sneeze

 
Pronunciation: /sniːz/

verb

[no object]
  • make a sudden involuntary expulsion of air from the nose and mouth due to irritation of one’s nostrils: the smoke made her sneeze

noun

  • an act or the sound of sneezing: he stopped a sudden sneeze

Phrases

not to be sneezed at

informal not to be rejected without careful consideration; worth having or taking into account: a saving of £550 was not to be sneezed at

Derivatives

sneezer

noun

sneezy

adjective (sneezier, sneeziest)

Origin:

Middle English: apparently an alteration of Middle English fnese due to misreading or misprinting (after initial fn- had become unfamiliar), later adopted because it sounded appropriate