wisp
Americannoun
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a handful or small bundle of straw, hay, or the like.
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any thin tuft, lock, mass, etc..
wisps of hair.
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a thin puff or streak, as of smoke; slender trace.
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a person or thing that is small, delicate, or barely discernible.
a mere wisp of a lad; a wisp of a frown.
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a whisk broom.
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Chiefly British Dialect.
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a pad or twist of straw, as used to rub down a horse.
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a twisted bit of straw used as a torch.
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a will-o'-the-wisp or ignis fatuus.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a thin, light, delicate, or fibrous piece or strand, such as a streak of smoke or a lock of hair
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a small bundle, as of hay or straw
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anything slender and delicate
a wisp of a girl
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a mere suggestion or hint
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a flock of birds, esp snipe
verb
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to move or act like a wisp
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dialect (tr) to twist into a wisp
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(tr) to groom (a horse) with a wisp of straw, etc
acronym
Other Word Forms
- wisplike adjective
Etymology
Origin of wisp
1300–50; Middle English wisp, wips; akin to wipe
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Street said she never felt a wisp of fear.
From Los Angeles Times
Curly wisps of hair were coming out of her French braids from all the running.
From Literature
It took a few tries, but I was finally able to conjure up my own wisp of smoke.
From Literature
Lady Gaga embraced her "Mayhem" era, rocking a high-necked sleeveless black feather gown from Matieres Fecales that trailed behind her in wisps of tulle.
From Barron's
This tiny wisp of a girl is fiercely strong.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
