Smell

Definition

The term "smell" refers to the sense of perceiving odors through the nose or the characteristic scent of something.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /smɛl/
• Respelling: SMEL

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /smɛl/
• Respelling: SMEL

Etymology

The word "smell" comes from Middle English "smellen," which is of uncertain origin but likely related to Old Norse "smjǫr" (meaning grease, indicative of sensing). It is also associated with Low German "smellen," meaning "to emit a scent."

Derivatives

• Smelly (adjective)
• Smelling (noun/verb)
• Smellable (adjective)
• Resmell (verb)
• Over-smell (verb)

Synonyms

• Scent
• Aroma
• Odor

Antonyms

• Stench
• None
• None

Usage

The term "smell" is used in contexts relating to the sense of detecting scents, pleasant or unpleasant odors, and figurative descriptions of suspicion or intuition. For example, "The smell of flowers filled the air," or "I smell something suspicious."

Related Terms

• Odor: A distinct scent or smell.
• Fragrance: A pleasant or sweet smell.
• Aroma: A strong, typically pleasant scent.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• The sense by which odors are perceived:
  • Example: "Humans rely on their smell to detect food or danger."
• A particular odor or scent:
  • Example: "The smell of fresh bread is irresistible."
• An indication or suspicion of something:
  • Example: "I got a smell of trouble when I saw him arrive late."

Verb

• To perceive an odor through the sense of smell:
  • Example: "She smelled the flowers in the garden."
• To emit a particular scent:
  • Example: "The kitchen smells of spices and herbs."
• To detect or sense something intuitively:
  • Example: "He smelled danger as soon as he entered the room."