snuffle

American  

[snuhf-uhl] / ˈsnʌf əl /

verb (used without object)

snuffled, snuffling

1. to draw air into the nose for the purpose of smelling something; snuff.

2. to draw the breath or mucus through the nostrils in an audible or noisy manner; sniffle.

3. to speak through the nose or with a nasal twang.

4. to whine; snivel.

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verb (used with object)

snuffled, snuffling

1. to utter in a nasal tone.

noun

1. an act or sound of breathing loudly through the nose.

2. (the) snuffles, a condition of the nose, such as from a cold, causing a person to breath or draw mucus through the nostrils noisily.

3. a nasal tone of voice.

snuffle British  

/ ˈsnʌfəl /

verb

1. (intr) to breathe noisily or with difficulty

2. to say or speak in a nasal tone

3. (intr) to snivel

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noun

1. an act or the sound of snuffling

2. a nasal tone or voice

3. a condition characterized by snuffling

Other Word Forms

• snuffler noun
• snufflingly adverb
• snuffly adjective

Etymology

Origin of snuffle

First recorded in 1575–85, for an earlier sense; 1595–1605, for the current sense; from Dutch snuffelen “to nose (in something),” literally, “to sniff repeatedly,” from snuffen “to sniff,” with -el-, frequentative infix; equivalent to snuff ¹ ( def. ) + -le

Example Sentences

After a few minutes, the dragon lifted its head and made a tiny snuffling noise.

From Literature

And right now, the big bear had his nose buried in the seat compartment, snuffling around for food.

From Literature

"I lay still, pretending to be dead. I could feel one of the animals snuffling at my head," she said.

From BBC

Lying on his side on a dark summer night earlier this year, Sir David Attenborough is watching a hedgehog snuffling around an urban garden.

From BBC

A snuffling, wheezing sound came from the corner.

From Literature

Related Words

• bark
• growl
• grunt
• mumble
• mutter