If someone sniffs a substance such as glue, they deliberately breathe in the substance or the gases from it as a drug. He felt light-headed, as if he'd sniffed glue. + sniffer sniffers sniff·er teenage glue sniffers
sensing an odor by inhaling through the nose inhale audibly through the nose; "the sick student was sniffling in the back row" perceive by inhaling through the nose; "sniff the perfume
A social custom to use when you greet other dogs Place your nose as close as you can to the other dog's rear end and inhale deeply, repeat several times, or until your person makes you stop
If you get a sniff of something, you learn or guess that it might be happening or might be near. You know what they'll be like if they get a sniff of a murder investigation Have the Press got a sniff yet? Then, at the first sniff of danger, he was back at his post. = whiff, hint
If you say that something is not to be sniffed at, you think it is very good or worth having. If someone sniffs at something, they do not think it is good enough, or they express their contempt for it. The salary was not to be sniffed at either Foreign Office sources sniffed at reports that British troops might be sent
When you sniff, you breathe in air through your nose hard enough to make a sound, for example when you are trying not to cry, or in order to show disapproval. She wiped her face and sniffed loudly Then he sniffed. There was a smell of burning He sniffed back the tears. Sniff is also a noun. At last the sobs ceased, to be replaced by sniffs