wisp

Everyday

1. A wisp is a thin, light piece or strand of something: a wisp of hair, a wisp of grass. tree →
2. A wisp of smoke, cloud or steam is a thin line or small amount drifting in the air. tree →
3. (informal) A wisp of a person is a small, thin person. tree →
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 →

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 →
• She pushed a wisp of hair out of her eyes. tree →
• Wispy clouds floated high in the blue sky. tree →
• Only a wisp of steam came from the cup. tree →
• The old man had a few wispy white hairs. tree →
• The bird carried a wisp of straw to its nest. tree →

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 →

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.