waft
/wɒft
/ /wɑːft /verb
1(With reference to a scent, sound, etc.) pass or cause to pass gently through the air: [no object, with adverbial of direction]: the smell of stale fat wafted out from the cafe [with object and adverbial of direction]: each breeze would waft pollen round the house...
- Two nights before Christmas your nostrils would light up from the scents wafting in over the breeze.
- Brush your hands against the plant and inhale the delightful scent wafting through the breeze.
- There was a very fragrant bush with small purple flowers on it that wafted a candy-like scent.
Synonyms
drift, float, glide, whirl, travel, be carried, be borne, be conveyed, be transported
convey, transport, transmit, carry, bear;
blow, puff
1.1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] Move with a gliding motion: models wafted down the catwalk in filmy organza skirts...
- Expounding and elucidating as she wafts across the paper, Clio floats like the ribbons around her hair and waist.
- The whitish clouds wafted slowly down the street.
- Then she quickly wafted away, like visiting royalty.
noun
1A gentle movement of air.Thus even a not-entirely-great movie like City by the Sea feels like wafts of fresh air....
- As I concentrate harder, a waft of wind ruffles my hair and I sense divine inspiration.
- Lily's fan blew a pleasant waft of cooler air our way, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the breeze.
1.1A scent carried in the air: from the kitchen comes a waft of roasting meat...
- Some of our strongest memories are triggered by the sudden waft of a particular scent.
- Taking a deep breath, she noticed the faint waft of a musky eau de cologne in the air.
- Within minutes the buns were in the oven, sending out wafts of spicy aromas.
2 (also weft) Nautical, historical A knotted ensign, garment, etc. displayed by a ship as a signal.A signal of distress is accentuated by making it into a weft, which is done by knotting it in the middle....
- We heard the ship fire a gun, and make a waft with her ensign as a signal for the boat to come on board.
Perhaps related to Scots and northern English waff 'a signal, waving of something in the hand', a variant of wave
Origin
Early 16th century (in the sense 'escort a ship'): back-formation from obsolete wafter (used only by opponents of the practice) 'armed convoy vessel', from Low German, Dutch wachter, from wachten 'to guard'. A sense 'convey by water' gave rise to the current use of the verb.