Smell
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /smɛl/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Smell is a noun meaning (physiology) The sense that detects odours.
Meaning
(physiology) The sense that detects odours.
More Meanings
- A conclusion or intuition that a situation is wrong, more complex than it seems, or otherwise inappropriate.
- (transitive) To sense a smell or smells.
- (intransitive, copulative) Followed by like or of if descriptive: to have a particular smell, whether good or bad.
- A sensation, pleasant or unpleasant, detected by inhaling air (or, the case of water-breathing animals, water) carrying airborne molecules of a substance.
- (obsolete) To give heed to.
Example Sentences
The roses smell lovely.
I can smell fresh bread.
Her feet smell of cheese.
I love the smell of fresh bread.
Word Forms
- smells
- smelling
- smelled
- smelt
Synonyms for smell
Depending on context, synonyms include aroma, fragrance, odor, odour, scent, niff.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include olfaction, scent, odor, aroma, odour, flavor.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.