odor

[ oh-der ]

/ ˈoʊ dər /

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See synonyms for: odor / odorless on Thesaurus.com

noun

the property of a substance that activates the sense of smell: to have an unpleasant odor.

a sensation perceived by the sense of smell; scent.

an agreeable scent; fragrance.

a disagreeable smell.

a quality or property characteristic or suggestive of something: An odor of suspicion surrounded his testimony.

repute: in bad odor with the whole community.

Archaic. something that has a pleasant scent.

OTHER WORDS FOR odor

3 aroma, redolence, perfume.

See synonyms for odor on Thesaurus.com

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Also especially British, o·dour .

Origin of odor

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin

synonym study for odor

3. Odor, smell, scent, stench all refer to sensations perceived through the nose by the olfactory nerves. Odor and smell in literal contexts are often interchangeable. Figuratively, odor also usually occurs in positive contexts: the odor of sanctity. Smell is the most general and neutral of these two terms, deriving connotation generally from the context in which it is used: the tempting smell of fresh-baked bread; the rank smell of rotting vegetation. In figurative contexts smell may be either positive or negative: the sweet smell of success; a strong smell of duplicity pervading the affair. Scent refers either to delicate and pleasing aromas or to faint, barely perceptible smells: the scent of lilacs on the soft spring breeze; deer alarmed by the scent of man. Stench is strongly negative, referring both literally and figuratively to what is foul, sickening, or repulsive: the stench of rotting flesh; steeped in the stench of iniquity and treason.

OTHER WORDS FROM odor

o·dor·ful, adjectiveo·dor·less, adjective

How to use odor in a sentence

Known as parosmia, the often temporary odor distortion makes things smell different, and usually unpleasant, said Richard Doty, director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Smell and Taste Center.
When coffee smells like gasoline: Covid isn’t just stealing senses — it may be warping them|Allyson Chiu|November 5, 2020|Washington Post
Also crucial, they have the brand’s proprietary SweatMax technology to eliminate odor.
Gift Guide: What you need to work(out) from home|Rachel King|November 2, 2020|Fortune
The first layer of odor processing involves olfactory sensory neurons, each of which expresses only one of about 50 types of odor receptors.
Deep Neural Networks Help to Explain Living Brains|Anil Ananthaswamy|October 28, 2020|Quanta Magazine
They have this really dedicated instrument, their nose, the very outside of their nose is actually designed to catch a lot of odor molecules.
Forget Everything You Know About Your Dog (Ep. 436)|Stephen J. Dubner|October 22, 2020|Freakonomics

After this, the air is going through an activated carbon filter, which removes odors and smoke.
Home and office products that make sure-fire gifts|PopSci Commerce Team|October 8, 2020|Popular-Science
And honestly, sitting downwind of the dogs, I'd realized my theory of the odorless wintertime Arctic didn't always hold.
Visiting the Arctic Circle…Before It’s Irreversibly Changed|Terry Greene Sterling|April 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
First, they apply a small spot of odorless dye on the animal.
How to Learn Self-Control|Jamie Holmes|August 28, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The men doing the sniffing were not told what was in the vial, and reported that the liquid was odorless.
Why Women's Tears Turn Off Men|Casey Schwartz|January 6, 2011|DAILY BEAST
It is used for concrete forms, sheathing, studding and for dairy containers and packages that must be odorless and tasteless.
The Marvelous Exploits of Paul Bunyan|W. B. Laughead
As a metal it surpasses copper, brass, and tin in being tasteless and odorless, besides being stronger than either.
Scientific American Supplement, Vol. XXI., No. 531, March 6, 1886|Various
Sometimes I think they should invent a brass polish that is odorless.
Under the Law|Edwina Stanton Babcock
This is a very effectual poison, because it is both tasteless and odorless.
Burroughs' Encyclopaedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information, 1889|Barkham Burroughs
The gas is extremely poisonous, and all the more dangerous because it is odorless, colorless and tasteless.
Gas-Engines and Producer-Gas Plants|R. E. Mathot

British Dictionary definitions for odor

odor

/ (ˈəʊdə) /

noun

the US spelling of odour

Derived forms of odor

odorless, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

odor

OTHER WORDS FOR odor

Origin of odor

synonym study for odor

OTHER WORDS FROM odor

Words related to odor

How to use odor in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for odor

Derived forms of odor