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smell

(smĕl)

a. The sense, located in the nasal cavities of mammals and relying on the olfactory nerves, by which molecules borne in a fluid such as air can be perceived; the olfactory sense.

b. A similar sense in other animals, as insects' ability to perceive air-borne molecules with their antennae.

2. The act or an instance of smelling: got a smell of the pie.

a. A quality of something that is perceived by the sense of smell; an odor: the smell of a barn.

b. A distinctive enveloping or characterizing quality; an aura or trace: the smell of success.

v. smelled or smelt (smĕlt), smell·ing, smells

v.tr.

a. To perceive (an odor) by the sense of smell.

b. To perceive or detect (something) by a chemosensory organ, such as an antenna.

2. To inhale the air near (something); sniff: smiled as she smelled the rose.

3. To detect or discover, as by intuition or inference: We smelled trouble ahead. The committee tried to smell out corruption in law enforcement.

v.intr.

1. To use the sense of smell.

2. To sniff: The dog was smelling around the bed.

a. To have or emit an odor: "The breeze smelled exactly like Vouvray—flowery, with a hint of mothballs underneath" (Anne Tyler).

b. To have or emit an unpleasant odor; stink: This closet smells.

a. To be suggestive; have a touch of something: a remark that smells of sanctimony.

b. To appear to be dishonest or corrupt: The political situation is starting to smell.

Idioms:

smell a rat Slang

To suspect that something is wrong.

smell blood

To sense an opportunity for advantage at someone else's expense.

smell the roses

To spend time in leisurely enjoyment.

[Middle English smel, of unknown origin.]

Synonyms: smell, aroma, odor, scent
These nouns denote a quality that can be perceived by the olfactory sense: the smell of smoke; the aroma of frying onions; hospital odors; the scent of pine needles.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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