snort

[ snawrt ]
See synonyms for: snortsnorted on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
  1. (of animals) to force the breath violently through the nostrils with a loud, harsh sound: The spirited horse snorted and shied at the train.

  2. (of persons) to express contempt, indignation, etc., by a similar sound.

  1. Slang. to take a drug by inhaling.

verb (used with object)
  1. to utter with a snort.

  2. to expel (air, sound, etc.) by or as by snorting.

  1. Slang. to take (a drug) by inhaling: to snort cocaine.

noun
  1. the act or sound of snorting.

  2. Slang. a quick drink of liquor; shot.

  1. Slang.

    • an act or instance of taking a drug by inhalation.

    • the amount of drug inhaled.

  2. British. snorkel.

Origin of snort

1
1325–75; Middle English snorten (v.); probably akin to snore

Other words from snort

  • snort·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use snort in a sentence

  • An old horse, with traces hanging and harness a wreck, stands snorting beside the boy.

    A Lost Hero | Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward and Herbert D. Ward
  • We heard boars snorting, and running away, and strange-looking horned creatures leaping and bounding off in all directions.

    Kari the Elephant | Dhan Gopal Mukerji
  • One felt a wistful partisanship for his snorting rival, striving for ever to accomplish the impossible.

  • Trotting, prancing, and snorting as they came down the lane, they settled down once they were in the stable lot.

    David Lannarck, Midget | George S. Harney
  • Little Raven heard the ponies snorting nervously, as his friends rode forward to investigate.

    Three Sioux Scouts | Elmer Russell Gregor

British Dictionary definitions for snort

snort

/ (snɔːt) /


verb
  1. (intr) to exhale forcibly through the nostrils, making a characteristic noise

  2. (intr) (of a person) to express contempt or annoyance by such an exhalation

  1. (tr) to utter in a contemptuous or annoyed manner

  2. slang to inhale (a powdered drug) through the nostrils

noun
  1. a forcible exhalation of air through the nostrils, esp (of persons) as a noise of contempt or annoyance

  2. slang an instance of snorting a drug

  1. Also called: snorter slang a short drink, esp an alcoholic one

  2. slang the snorkel on a submarine

Origin of snort

1
C14 snorten; probably related to snoren to snore

Derived forms of snort

  • snorting, noun, adjective
  • snortingly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012