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Grumble vs Sniff - What's the difference?

grumble | sniff |

In transitive terms the difference between grumble and sniff

is that grumble is to utter in a grumbling fashion while sniff is to perceive vaguely.

As nouns the difference between grumble and sniff

is that grumble is a low thundering, rumbling or growling sound while sniff is an instance of sniffing.

As verbs the difference between grumble and sniff

is that grumble is to make a low, growling or rumbling noise, like a hungry stomach or certain animals while sniff is to make a short, audible inhalation, through the nose, as if to smell something.

grumble

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (onomatopoeia) A low thundering, rumbling or growling sound.
  • The sound made by a hungry stomach.
  • A complaint.
    • That whiner is never without a grumble to share.

    Derived terms

    * grumbly

    Verb

    (grumbl)
  • To make a low, growling or rumbling noise, like a hungry stomach or certain animals.
    • The distant thunder grumbles .
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1995 , author=Terry C. Johnston , title=Dance on the Wind , page=15 , passage=It made his stomach grumble in protest to think the mule was eating, and here he was worrying about her with an empty belly of his own.}}
  • To complain; to murmur or mutter with discontent; to make ill-natured complaints in a low voice and a surly manner.
    • He grumbles about the food constantly, but has yet to learn to cook.
  • To utter in a grumbling fashion.
  • * 2001 , Harry Willcox Pfanz, Gettysburg — the first day?
    • He grumbled that there was no grain "in the country" and that people were talking instead of working to provide it.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * grumbler

    See also

    * rumble English reporting verbs

    sniff

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An instance of sniffing.
    • She gave the flowers a quick sniff to check they were real.
  • A quantity of something that is inhaled through the nose
  • A brief perception
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=November 3 , author=Chris Bevan , title=Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Tottenham did have a sniff of goal when Defoe's drilled cross just eluded his strike partner at the far post but their best effort came early in the second half when Ryan Fredericks cut in from the right before firing into the side netting.}}

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (ambitransitive) To make a short, audible inhalation, through the nose, as if to smell something.
    • The dog sniffed around the park, searching for a nice scent.
    I sniffed the meat to see if it hadn't gone off.
  • To say something while sniffing, for example in case of illness or unhappiness, or in contempt.
    • "He's never coming back, is he?" she sniffed while looking at a picture of him.
  • To perceive vaguely
    • I can sniff trouble coming from the basement.
  • To be dismissive or contemptuous of something.
  • (computing) To intercept and analyse packets of data being transmitted over a network.
  • (slang, UK) To inhale drugs in powder form (usually cocaine) through the nose.

    • Derived terms

    * sniff test