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waft

waft
W w

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [waft, wahft]
    • /wæft, wɑft/
    • /wɒft/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [waft, wahft]
    • /wæft, wɑft/

Definitions of waft word

  • verb with object waft to carry lightly and smoothly through the air or over water: The gentle breeze wafted the sound of music to our ears. 1
  • verb with object waft to send or convey lightly, as if in flight: The actress wafted kisses to her admirers in the audience. 1
  • verb with object waft Obsolete. to signal to, summon, or direct by waving. 1
  • verb without object waft to float or be carried, especially through the air: The sound wafted on the breeze. The music wafted across the lake. 1
  • noun waft a sound, odor, etc., faintly perceived: a waft of perfume. 1
  • noun waft a wafting movement; light current or gust: a waft of air. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of waft

First appearance:

before 1535
One of the 29% oldest English words
1535-45; back formation from late Middle English waughter armed escort vessel < Dutch or Low German wachter watchman; in some senses confused with waff

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Waft

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

waft popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 81% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

waft usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for waft

noun waft

  • puff — a short, quick blast, as of wind or breath.
  • breath — Your breath is the air that you let out through your mouth when you breathe. If someone has bad breath, their breath smells unpleasant.
  • gust — Archaic. flavor or taste.
  • breeze — A breeze is a gentle wind.
  • draft — a drawing, sketch, or design.

verb waft

  • drift — a driving movement or force; impulse; impetus; pressure.
  • float — to rest or remain on the surface of a liquid; be buoyant: The hollow ball floated.
  • glide — to move smoothly and continuously along, as if without effort or resistance, as a flying bird, a boat, or a skater.
  • sail — an area of canvas or other fabric extended to the wind in such a way as to transmit the force of the wind to an assemblage of spars and rigging mounted firmly on a hull, raft, iceboat, etc., so as to drive it along.
  • fan — an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of a sport, pastime, celebrity, etc.: a baseball fan; a great fan of Charlie Chaplin.

Antonyms for waft

verb waft

  • hold — to have or keep in the hand; keep fast; grasp: She held the purse in her right hand. He held the child's hand in his.
  • keep — to hold or retain in one's possession; hold as one's own: If you like it, keep it. Keep the change.
  • take — to get into one's hold or possession by voluntary action: to take a cigarette out of a box; to take a pen and begin to write.

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See also

Matching words

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