<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>a trace or hint: a whiff of scandal.</li><li>a slight trace of odor or smell: a whiff of onions.</li><li>a slight gust or puff of wind, air, vapor, smoke, or the like: a whiff of fresh air.</li><li>a single inhalation or exhalation of air, tobacco smoke, or the like: I tried smoking once, but had a coughing fit after the first whiff and gave up.</li><li>a slight outburst: a little whiff of temper.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object)</strong></p><ul><li>to blow or come in light puffs, such as of wind or smoke: A breeze whiffed through the clearing, cooling our faces.</li><li>to inhale or exhale in light puffs, such as when smoking tobacco: She was sitting on the porch, whiffing on a cigarette.</li><li>to move swiftly through the air, creating a slight breeze or swishing sound: The ball whiffed past my head and into the net.</li><li>(of a batter) to strike out by swinging at and missing the pitch charged as the third strike.</li><li>Informal: to fail in an effort or get something wrong: This economic think tank has whiffed on every prediction for the last decade.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>to blow or drive with light puffs, as the wind does.</li><li>to inhale or exhale (air, tobacco smoke, etc.) in light puffs.</li><li>to smoke (a pipe, cigar, etc.).</li><li>(of a pitcher) to cause (a batter) to swing at a pitch and miss or to strike out.</li><li>Informal: to fail at or in; get wrong: The book had a great beginning, but lost steam as it progressed, and totally whiffed the ending.</li><li>to catch a slight scent or hint of; sniff; smell: I broke a small branch off the lilac bush and whiffed the blooms as I walked.</li></ul>