verb / noun
sneeze
SNEEZ/sniːz/
An involuntary burst of air through the nose and mouth.
He sneezes abruptly into a tissue with his eyes squeezed shut.
Etymology
Middle English snesen already meant “sneeze.” The word’s deeper family is sound-imitative, connecting the name of this involuntary action to the noise it produces.
In context
put the sharp end of his half pike a good way up into my left nostril which tickled my nose like a straw and made me sneeze violently
More examples
- A loud sneeze interrupted the silence.
- She sneezed twice after entering the dusty room.
- The pepper had everyone sneezing.
Forms
sneeze · sneezes · sneezed · sneezing