first, and peered down at the cowering Catweazle. “No rats, Dad,” he said. “What's that terrible pong, then?” said Mr Bennett, sniffing.1970, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 21:
2
To say (something) while sniffing, such as in case of illness or unhappiness, or in contempt.
"He's never coming back, is he?" she sniffed while looking at a picture of him.
3
To perceive vaguely.
I don't know, of course, what your precious Radicals are planning to do, and I don't want to know; but I can sniff trouble in the air, nevertheless.1952, Isabelle Hughes, Lorena Telforth, page 223:
4
To pry; to investigate in an interfering manner.
COOMBE: He got the clinch only last week — eighteen months. You see it's no good having anybody here as ain't got a^([sic]) unblemished character. We don't want to have the bluebottles come sniffing round here, do we?1882, Henry Herman, Henry Arthur Jones, The Silver King:
5
To be dismissive or contemptuous of something; used with at.
This opportunity is not to be sniffed at.
6
Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences To intercept and analyse packets of data being transmitted over a network.
packet sniffer
7
UK, Slang To inhale drugs (usually cocaine) through the nose, usually in powder form.
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.1980, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, directors, Airplane!, spoken by Steve McCroskey (Lloyd Bridges):
Tottenham did have a sniff of goal when Defoe's drilled cross just eluded his strike partner at the far post but their best effort came early in the second half when Ryan Fredericks cut in from the right before firing into the side netting.2011 November 3, Chris Bevan, “Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport:
Telecoms firms want a sniff, having invested heavily in ultra-fast, low-latency 5G spectrum.2021 December 18, “The billionaire battle for the metaverse”, in The Economist, →ISSN:
Etymology From Middle English sniffen, of imitative origin.
1
A short inhalation sound, sometimes associated with crying.
a wild boar is laughing and Obelix is crying Wild boar classified a protected species First reaction from dismayed costumers: “Boohoohoo! Sniff!”2009, Asterix and Obelix's Birthday: The Golden Book, page 28: