| 释义 |
whiff
I. \ˈhwif also ˈwif\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: imitative
1.
a.
(1) : a quick puff or slight gust of air
< the wind came in whiffs — Wallace Stegner >
(2) : a puff, gust, or wave of odor
< wafted a feline whiff — David Walker >
(3) : a puff or gust of vapor, gas, or liquid in the air
< a whiff of smoke hangs over a sleeping volcano — Richard Church >
< whiffs of spray from the fountain — Lawrence Durrell >
b.
(1) : an inhalation of odor, smoke, gas, or vapor
< she went off at the first whiff of ether — O.S.J.Gogarty >
(2) obsolete : a drink or sip of liquor
c. : a slight puffing or whistling sound
< the almost inaudible whiff of his spread wings — Saul Bellow >
2. : a slight trace or sample : intimation, hint
< his unerring detection of the faintest whiff of sentiment — H.J.Muller >
< there is more than a whiff of propaganda — Richard Mallett >
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
intransitive verb
1. : to move with or as if with a puff of air; also : to make or produce a puffing or whistling sound
2. : to emit whiffs : puff
3. : to inhale an odor : engage in sniffing
4. : fan 4
transitive verb
1.
a. : to carry or convey by or as if by a whiff : blow
< the storm … whiffed smoke and ashes into their faces — Isak Dinesen >
b. : to expel or puff out in a whiff : exhale
c. : smoke 3a
2. : to cause (a batter) to fan in baseball or softball : strike out
III. noun
(-s)
Etymology: origin unknown
: any of several flatfishes related to the turbot; especially : a small European fish (Lepidorhombus megastoma) |