snuff

¹

[snuhf]

verb (used with object)

1. to draw in through the nose by inhaling.

2. to perceive by or as by smelling; sniff.

3. to examine by smelling, as an animal does.

verb (used without object)

1. to draw air into the nostrils by inhaling, as to smell something; snuffle.

   After snuffing around, he found the gas leak.

2. to draw powdered tobacco into the nostrils; take snuff.

3. Obsolete.,  to express disdain, contempt, displeasure, etc., by sniffing (often followed byat ).

noun

1. an act of snuffing; an inhalation through the nose; a sniff.

2. smell, scent, or odor.

3. a preparation of tobacco, either powdered and taken into the nostrils by inhalation or ground and placed between the cheek and gum.

4. a pinch of such tobacco.

snuff

²

[snuhf]

noun

1. the charred or partly consumed portion of a candlewick.

2. a thing of little or no value, especially if left over.

verb (used with object)

1. to cut off or remove the snuff of (candles, tapers, etc.).

verb phrase

1. snuff out

   1. to extinguish.

      to snuff out a candle.

   2. to suppress; crush.

      to snuff out opposition.

   3. Informal.,  to kill, murder, or bring to a sudden end.

      Many lives were snuffed out during the epidemic.

snuff

¹

/ snʌf /

noun

1. finely powdered tobacco for sniffing up the nostrils or less commonly for chewing

2. a small amount of this

3. any powdered substance, esp one for sniffing up the nostrils

4. informal

   1. in good health or in good condition

   2. not easily deceived

verb

1. (intr) to use or inhale snuff

snuff

²

/ snʌf /

verb

1. (often foll by out) to extinguish (a light from a naked flame, esp a candle)

2. to cut off the charred part of (the wick of a candle, etc)

3. informal,  (usually foll by out) to suppress; put an end to

4. informal,  to die

noun

1. the burned portion of the wick of a candle

snuff

³

/ snʌf /

verb

1. (tr) to inhale through the nose

2. (esp of an animal) to examine by sniffing

noun

1. an act or the sound of snuffing

Other Word Forms

• snuffer noun
• snuffingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of snuff¹

First recorded in 1520–30; probably from Middle Dutch snuffen, snoffen

Origin of snuff²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun snof(fe), snuffe; further origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of snuff¹

C17: from Dutch snuf, shortened from snuftabale, literally: tobacco for snuffing; see _snuff ¹

Origin of snuff²

C14 snoffe, of obscure origin

Origin of snuff³

C16: probably from Middle Dutch snuffen to snuffle, ultimately of imitative origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. up to snuff,

   1. British. not easily imposed upon; shrewd; sharp.

   2. up to a certain standard; satisfactory.

      His performance wasn't up to snuff.

More idioms and phrases containing snuff

• up to par (snuff)

Example Sentences

A sharp increase in mortgage rates in 2022 snuffed out what had been a housing boom.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Take the 2019 docuseries “Don’t F**k with Cats,” which includes gratuitous shots of animal violence and shots of a real snuff film.

Read more on Salon

"For a young girl to die in that way, her life snuffed out at the age of 15, it's just too sad for words."

Read more on BBC

With Frankenstein, he worries he’ll jinx the monster by talking too much about him, snuffing out the ineffable thing that he says fueled his performance.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Danish officials had shut down international flights from Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, because its training for passenger security screening wasn’t up to snuff.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• extinguish