sniff

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to show that you do not respect something or think it is not good enough.

v. to express contempt, disdain, or dismissal, often accompanied by an audible nasal inhalation.

“Critics might sniff at the new movie, but the public seems to love it.”

“Traditionalists tend to sniff at modern architectural interventions in the historic district, viewing them as aesthetic disruptions rather than progress.”

C1 · Advanced Computing Technical

v. to use a computer to look at information moving across a network.

v. to intercept and analyse packets of data as they are transmitted over a digital network.

“Hackers can try to sniff your password if you use public Wi-Fi without a VPN.”

“Network administrators use specialised tools to sniff traffic for signs of malicious activity or configuration errors that might cause latency.”

C1 · Advanced Slang · British English

v. to breathe a drug in powder form up into your nose.

v. to insufflate a powdered illicit substance, most commonly cocaine, through the nostrils.

“The documentary showed the dark side of people who sniff cocaine at parties.”

“The undercover investigation revealed a network of individuals who would regularly sniff illegal substances in the club's private lounges.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. the sound or action of breathing in through your nose.

n. a single act of audible nasal inhalation.

“With a loud sniff, she wiped her eyes and tried to stop crying.”

“The detective gave a suspicious sniff as he entered the room, immediately noticing the faint scent of gunpowder hanging in the air.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a very small amount of something, or a quick chance to see or smell it.

n. a brief perception or a negligible quantity of something.

“I haven't had a sniff of a holiday since last summer.”

“The rival company hasn't had a sniff of the market lead since the new software was released three years ago.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

interj. a word used in writing to show the sound of someone crying or smelling something.

interj. an onomatopoeic representation of a nasal inhalation, typically used in informal writing to denote sadness or suspicion.

“"I thought you forgot my birthday," she said. "Sniff."”

“The script included the stage direction 'sniff' to indicate the character's burgeoning emotional distress during the final monologue.”