Sniff vs Cry - What's the difference?

In ambitransitive terms the difference between sniff and cry

is that sniff is to make a short, audible inhalation, through the nose, as if to smell something while cry is to shout, scream, yell.

In transitive terms the difference between sniff and cry

is that sniff is to perceive vaguely while cry is to cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping.

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

cry

English

Verb

(en-verb)

To shed tears; to weep.

That sad movie always makes me cry .

To utter loudly; to call out; to declare publicly.

* Shakespeare

All, all, cry shame against ye, yet I'll speak.

* Bunyan

The man ran on, crying , Life! life! Eternal life!

(ambitransitive) To shout, scream, yell.

* Bible, Matthew xxvii. 46

And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice.

To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals do.

* Bible, Psalms cxlvii. 9

the young ravens which cry

* Shakespeare

In a cowslip's bell I lie / There I couch when owls do cry .

To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping.

to cry oneself to sleep

To make oral and public proclamation of; to notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods to be sold, etc.

to cry goods

* Crashaw

Love is lost, and thus she cries him.

Hence, to publish the banns of, as for marriage.

* Judd

I should not be surprised if they were cried in church next Sabbath.

Synonyms

* weep * See also * See also

Antonyms

* laugh

Derived terms

* crybaby * cry in one's beer * cry like a baby * cry one's eyes out * cry off * cry out * cry someone a river * cry the blues * cry wolf * don't cry over spilt milk * kiss and cry

Noun

(cries)

A shedding of tears; the act of crying.

After we broke up, I retreated to my room for a good cry .

A shout or scream.

I heard a cry from afar.

Words shouted or screamed.

a battle cry

(collectively) A group of hounds.

* Shakespeare

A cry more tunable / Was never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn.

(Milton)

(obsolete, derogatory) A pack or company of people.

* Shakespeare

Would not this get me a fellowship in a cry of players?

(ambitransitive, of an animal) A typical sound made by the species in question.

"Woof" is the cry of a dog, while "neigh" is the cry of a horse.

A desperate or urgent request.

(obsolete) Common report; gossip.

* Shakespeare

The cry goes that you shall marry her.

Derived terms

* battle cry * hue and cry * war cry

References

* * *

Statistics

Anagrams

* English intransitive verbs English reporting verbs English transitive verbs 1000 English basic words ----