smell

American  

[smel] / smɛl /

verb (used with object)

smelled, smelt, smelling

1. to perceive the odor or scent of through the nose by means of the olfactory nerves; inhale the odor of.

   I smell something burning.

2. to test by the sense of smell.

   She smelled the meat to see if it was fresh.

3. to perceive, detect, or discover by shrewdness or sagacity.

   The detective smelled foul play.

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verb (used without object)

smelled, smelt, smelling

1. to perceive something by its odor or scent.

2. to search or investigate (followed by around orabout ).

3. to give off or have an odor or scent.

   Do the yellow roses smell?

4. to give out an offensive odor; stink.

5. to have a particular odor (followed byof ).

   My hands smell of fish.

6. to have a trace or suggestion (followed byof ).

7. Informal.  to be of inferior quality; stink.

   The play is good, but the direction smells.

8. Informal.  to have the appearance or a suggestion of guilt or corruption.

   They may be honest, but the whole situation smells.

noun

1. the sense of smell; faculty of smelling.

2. the quality of a thing that is or may be smelled; odor; scent.

3. a trace or suggestion.

4. an act or instance of smelling.

5. a pervading appearance, character, quality, or influence.

   the smell of money.

verb phrase

1. smell out  to look for or detect as if by smelling; search out.

   to smell out enemy spies.

2. smell up  to fill with an offensive odor; stink up.

   The garbage smelled up the yard.

idioms

1. smell a rat.  rat.

smell British  

/ smɛl /

verb

1. (tr) to perceive the scent or odour of (a substance) by means of the olfactory nerves

2. (copula) to have a specified smell; appear to the sense of smell to be

   the beaches smell of seaweed

   some tobacco smells very sweet

3. to emit an odour (of)

   the park smells of flowers

4. (intr) to emit an unpleasant odour; stink

5. to detect through shrewdness or instinct

6. (intr) to have or use the sense of smell; sniff

7. to give indications (of)

   he smells of money

8. (intr; foll by around, about, etc) to search, investigate, or pry

9. (copula) to be or seem to be untrustworthy or corrupt

10. to detect something suspicious

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noun

1. that sense (olfaction) by which scents or odours are perceived

2. anything detected by the sense of smell; odour; scent

3. a trace or indication

4. the act or an instance of smelling

smell More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing smell

• come up (smelling like) roses
• stink (smell) to high heaven

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Related Words

See odor.

Other Word Forms

• outsmell verb (used with object)
• smell-less adjective
• smellable adjective
• smeller noun
• unsmelled adjective
• unsmelling adjective

Etymology

Origin of smell

First recorded in 1125–75; early Middle English smell, smull (noun), smellen, smullen (verb); origin uncertain.

Example Sentences

“I mean it doesn’t smell like a hospital anymore.”

From Salon

He noted that one idea about why animals might seek out ethanol is that its smell helps them locate foods that are richer in sugar and thus provide more energy.

From Science Daily

The smell of fresh leather goods pervades the air.

From BBC

The smell of fields being burned in preparation for the next crop cycle filtered in and I’d lie cocooned in itchy blankets.

From The Wall Street Journal

The smell of roasted almonds, caramelised apples, chocolate-coated fruit, mulled wine and grilled sausages fills the air, as Christmas carols are performed live on a stage and children enjoy a small, sparkling Ferris wheel.

From BBC

Related Words

• aroma
• bouquet
• flavor
• perfume
• scent
• stench
• stink
• trace
• whiff