sniffing
v. B1 Intermediate US //ˈsnɪfɪŋ// UK //snˈɪfɪŋ// sniff·ing
v. to breathe in through your nose in a way that makes a sound. You do this to smell something or when you have a cold.
v. drawing air audibly through the nose in short breaths. Often used to detect a scent or to prevent mucus from running during a cold.
The dog is sniffing the grass in the park.
She kept sniffing throughout the movie because she had forgotten to bring a tissue for her cold.
The detective stood over the evidence, sniffing the air for any trace of the chemical accelerant mentioned in the forensic report.
Usage
The present participle of 'sniff'; can function as a gerund or as part of a continuous verb tense.