- a variation of odor.
odour
Americannoun
noun
-
the property of a substance that gives it a characteristic scent or smell
-
a pervasive quality about something
an odour of dishonesty
-
repute or regard (in the phrases in good odour, in bad odour )
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of odour
C13: from Old French odur, from Latin odor; related to Latin olēre to smell, Greek ōzein
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The pungent smell of death emanates from the Caracas morgue, an odour that thousands of liters of donated chlorine cannot mask.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
"I had lots of symptoms, I was absolutely exhausted and could barely walk up stairs, my body odour changed and funny things like that," she said.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
The truck had been called out minutes earlier to a separate incident on board another plane which had "reported an issue with odour", according to Port Authority executive director Kathryn Garcia.
From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2026
As Nolso opens the door, a rancid odour escaped.
From Barron's ● Mar. 3, 2026
An odour of camphor and burnt vinegar warned me when I came near the fever room: and I passed its door quickly, fearful lest the nurse who sat up all night should hear me.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.