snuff: Meaning and Definition of

snuff

Pronunciation: (snuf), [key]
— v.t.
  1. to draw in through the nose by inhaling.
  2. to perceive by or as by smelling; sniff.
  3. to examine by smelling, as an animal does.
—v.i.
  1. to draw air into the nostrils by inhaling, as to smell something; snuffle: After snuffing around, he found the gas leak.
  2. to draw powdered tobacco into the nostrils; take snuff.
  3. to express disdain, contempt, displeasure, etc., by sniffing (often fol. by at).
—n.
  1. an act of snuffing; an inhalation through the nose; a sniff.
  2. smell, scent, or odor.
  3. a preparation of tobacco, either powdered and taken into the nostrils by inhalation or ground and placed between the cheek and gum.
  4. a pinch of such tobacco.
  5. His performance wasn't up to snuff.
    1. Brit.not easily imposed upon; shrewd; sharp.
    2. up to a certain standard; satisfactory:His performance wasn't up to snuff.

snuff

Pronunciation: (snuf), [key]
— n.
  1. the charred or partly consumed portion of a candlewick.
  2. a thing of little or no value, esp. if left over.
—v.t.
  1. to cut off or remove the snuff of (candles, tapers, etc.).
  2. to snuff out a candle.
    1. to extinguish:to snuff out a candle.
    2. to suppress; crush:to snuff out opposition.
    3. Informal.to kill or murder:Many lives were snuffed out during the epidemic.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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