olfaction
Americannoun
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the act of smelling.
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the sense of smell.
noun
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the sense of smell
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the act or function of smelling
Etymology
Origin of olfaction
1840–50; < Latin olfact ( us ) past participle of olfacere to smell ( see olfactory) + -ion
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.
"We know olfaction is powerfully wired into the brain's appetite and emotion networks, but surprisingly, no study has systematically looked at the three-way interaction between smell, appetite, and actual resistance exercise capacity," said Nashrudin Naharudin.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026
Instead, they appeared especially often in genes involved in immune function and olfaction, or the sense of smell.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
The latter response, Mormann noted, took place in a neuron of the amygdala, which is already known to contain semantic concept cells and to be involved in olfaction.
From Salon ● Feb. 15, 2025
Some research suggests that “olfactory training” — practicing to improve your olfaction, or sense of smell — can actually improve your cognitive abilities.
From Salon ● Jan. 5, 2025
The theories to explain olfaction are as numerous and complex as those for immunologic sensing.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
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