[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/wisp/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [W](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/w/) / wisp

# wisp

noun (a wisp, wisps); adjective wispy (wispy, wispier, wispiest)

«wisp» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A wisp is a thin, light piece or strand of something: a wisp of hair, a wisp of grass. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wisp/#m1)
2. A wisp of smoke, cloud or steam is a thin line or small amount drifting in the air. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wisp/#m2)
3. (informal) A wisp of a person is a small, thin person. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wisp/#m3)
4. A will-o'-the-wisp is a strange, faint light that floats over marshes at night and is said to lead travellers astray. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wisp/#m4)

### In the lessons

In stories and descriptions, wisps of smoke curl from chimneys, wisps of cloud float in the sky, wisps of hair blow in the wind; it gives a soft, light picture. In science, wispy clouds high in the sky are called cirrus. Phrases: a wisp of smoke, a wisp of hair, wispy clouds.

### Examples

- A wisp of smoke rose from the candle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wisp/#x1)
- She pushed a wisp of hair out of her eyes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wisp/#x2)
- Wispy clouds floated high in the blue sky. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wisp/#x3)
- Only a wisp of steam came from the cup. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wisp/#x4)
- The old man had a few wispy white hairs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wisp/#x5)
- The bird carried a wisp of straw to its nest. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wisp/#x6)

### Note

Plural: wisps. Adjective: wispy. Similar: strand, thread, puff. A «will-o'-the-wisp» is a strange light seen over marshes in old stories — and something you can never catch.

## In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: In the Sefer Yetzirah translation, "wisp" is offered as a way to render ruach, the Hebrew word meaning wind, spirit and breath, which the book treats as the first stage of creation. In the primary lessons: In stories and descriptions, wisps of smoke curl from chimneys, wisps of cloud float in the sky, wisps of hair blow in the wind; it gives a soft, light picture. In science, wispy clouds high in the sky are called cirrus. Phrases: a wisp of smoke, a wisp of hair, wispy clouds.

### Examples

- Perhaps capturing an intermediary concept between the immaterial divine imminence and the material wind is ‘wisp’, meaning both a small breeze and a phantom presence, but ‘Holy Wisp’ is a rather underwhelming expression. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/wisp/#x1)

### Note

Plural: wisps. Adjective: wispy. Similar: strand, thread, puff. A «will-o'-the-wisp» is a strange light seen over marshes in old stories — and something you can never catch.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «wisp» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wisp/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«wisp» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wisp.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «wisp» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/wisp/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«wisp» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/wisp.html) on Mova free.