Definition of sneeze

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< sneer

sneezeguard >

sneeze    (snz) KEY 

intr.v.
sneezed, sneez·ing, sneez·es

To expel air forcibly from the mouth and nose in an explosive, spasmodic involuntary action resulting chiefly from irritation of the nasal mucous membrane.

NOUN:

An instance or the sound of sneezing.

PHRASAL VERB:
sneeze at Informal

To treat as unimportant: These deficits are nothing to sneeze at.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English snesen, alteration of fnesen, from Old English fnosan; see pneu- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
sneezer(Noun), sneezy(Adjective)