noun
Meaning 1
A light breeze.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
waft
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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wŏft
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Canada, General-American: /wɑft/
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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Received-Pronunciation: /wɒft/
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Australian, New-Zealand: /wɔft/
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Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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Received-Pronunciation, dated: /wɑːft/
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Canada, US, regional: /wæft/
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rhymes with -ɒft
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CMU ARPABET: W AA1 F T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
noun
Meaning 2
Something (such as an odor or perfume) that is carried through the air.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
A flag used to indicate wind direction or, with a knot tied in the center, as a signal; a waif, a wheft.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
A loose noncommittal shot, usually played to a ball pitched short of length and well wide of the off stump.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
Topics: ball-games, cricket, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
To (cause to) float easily or gently through the air.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ergative
Examples
- A breeze came in through the open window and wafted her sensuous perfume into my eager nostrils.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: breathe
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
To be moved, or to pass, on a buoyant medium; to float.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 7
To give notice to by waving something; to wave the hand to; to beckon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 8
a long flag; often tapering
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pennant, pennon, streamer
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: flag
Narrower terms: pennoncel, penoncel, pennoncelle
verb
Meaning 9
be driven or carried along, as by the air
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Sounds wafted into the room
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: float, drift, be adrift, blow
verb
Meaning 10
blow gently
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- A breeze wafted through the door
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: blow
History
Etymology
From Middle English waften, of uncertain origin. Possibly from unattested Old English *wafettan, from wafian (“to wave”) + -ettan, or perhaps borrowed from Middle Dutch wachten (“to guard, provide for”). See also German wabern (“to waft”), Faroese veiftra (“to wave”) and Icelandic váfa (“to fluctuate, waver, doubt”).
Across languages
Translations
59 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bulgarian: полъх (polǎh) — something carried through the air
- Bulgarian: дъх (dǎh) — something carried through the air
- Czech: závan — something carried through the air
- German: Hauch — something carried through the air
- Māori: hīrea — something carried through the air
- Spanish: vaharada — something carried through the air
- Bulgarian: нося се (nosja se) — to float easily and gently on the air
- Czech: nést se — to float easily and gently on the air
- Czech: linout se — to float easily and gently on the air
- Dutch: zweven — to float easily and gently on the air
- Dutch: fladderen — to float easily and gently on the air
- Finnish: leijua — to float easily and gently on the air
- Finnish: lehahtaa — to float easily and gently on the air
- German: treiben — to float easily and gently on the air
- German: wehen — to float easily and gently on the air
- German: wallen — to float easily and gently on the air
- German: wabern — to float easily and gently on the air
- German: streichen — to float easily and gently on the air
- German: umwehen — to float easily and gently on the air
- German: tragen — to float easily and gently on the air
- German: getragen werden — to float easily and gently on the air
- Ido: flotacar — to float easily and gently on the air
- Māori: kōrewarewa — to float easily and gently on the air
- Russian: дуть (dutʹ) — to float easily and gently on the air
- Russian: доноси́ться (donosítʹsja) — to float easily and gently on the air
- Spanish: revolotear — to float easily and gently on the air
- Spanish: levitar — to float easily and gently on the air
- Ukrainian: нести (nesty) — to float easily and gently on the air
- Ukrainian: доносити (donosyty) — to float easily and gently on the air
- Ukrainian: переносити (perenosyty) — to float easily and gently on the air
- Ukrainian: розносити (roznosyty) — to float easily and gently on the air
- Bulgarian: разнасям се (raznasjam se) — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Bulgarian: довявам се (dovjavam se) — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Czech: nést se — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Czech: linout se — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Czech: vznášet se — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Finnish: leijua — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Finnish: kellua — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- German: schweben — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- German: schwimmen — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- German: treiben — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- German: dahinsegeln — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Māori: kōrewarewa — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Portuguese: flutuar — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Spanish: flotar — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Spanish: levitar — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Spanish: esparcirse — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Ukrainian: пливти (plyvty) — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Ukrainian: віяти (vijaty) — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Ukrainian: розноситися (roznosytysja) — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Ukrainian: доноситися (donosytysja) — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Ukrainian: линути (lynuty) — to be moved on a buoyant medium
- Bulgarian: махам (maham) — to give notice to by waving something
- Finnish: vilkuttaa — to give notice to by waving something
- German: signalisieren — to give notice to by waving something
- German: senden — to give notice to by waving something
- German: aussenden — to give notice to by waving something
- German: fortsenden — to give notice to by waving something
- German: winken — to give notice to by waving something