noun
wisp
wihsp
noun
1
A thin, light streak or strand of something, such as smoke, hair, or cloud.
"A wisp of smoke rose from the chimney."
"A wisp of hair fell across her face."
2
A small, loosely twisted bundle of straw or similar material.
"He used a wisp of hay to wipe down the horse."
How to Use Wisp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA thin, delicate strand or streak of something.
Common pairings
a wisp of smoke
a wisp of hair
a wisp of cloud
Word Forms
wisped past tense, wisps plural, wisps singular
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A _____ of smoke rose from the chimney.
Etymology
From Middle English wispe, of uncertain deeper origin, related to old West Germanic words for a bundle of straw or grass.