wisp
C1Literary, descriptive; occasionally used in general informal speech.
Definition
Meaning
A small, thin, and often delicate bundle, strand, or piece of something, typically loose.
A faint trace or hint of something intangible, like a memory or a thought; also, a small, thin person.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often associated with fragility, insubstantiality, and fleetingness. The word evokes a sense of something small, light, and easily scattered.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or spelling. Usage frequency is similar.
Connotations
None specific.
Frequency
Slightly more common in literary contexts in both varieties. No marked regional preference.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[a/ADJ] wisp of NOUNVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a wisp of a girl/boy (a very thin, delicate person)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Potentially metaphorical: 'a wisp of an idea' in brainstorming.
Academic
Rare, mainly in literary analysis or descriptive geography (e.g., describing fog).
Everyday
Used for describing smoke, hair, or thin clouds. 'A wisp of smoke came from the chimney.'
Technical
Possible in meteorology for describing certain cloud formations (cirrus).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The mist began to wisp away over the moor.
- Her hair wisped out from under her hat in the wind.
American English
- Smoke wisped from the campfire.
- The dry grass wisped across the barren field.
adverb
British English
- Not standard. Use 'wispily' (rare). 'The smoke rose wispily.'
American English
- Not standard. Use 'wispily' (rare). 'The fabric hung wispily from the line.'
adjective
British English
- He had a wispy beard. (derivative 'wispy' is common)
- She was a wisp of a thing, barely five feet tall. (noun used adjectivally)
American English
- Wispy clouds dotted the sky.
- The wisp-like trails of the rocket were visible at dawn. (noun-based compound)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She has a wisp of hair on her forehead.
- I saw a wisp of smoke from the house.
- A wisp of cloud drifted across the blue sky.
- He tried to remember, but only a wisp of the memory remained.
- The old letter contained just a wisp of information about our family history.
- Fog hung in wisps among the trees.
- The argument was based on nothing more than a wisp of conjecture and several unverified assumptions.
- Her wisp of a voice was almost carried away by the wind.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'whisper' of something solid – a wisp is like a visual whisper: small, light, and almost silent.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTANGIBLE IDEAS ARE WISPS (e.g., a wisp of a thought, a wisp of memory).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'пучок' or 'прядь' when referring to intangible things like memories. For those, use 'отголосок', 'проблеск'. For physical items, 'прядь волос', 'клочок дыма' are suitable.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'wisp' for large bundles (incorrect: 'a wisp of hay' for a large bale). Confusing with 'whisk'. Overusing in non-descriptive contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'a wisp of a smile', what does 'wisp' primarily convey?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's commonly used metaphorically for intangible things like thoughts, memories, or traces (e.g., a wisp of an idea).
Yes, though less common. It means to move or behave like a wisp (e.g., 'Smoke wisped from the chimney'). The adjective 'wispy' is more frequent.
A 'strand' is typically a single, thin length of material (like hair or wire), often part of a larger whole. A 'wisp' is a small, loose bundle or collection of such strands, and emphasizes insubstantiality.
It is neutral but leans towards literary or descriptive register. It's perfectly acceptable in everyday speech but is often chosen for its evocative quality.
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