waft
Americanverb (used with object)
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to carry lightly and smoothly through the air or over water.
The gentle breeze wafted the sound of music to our ears.
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to send or convey lightly, as if in flight.
The actress wafted kisses to her admirers in the audience.
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Obsolete. to signal to, summon, or direct by waving.
verb (used without object)
noun
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a sound, odor, etc., faintly perceived.
a waft of perfume.
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a wafting movement; light current or gust.
a waft of air.
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the act of wafting.
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Nautical. Also a signal given by waving a flag.
verb
noun
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the act or an instance of wafting
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something, such as a scent, carried on the air
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a wafting motion
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Also called: waif. nautical (formerly) a signal flag hoisted furled to signify various messages depending on where it was flown
Other Word Forms
- unwafted adjective
- waftage noun
- wafter noun
Etymology
Origin of waft
1535–45; back formation from late Middle English waughter armed escort vessel < Dutch or Low German wachter watchman; in some senses confused with waff
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On Thursday, in one over from Scott Boland, he was hit by a bouncer, almost pinned lbw and missed with a wild waft reminiscent of the second of those Brisbane brain fades.
From BBC
She sniffed them, wafting the smell toward her nose with a mitt.
From Literature
One woman walked wordlessly through the neighborhood, wafting a smudge stick of burning sage.
From Los Angeles Times
Both titles seemed apt on the day I arrived, and, as fog wafted over a nearby summit, I visited Art Street, a park with theaters, music festivals, restaurants and cafes.
From Los Angeles Times
"It was a long old day, but exciting. And Cilla sort of wafted around a bit," said Sue.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
