noun a quick inhalation through the nose, especially to detect a smell
verb to inhale through the nose audibly, as a dog does when it smells something
In medicine, 'sniff' can refer to a diagnostic test where a patient is asked to inhale deeply through the nose to assess for any abnormalities in the sense of smell.
In technology, 'sniff' is commonly used in networking jargon to describe the act of capturing and analyzing data packets on a network for troubleshooting or security purposes.
In the study of animal behavior, 'sniff' is used to describe the act of animals using their sense of smell to gather information about their environment or other animals.
In forensic investigations, 'sniff' can refer to the use of trained dogs to sniff out evidence such as drugs, explosives, or human remains.
In the field of drug detection, 'sniff' is often used to describe the action of specially trained dogs sniffing out drugs or other contraband.
In writing, 'sniff' can be used to describe a character's action of inhaling deeply through the nose, often to show suspicion or disdain.
Psychologists may use the term 'sniff' metaphorically to describe the act of detecting underlying emotions or motivations in a person's behavior.