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Definition of waft


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waft  audio  (wäft, wft) KEY  

VERB:
waft·ed , waft·ing , wafts
VERB:
tr.
  1. To cause to go gently and smoothly through the air or over water.
  2. To convey or send floating through the air or over water.
VERB:
intr.
To float easily and gently, as on the air; drift: "It was a heat that wafted from streets, rolled between buildings and settled over sidewalks" (Sarah Lyall).
NOUN:
  1. Something, such as an odor, that is carried through the air.
  2. A light breeze; a rush of air.
  3. The act of fluttering or waving.
  4. Nautical A flag used for signaling or indicating wind direction. Also called waif 2 .

ETYMOLOGY:
Back-formation from wafter, convoy ship, alteration of Middle English waughter, from Middle Dutch, or Middle Low German wachter, a guard from wachten, to guard; see weg- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
wafter (Noun)


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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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