waft
To float easily or gently through the airTo (cause to) float easily or gently through the air.
Recorded US: Dvortygirl, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
» The smell wafted through the air.
megamanenm · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
3 senses(ergative)To (cause to) float easily or gently through the air.
A breeze came in through the open window and wafted her sensuous perfume into my eager nostrils.
treiben, wehen, wallen
дутьdutʹ, доноси́тьсяdonosítʹsja
нестиnesty, доноситиdonosyty, переноситиperenosyty
(intransitive)To be moved, or to pass, on a buoyant medium; to float.
schweben, schwimmen, treiben
пливтиplyvty, віятиvijaty, розноситисяroznosytysja
To give notice to by waving something; to wave the hand to; to beckon.
signalisieren, senden, aussenden
- be driven or carried along, as by the air
- blow gently
Examples
17 sentencesThe smell wafted through the air.
A fragrant breeze wafted from the garden.
A pungent, salty odor wafted from the kitchen.
Cherry blossom is wafting down from the trees.
deKirschblüten wehen von den Bäumen. — Pfirsichbaeumchen
Shrivelled leaves are wafting away on the evening breeze.
deVom Abendwind getrieben entschwebt welkes Laub. — al_ex_an_der
Translations
5 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 1
By meaning 3
Origin
From Middle English waften, of uncertain origin. Possibly from unattested Old English *wafFrom 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”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
wafts, wafting, wafted, waftedPhrasal verbs
2 phrasal verbsSynonyms
1 synonymsWord family
8 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.