smell

/ˈsmel/

Middle English

verb

  1. to perceive the odor or scent of through stimuli affecting the olfactory nerves : get the odor or scent of with the nose

  2. to detect or become aware of as if by the sense of smell

  3. to emit the odor of

noun

  1. the property of a thing that affects the olfactory organs : odor

  2. the process, function, or power of smelling

  3. the sense concerned with the perception of odor

smell scent odor aroma mean the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense. smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character. scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.

phrasal verb

  1. to find (something) by smelling it

police dogs trained to smell out drugs