scent

[sent]

noun

1. a distinctive odor, especially when agreeable.

   the scent of roses.

2. an odor left in passing, by means of which an animal or person may be traced.

3. a track or trail as or as if indicated by such an odor.

   The dogs lost the scent and the prisoner escaped.

4. perfume.

5. the sense of smell.

   a remarkably keen scent.

6. small pieces of paper dropped by the hares in the game of hare and hounds.

verb (used with object)

1. to perceive or recognize by or as if by the sense of smell.

   to scent trouble.

   Synonyms: sniff, smell

2. to fill with an odor; perfume.

verb (used without object)

1. to hunt by the sense of smell, as a hound.

scent

/ sɛnt /

noun

1. a distinctive smell, esp a pleasant one

2. a smell left in passing, by which a person or animal may be traced

3. a trail, clue, or guide

4. an instinctive ability for finding out or detecting

5. another word (esp Brit) for perfume

verb

1. (tr) to recognize or be aware of by or as if by the smell

2. (tr) to have a suspicion of; detect

   I scent foul play

3. (tr) to fill with odour or fragrance

4. (intr) (of hounds, etc) to hunt by the sense of smell

5. to smell (at)

   the dog scented the air

Other Word Forms

• scentlessness noun
• scentless adjective
• scented adjective
• nonscented adjective
• outscent verb (used with object)
• overscented adjective
• unscented adjective
• well-scented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scent¹

First recorded in 1325–75; (verb) earlier sent, Middle English senten, from Middle French sentir “to smell,” from Latin sentīre, “to feel”; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb sense

Word History and Origins

Origin of scent¹

C14: from Old French sentir to sense, from Latin sentīre to feel; see _sense

Idioms and Phrases

see throw off, def. 3.

Synonym Study

See odor.

Example Sentences

The scent of trees and soil is full of organic compounds released by plants and "when you breathe them in, some molecules pass into the bloodstream."

Read more on BBC

“Personally, I’m skipping the Strawberry Frosted pits,” Altman said, referring to one of the deodorant scents from the Native collection.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Coty in August said it was making a big push into fragrance mists, which are lighter than traditional perfumes and gaining popularity as consumers layer scents and look for lower-priced treats.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But on occasion, as the wind died down, a light scent of rubber made its way through the air.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Visitors will encounter pollinator gardens alive with butterflies and hummingbirds, color-themed landscapes, and cascading water features, all designed to reflect the beauty of Southern California’s environment with scents of rosemary, jasmine and chaparral.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aura 
• bouquet 
• essence 
• odor 
• perfume 
• spice 
• whiff