snuff

snuff¹ [snʌf] v

[Sense: 1-2; Date: 1300-1400; Origin: snuff 'burned part of a used candle' (14-19 centuries).]

[Sense: 3; Date: 1500-1600; : Dutch; Origin: snuffen 'to sniff']

1.) also snuff out [T]

to stop a ↑candle burning by pressing the burning part with your fingers or by covering it

2.) snuff it

BrE informal to die

3.) [I and T]

if an animal snuffs, it breathes air into its nose in a noisy way, especially in order to smell something

= ↑sniff

snuff /sb out [snuff sth/sb<=> out] phr v

1.) to stop a ↑candle burning by pressing the burning part with your fingers or by covering it

2.) to stop or end something in a sudden way

▪ a rebellion that will snuff out democracy

3.) informal to kill someone

▪ a young woman snuffed out by an unknown killer

snuff ²

snuff² n [U]

[Date: 1600-1700; : Dutch; Origin: snuf, from snuftabak, from snuffen ( SNUFF¹) + tabak 'tobacco']

1.) a type of tobacco in powder form, which people breathe in through their noses

▪ He took a pinch of snuff .

▪ a snuff box (=a small box used to keep snuff in)

2.) up to snuff

AmE informal good enough for a particular purpose

▪ A lot of money was spent to bring the building up to snuff .