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  • a variation of odor.
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odour

American  
[oh-der] / ˈoʊ dər /

noun

Chiefly British.
  1. a variant of odor.


odour British  
/ ˈəʊdə /

noun

  1. the property of a substance that gives it a characteristic scent or smell

  2. a pervasive quality about something

    an odour of dishonesty

  3. repute or regard (in the phrases in good odour, in bad odour )

"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

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.

See Examples For:

Parents and teachers have told reporters of slimy chicken, as well as food that appeared undercooked and had a fishy odour.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

The truck had been called 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

As they probed the earth, they smelt the dirt, looking for the distinctive odour of human remains.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026

The refectory was a great, low-ceiled, gloomy room; on two long tables smoked basins of something hot, which, however, to my dismay, sent forth an odour far from inviting.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

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