wisp

American  

[wisp] / wɪsp /

noun

1. a handful or small bundle of straw, hay, or the like.

2. any thin tuft, lock, mass, etc..

   wisps of hair.

3. a thin puff or streak, as of smoke; slender trace.

4. a person or thing that is small, delicate, or barely discernible.

   a mere wisp of a lad; a wisp of a frown.

5. a whisk broom.

6. Chiefly British Dialect.

   1. a pad or twist of straw, as used to rub down a horse.

   2. a twisted bit of straw used as a torch.

7. a will-o'-the-wisp or ignis fatuus.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to twist into a wisp.

wisp ¹ British  

/ wɪsp /

noun

1. a thin, light, delicate, or fibrous piece or strand, such as a streak of smoke or a lock of hair

2. a small bundle, as of hay or straw

3. anything slender and delicate

   a wisp of a girl

4. a mere suggestion or hint

5. a flock of birds, esp snipe

---

verb

1. to move or act like a wisp

2. dialect (tr) to twist into a wisp

3. (tr) to groom (a horse) with a wisp of straw, etc

WISP ² British  

/ wɪsp /

acronym

1. Wireless Information Service Provider: an internet service provider set up to deal with and deliver internet services to clients through wireless access points

---

Other Word Forms

• wisplike adjective

Etymology

Origin of wisp

1300–50; Middle English wisp, wips; akin to wipe

Example Sentences

And there was Anna outside, teetering on a stool, her white hair in wisps around the edge of her cap.

From Literature

The sun was already as good as set, the last wisps of day sliding across the grassy courtyard we affectionally called the Mall to be replaced by the lengthening shadows of twilight.

From Literature

Street said she never felt a wisp of fear.

From Los Angeles Times

Curly wisps of hair were coming out of her French braids from all the running.

From Literature

It took a few tries, but I was finally able to conjure up my own wisp of smoke.

From Literature

Related Words

• tuft