olfactory

American  

[ol-fak-tuh-ree, -tree, ohl-] / ɒlˈfæk tə ri, -tri, oʊl- /

adjective

1. of or relating to the sense of smell.

   olfactory organs.

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noun

PLURAL

olfactories

1. Usually olfactories. an olfactory organ.

2. olfactory nerve.

olfactory British  

/ -trɪ, ɒlˈfæktərɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to the sense of smell

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noun

1. (usually plural) an organ or nerve concerned with the sense of smell

olfactory Scientific  

/ ŏl-făk′tə-rē,ōl- /

1. Relating to or involving the organs or sense of smell.

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olfactory Cultural  

1. A descriptive term for the sense of smell.

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Other Word Forms

• nonolfactory adjective
• olfactorily adverb

Etymology

Origin of olfactory

1650–60; < Latin olfactōrius, equivalent to olfac ( ere ) to smell at, sniff ( ol ( ēre ) to smell (akin to odor ) + facere to make, do) + -tōrius -tory ¹

Example Sentences

Village dogs showed enriched wolf ancestry in olfactory receptor genes, which may support their need to locate human food waste.

From Science Daily

Or a vividly rendered metaphor of communion between these two characters, who seem to be somehow spiritually linked, via a sort of olfactory portal?

From Washington Post

Rather than acquiring anosmia through a virus or traumatic injury, I was likely born without fully formed olfactory bulbs—a condition known as congenital anosmia.

From Scientific American

Research in 2012 confirmed those unfortunate souls who find it soapy carry a particular olfactory receptor gene that makes it taste different to them.

From Salon

But de Erausquin noted the brain’s olfactory region is directly linked to areas critical for memory, and a loss of smell is sometimes an early sign of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• audiovisual
• auditory
• aural
• neural
• neurological
• sensual
• sonic
• tactile
• visual