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definitions

olfaction

[ol-fak-shuh n, ohl-]

noun

the act of smelling.
the sense of smell.

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What does something “musty” literally smell like? Why stinky words are more mysteriousThe common cholesterol drug Lipitor was recently subject to a recall due to reports from consumers about a “musty” odor associated with the bottles. We aren’t interested in the drug — this post concerns stink, stench, aroma. Smell may be the hardest sense to describe in words, which is why we are eager to take a whiff. The sense of smell is known as olfaction …
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Nearby words

  1. olericulture,
  2. olestra,
  3. olethreutid,
  4. oleum,
  5. oleyl alcohol,
  6. olfactometer,
  7. olfactometry,
  8. olfactory,
  9. olfactory anesthesia,
  10. olfactory bulb

Origin of olfaction

1840–50; < Latin olfact(us) past participle of olfacere to smell (see olfactory) + -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for olfaction

olfaction

noun

the sense of smell
the act or function of smelling
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
Word Origin and History for olfaction

olfaction

n.

noun of action from Latin olfactus, past participle of olfacere "to smell, get the smell of" (transitive), from olere "to emit a smell" (see odor) + facere "to make" (see factitious).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for olfaction

olfaction

[ŏl-făk′shən, ōl-]

n.

The sense of smell.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.