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WHIFF
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A strikeout resulting from the batter swinging at and missing the ball for the third strike
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("whiff" is a kind of...):
strikeout (an out resulting from the batter getting three strikes)
Derivation:
whiff (strike out by swinging and missing the pitch charged as the third)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A lefteye flounder found in coastal waters from New England to Brazil
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("whiff" is a kind of...):
lefteye flounder; lefteyed flounder (flatfishes with both eyes on the left side of the head)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "whiff"):
Citharichthys cornutus; horned whiff (a whiff found in waters from the Bahamas and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil)
Holonyms ("whiff" is a member of...):
Citharichthys; genus Citharichthys (a genus of Bothidae)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A short light gust of air
Synonyms:
puff; puff of air; whiff
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural phenomena
Hypernyms ("whiff" is a kind of...):
blast; blow; gust (a strong current of air)
Derivation:
whiff (utter with a puff of air)
whiff (drive or carry as if by a puff of air)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Utter with a puff of air
Example:
whiff out a prayer
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "whiff" is one way to...):
mouth; speak; talk; utter; verbalise; verbalize (express in speech)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
whiff (a short light gust of air)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Smoke and exhale strongly
Example:
whiff a pipe
Synonyms:
puff; whiff
Classified under:
Hypernyms (to "whiff" is one way to...):
smoke (inhale and exhale smoke from cigarettes, cigars, pipes)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Strike out by swinging and missing the pitch charged as the third
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "whiff" is one way to...):
strike out (put out or be put out by a strikeout)
Domain category:
ball; baseball; baseball game (a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Derivation:
whiff (a strikeout resulting from the batter swinging at and missing the ball for the third strike)
whiffer (a batter who strikes out by swinging at and missing the third strike)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Drive or carry as if by a puff of air
Example:
The gust of air whiffed away the clouds
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "whiff" is one way to...):
blow (cause to move by means of an air current)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Derivation:
whiff (a short light gust of air)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Perceive by inhaling through the nose
Example:
sniff the perfume
Synonyms:
sniff; whiff
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Hypernyms (to "whiff" is one way to...):
smell (inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Context examples:
Miss Lavinia revived herself with a few whiffs of aromatic vinegar—Traddles and I looking on with great solicitude the while; and then went on to say, rather faintly: My sister and myself have been in great doubt, Mr. Traddles, what course we ought to take in reference to the likings, or imaginary likings, of such very young people as your friend Mr. Copperfield and our niece.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
"This is a regular honeymoon paradise, isn't it? Did you ever see such roses?" asked Amy, pausing on the terrace to enjoy the view, and a luxurious whiff of perfume that came wandering by.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Silver took a whiff or two of his pipe with great composure and then ran on again.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
"He is most interesting, a whiff of ozone," she answered.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
First he fastened up the windows and latched them securely; next, taking a handful of the flowers, he rubbed them all over the sashes, as though to ensure that every whiff of air that might get in would be laden with the garlic smell.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
A dark store-room opens out of it, and that is a place to be run past at night; for I don't know what may be among those tubs and jars and old tea-chests, when there is nobody in there with a dimly-burning light, letting a mouldy air come out of the door, in which there is the smell of soap, pickles, pepper, candles, and coffee, all at one whiff.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
The HISPANIOLA rolled steadily, dipping her bowsprit now and then with a whiff of spray.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
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