whiff

• Substantivo com vários sentidos: um breve e leve sopro de ar ou cheiro; um tipo de linguado que vive em águas costeiras da Nova Inglaterra ao Brasil; ou, no beisebol, um strikeout quando o rebatedor balança e erra o terceiro strike.

A noun with multiple meanings: a brief, light gust of air or odor; a type of lefteye flounder found in coastal waters from New England to Brazil; or a strikeout in baseball where the batter swings and misses for the third strike.

1. Brief smell or puff of airB1formal

   A short, light gust of air or a faint smell that is carried by it.

   Cheiro leve ou sopro de ar

   • A whiff of fresh air came through the open window.
   • He caught a whiff of her perfume as she walked by.
   • There was a whiff of smoke in the room.

   Sinônimosbreathhintodorpuffscentsmellsuggestiontracewaft

2. A type of flatfishC2formalamerican

   A lefteye flounder found in coastal waters from New England to Brazil.

   Linguado

   • The fisherman caught a large whiff off the coast of Massachusetts.
   • Whiff is a popular catch in the waters of the Atlantic.
   • The restaurant served grilled whiff with lemon butter.

3. Strikeout in baseballB2informalamerican

   A strikeout resulting from the batter swinging at and missing the ball for the third strike.

   Strikeout por swinging

   • The pitcher ended the inning with a whiff.
   • He struck out on a whiff in the bottom of the ninth.
   • The crowd groaned as the batter went down on a whiff.

   Sinônimoskstrikeout

• Verbo usado para indicar uma sensação breve ou fraca de cheiro, bem como um golpe no ar ou uma falha ao tentar pegar algo no esporte.

A verb used to indicate the act of smelling something briefly or faintly, or to miss a hit or catch in sports.

1. Perceive by smellingB1informal

   To detect or smell something by inhaling through the nose.

   Sentir o cheiro

   • She whiffed the scent of fresh coffee as she entered the room.
   • He whiffed the air to see if something was burning.
   • The dog whiffed the ground, searching for a trail.

   Sinônimosinhalenosescentsmellsniff

2. Move or carry as if by a puff of airB2informal

   To drive or carry something along as if by a gust of wind.

   Levar como um sopro de vento

   • The breeze whiffed the leaves across the yard.
   • A sudden gust whiffed the papers off the desk.
   • The smoke was whiffed away by the wind.

   Sinônimosblowgustpuffwaftwhisk

3. Strike out in baseballB2informalamerican

   In baseball, to strike out by swinging and missing the pitch that is charged as the third strike.

   Falhar no beisebol

   • The batter whiffed on the final pitch, ending the inning.
   • He whiffed badly, missing the ball by a mile.
   • The pitcher celebrated as the hitter whiffed for the third time.

   Sinônimosfanstrike out

   Antônimosconnectcontacthitreach

4. Smoke and exhale stronglyB2informal

   To inhale and then exhale smoke from a cigarette or similar item with force.

   Tragar e soltar a fumaça

   • He whiffed on his cigar and blew a ring of smoke.
   • She whiffed deeply on the cigarette before speaking.
   • They sat on the porch, whiffing their pipes in silence.

   Sinônimosdragpufftoke

5. Utter with a puff of airC1informal

   To speak or utter something while exhaling a puff of air.

   Soprar ao falar

   • He whiffed a quick apology as he rushed past.
   • She whiffed a sigh of relief after the news.
   • The old man whiffed a few words before falling silent.