snuff
1to draw in through the nose by inhaling.
to perceive by or as by smelling; sniff.
to examine by smelling, as an animal does.
to draw air into the nostrils by inhaling, as to smell something; snuffle: After snuffing around, he found the gas leak.
to draw powdered tobacco into the nostrils; take snuff.
Obsolete. to express disdain, contempt, displeasure, etc., by sniffing (often followed by at).
an act of snuffing; an inhalation through the nose; a sniff.
smell, scent, or odor.
a preparation of tobacco, either powdered and taken into the nostrils by inhalation or ground and placed between the cheek and gum.
a pinch of such tobacco.
Idioms about snuff
up to snuff, Informal.
up to a certain standard; satisfactory: His performance wasn't up to snuff.
Origin of snuff
1Other words from snuff
- snuff·ing·ly, adverb
Words Nearby snuff
Other definitions for snuff (2 of 2)
the charred or partly consumed portion of a candlewick.
a thing of little or no value, especially if left over.
to cut off or remove the snuff of (candles, tapers, etc.).
snuff out,
to extinguish: to snuff out a candle.
Informal. to kill, murder, or bring to a sudden end: Many lives were snuffed out during the epidemic.
Origin of snuff
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use snuff in a sentence
He could imagine himself an Islamist avenger like that masked monster in black who appears in the ISIS snuff videos.
The Muslim Convert Behind America’s First Workplace Beheading | Michael Daly | September 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe packed a large pinch of the snuff against his bottom gum.
Short Stories from The Daily Beast: Four Hundred Grand | Elliot Ackerman | July 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTEven as Valle sat in court this week, the 364 various groups on DFN included one called Cannibalism, snuff with 835 members.
Cannibal Cop’s Dark Fetishes Detailed in Grisly Trial Testimony | Michael Daly | February 27, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTLook in my face while I snuff the sidle of evening, Talk honestly, for no one else hears you, and I stay only a minute longer.
Pelosi and Reid will work to snuff out any legislation that could force Obama to take unpopular stands.
Here are pretty goings on—a pinch of your snuff, Perker, my boy—never were such times, eh?
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2) | Charles DickensJoe,” said Mr. Wardle, after an unsuccessful search in all his pockets, “is my snuff-box on the sofa?
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2) | Charles DickensSome of the tribes inhabiting the district of the lower Amazon indulge in snuff-taking.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.Portuguese snuff seemed to be in favor and was delicately perfumed.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.Some varieties of snuff were named after the scents employed in flavoring them.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.
British Dictionary definitions for snuff (1 of 3)
/ (snʌf) /
(tr) to inhale through the nose
(when intr, often foll by at) (esp of an animal) to examine by sniffing
an act or the sound of snuffing
Origin of snuff
1Derived forms of snuff
- snuffer, noun
British Dictionary definitions for snuff (2 of 3)
/ (snʌf) /
finely powdered tobacco for sniffing up the nostrils or less commonly for chewing
a small amount of this
any powdered substance, esp one for sniffing up the nostrils
up to snuff informal
in good health or in good condition
mainly British not easily deceived
(intr) to use or inhale snuff
Origin of snuff
2British Dictionary definitions for snuff (3 of 3)
/ (snʌf) /
(often foll by out) to extinguish (a light from a naked flame, esp a candle)
to cut off the charred part of (the wick of a candle, etc)
(usually foll by out) informal to suppress; put an end to
snuff it British informal to die
the burned portion of the wick of a candle
Origin of snuff
3Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with snuff
In addition to the idiom beginning with snuff
- snuff out
also see:
- up to par (snuff)
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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