rhizoverbBeta
DictionarywhiffBrief smell or trace
noun / verb

whiff

WIF/wɪf/

A brief impression of something, especially through smell.

He catches a whiff of perfume from the narrow testing strip.

A man takes a delicate sniff of a narrow perfume-testing strip, suggesting a small, fleeting sample of scent rather than an overpowering smell.
Etymology

The modern word was likely coined afresh for a slight puff of air or an inhalation of tobacco smoke. This fleeting-puff image connects a brief smell with the figurative sense of a faint hint.

In context

Storytime Haven662:32
It was like a whiff of the heather-perfumed breezes of Hankley to see his homely face once more.
Sir Nigel ⚔️🌟 | A Tale of Chivalry and Adventure | Arthur Conan Doyle

More examples

  • A whiff of smoke drifted through the window.
  • She whiffed the unfamiliar scent.
  • The proposal carried a whiff of desperation.

Forms

whiff · whiffs · whiffed · whiffing

Similar words

trace
Can suggest a small amount without any smell.
scent
Names an odor without emphasizing its brief appearance.