Waft vs. Whiff — What's the Difference?

Waft is a term meaning to "carry along gently as through the air." The term is commonly used to describe scents that have diffused into other parts of a room, or to describe smoke as being seen moving through the air. Wafting may be used for everyday substances, to make sure they are fresh, or consumable.

A brief, passing odor carried in the air

(with reference to a scent, sound, etc.) pass or cause to pass gently through the air

A very small trace

A gentle movement of air.

An inhalation, as of air or smoke

A knotted ensign, garment, etc. displayed by a ship as a signal.

A slight, gentle gust of air; a waft

To cause to go gently and smoothly through the air or over water

(Baseball) A strikeout.

To float easily and gently, as on the air; drift

To be carried in brief gusts; waft

Something, such as an odor, that is carried through the air

(Sports) To swing at and miss a ball or puck.

A light breeze; a rush of air

(Baseball) To strike out. Used of a batter.

The act or action of fluttering or waving

To inhale through the nose; sniff

(Nautical) A flag used for signaling or indicating wind direction. Also called waif2.

(Baseball) To strike out (a batter).

(ergative) To (cause to) float easily or gently through the air.

A brief, gentle breeze; a light gust of air; a waft.

(intransitive) To be moved, or to pass, on a buoyant medium; to float.

A short inhalation or exhalation of breath, especially when accompanied by smoke from a cigarette or pipe.

To give notice to by waving something; to wave the hand to; to beckon.

A cigarette or small cigar.

A light breeze.

An odour (usually unpleasant) carried briefly through the air.

Something (such as an odor or perfume) that is carried through the air.

A small quantity of cloud, smoke, vapour, etc.; specifically (obsolete), chiefly in take the whiff: a puff of tobacco smoke.

(nautical) A flag used to indicate wind direction or, with a knot tied in the center, as a signal; a waif, a wheft.

A flag used as a signal.

To give notice to by waving something; to wave the hand to; to beckon.

The name of a number of flatfish such as (dated) the lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) and now, especially, the megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) and (with a descriptive word) a species of large-tooth flounder or sand flounder (family Paralichthyidae).

To cause to move or go in a wavy manner, or by the impulse of waves, as of water or air; to bear along on a buoyant medium; as, a balloon was wafted over the channel.

(figuratively)

To cause to float; to keep from sinking; to buoy.

A slight sign of something; a burst, a glimpse, a hint.

To be moved, or to pass, on a buoyant medium; to float.

A slight attack or touch.

A wave or current of wind.

A characteristic quality of something; a flavour, a savour, a taste.

A signal made by waving something, as a flag, in the air.

A sound like that of air passing through a small opening; a short or soft whistle.

An unpleasant flavor.

A failure to hit a ball in various sports (for example, golf); a miss.

A knot, or stop, in the middle of a flag.

(archaic) An expulsion of explosive or shot.

A long flag; often tapering

(nautical) An outrigged boat for one person propelled by oar.

Be driven or carried along, as by the air;

(obsolete) A sip of an alcoholic beverage.

Blow gently;

(transitive)

To carry or convey (something) by, or as by, a whiff or puff of air; to blow, puff, or waft away.

To say (something) with an exhalation of breath.

To inhale or exhale (smoke from tobacco, etc.) from a cigarette, pipe, or other smoking implement; to smoke (a cigarette, pipe, etc.); to puff.

To breathe in or sniff (an odour); to smell.

(slang)

(obsolete) To consume (an alcoholic beverage).

(intransitive)

To move in a way that causes a light gust of air, or a whistling sound.

To be carried, or move as if carried, by a puff of air; to waft.

To smoke a cigarette, pipe, or other smoking implement.

To smell; to sniff.

(slang)

(fishing) To catch fish by dragging a handline near the surface of the water from a moving boat.

(informal) Having a strong or unpleasant odour.

Used to indicate a sound like that of air passing through a small opening, that is, a short or soft whistle.

A sudden expulsion of air from the mouth; a quick puff or slight gust, as of air or smoke.

A glimpse; a hasty view.

The marysole, or sail fluke.

To throw out in whiffs; to consume in whiffs; to puff.

To carry or convey by a whiff, or as by a whiff; to puff or blow away.

To emit whiffs, as of smoke; to puff.

A short light gust of air

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

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

Perceive by inhaling through the nose;

Drive or carry as if by a puff of air;

Strike out by swinging and missing the pitch charged as the third

Smoke and exhale strongly;

Utter with a puff of air;