waft

[ waft, wahft ]

verb (used with object)

1. to carry lightly and smoothly through the air or over water:

   The gentle breeze wafted the sound of music to our ears.

2. to send or convey lightly, as if in flight:

   The actress wafted kisses to her admirers in the audience.

3. Obsolete. to signal to, summon, or direct by waving.

verb (used without object)

1. to float or be carried, especially through the air:

   The sound wafted on the breeze. The music wafted across the lake.

noun

1. a sound, odor, etc., faintly perceived:

   a waft of perfume.

2. a wafting movement; light current or gust:

   a waft of air.

3. the act of wafting.
4. Also Nautical. a signal given by waving a flag.

waft

/ wɒft; wɑːft /

verb

1. to carry or be carried gently on or as if on the air or water

noun

1. the act or an instance of wafting
2. something, such as a scent, carried on the air
3. a wafting motion
4. Also calledwaif nautical (formerly) a signal flag hoisted furled to signify various messages depending on where it was flown

Derived Forms

• ˈwaftage, noun

Other Words From

• wafter noun
• un·wafted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of waft¹

1535–45; back formation from late Middle English waughter armed escort vessel < Dutch or Low German wachter watchman; in some senses confused with waff

Word History and Origins

Origin of waft¹

C16 (in obsolete sense: to convey by ship): back formation from C15 wafter a convoy vessel, from Middle Dutch wachter guard, from wachten to guard; influenced by waff

Example Sentences

A motorik beat, jaunty bass line and melodic wafts of keyboard make the track go down with a disarming ease.

From New York Times

A pungent, fishy rancid odor has been wafting through the coastal air in Los Angeles this week, an unfortunate consequence of beautiful bioluminescent algae that has graced local beaches for a fortnight.

From Los Angeles Times

Smoke could be seen wafting over the night skyline in that direction.

From Los Angeles Times

The scent of copal, a tree resin used by Mesoamerican cultures for spiritual, medicinal and practical rituals, wafts through the space.

From Salon

So chants of “Lock Her Up” waft through the air without being tethered to facts or reality.

From Salon

Related Words

• drift
• float