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Sniffing: meaning, definitions and examples

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sniffing

 

[ หˆsnษชfษชล‹ ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

animals behavior

Sniffing refers to the act of inhaling air through the nose, often used by animals to gather information about their surroundings. This behavior allows creatures to detect scents and pheromones, which can indicate the presence of food, predators, or mates. Sniffing is particularly essential in species that rely heavily on their sense of smell. Many dogs, for example, are trained to sniff out certain substances or track scents.

Synonyms

inhaling, scenting, smelling

Examples of usage

  • The dog was sniffing the ground for clues.
  • She watched the cat sniffing at the flowers.
  • He was sniffing the air, trying to locate the smell of cooking.
  • The detective was sniffing out evidence at the scene.
Context #2 | Noun

auditory experience

Sniffing can also refer to the sound produced when someone inhales audibly through the nose. This sound is often associated with various emotions, such as nervousness, anxiety, or an attempt to stifle tears. In social contexts, sniffing might indicate that someone is crying or is emotional.

Synonyms

snorting, snuffling, snuffling sound

Examples of usage

  • I heard a soft sniffing in the corner.
  • Her sniffing was a sign that she was trying not to cry.
  • A loud sniffing interrupted the silence in the room.

Translations

Translations of the word "sniffing" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น farejamento

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเฅ‚เค‚เค˜เคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Schnรผffeln

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ mencium

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฝัŽั…ะฐะฝะฝั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ wฤ…chanie

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ—…ใŽๅ–ใ‚Š

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท renifler

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ olfateo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท koklama

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ƒ„์ƒˆ ๋งก๊ธฐ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงู„ุดู…

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ฤichรกnรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ฤuchanie

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ—…ๆŽข

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ vonj

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ lyktar

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะธั–ั ะฐะปัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒ”แƒ›แƒแƒก แƒ›แƒ˜แƒชแƒ”แƒ›แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ qoxmaq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ olfateo

Etymology

The word 'sniffing' originates from the Middle English word 'sniffen', which meant to smell or inhale through the nose. This, in turn, comes from the earlier Old Norse word 'snifla', meaning 'to sniff' or 'to inhale'. The development of the term reflects the importance of olfactory senses in both animals and humans for communication and survival. Over time, sniffing has not only maintained its original meaning but has also evolved to encompass various social and emotional expressions. Its usage has expanded into popular culture, often represented in literature and media as a way to denote curiosity or intrigue. Sniffing has been a part of human behavior across different cultures and times, showing how fundamental the sense of smell is to our experiences.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,757, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.