Sniffing: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
sniffing
[ หsnษชfษชล ]
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
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.
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:
๐ต๐น farejamento
๐ฎ๐ณ เคธเฅเคเคเคจเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Schnรผffeln
๐ฎ๐ฉ mencium
๐บ๐ฆ ะฝัั ะฐะฝะฝั
๐ต๐ฑ wฤ chanie
๐ฏ๐ต ๅ ใๅใ
๐ซ๐ท renifler
๐ช๐ธ olfateo
๐น๐ท koklama
๐ฐ๐ท ๋์ ๋งก๊ธฐ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุงูุดู
๐จ๐ฟ ฤichรกnรญ
๐ธ๐ฐ ฤuchanie
๐จ๐ณ ๅ ๆข
๐ธ๐ฎ vonj
๐ฎ๐ธ lyktar
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะธัั ะฐะปั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแแก แแแชแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ qoxmaq
๐ฒ๐ฝ 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.
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- 19754 metabolized
- 19755 commuted
- 19756 crucifix
- 19757 sniffing
- 19758 restructured
- 19759 defamatory
- 19760 possessors
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