sniffing
UK[ˈsnɪfɪŋ]US[ˈsnɪfɪŋ]
v
the action of inhaling air audibly through the nose to detect a smell or as a sign of emotion
v
the action of trying to find or discover something, especially information, in a cautious or covert way
Etymology
the word 'sniffing' is the present participle or gerund form of the verb 'sniff'. the verb 'sniff' is of imitative origin, emerging in middle english as 'sniffe', likely mimicking the sound of drawing air sharply through the nose. it belongs to a group of expressive words like 'snuff' and 'snivel' that imitate nasal sounds. this onomatopoeic foundation directly links the word's form to its core meaning of an audible inhalation, which has since extended metaphorically to mean investigating or detecting something.
Analysis
n/a
Examples
the dog was sniffing the ground intently, following a scent.
she was sniffing back tears during the emotional scene.
the journalist spent weeks sniffing around for any hint of a scandal.