scent

[ sent ]

/ sɛnt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR scent ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a distinctive odor, especially when agreeable: the scent of roses.

an odor left in passing, by means of which an animal or person may be traced.

a track or trail as or as if indicated by such an odor: The dogs lost the scent and the prisoner escaped.

perfume.

the sense of smell: a remarkably keen scent.

small pieces of paper dropped by the hares in the game of hare and hounds.

verb (used with object)

to perceive or recognize by or as if by the sense of smell: to scent trouble.

to fill with an odor; perfume.

verb (used without object)

to hunt by the sense of smell, as a hound.

Nearby words

scenic, scenic railway, scenic reserve, scenographic, scenography, scent, scent gland, scent mark, scent-mark, scented, scented orchid

Origin of scent

1325–75; (v.) earlier sent, Middle English senten < Middle French sentir to smell < Latin sentīre to feel; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the v. Cf. sense

SYNONYMS FOR scent

1 See odor.

7 smell, sniff.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR scent ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

scent·less, adjectivescent·less·ness, nounnon·scent·ed, adjectiveout·scent, verb (used with object)

o·ver·scent·ed, adjectiveun·scent·ed, adjectivewell-scent·ed, adjective

Can be confusedcents scents sense

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for scent

Selling off the extras, I saw my neighbor marvel at the scent and murmur that he wished he could afford one.
A Million Ways to Die in Prison|Daniel Genis|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He even claims that hen partridges conceive just by smelling the scent of males.
Why Aristotle Deserves A Posthumous Nobel|Nick Romeo|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is not the boisterous version of Pacino, the one we saw as Tony Montana in Scarface or as Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman.
Al Pacino Does What He Wants to Do: 'The Humbling,' Scorsese, and That 'Scarface' Remake|Alex Suskind|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unless, of course, everything he told us is “a big farce” to lead challengers off the scent.
ESPN’s Bracket Champion Shares His March Madness Secrets|Ben Teitelbaum|March 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

His movie career began in movies like Scent of a Woman (1992).
Philip Seymour Hoffman: An Actor First|Tim Teeman|February 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The music, the lights, the haze of smoke and the scent of food were depressing.
Sally Bishop|E. Temple Thurston
He could scent the flower-like odour of her body and wrapping, even her hair.
The Harvester|Gene Stratton Porter
These Hounds hunt both by scent and by sight, their scenting-power being developed to a remarkable degree.
Sporting Dogs|Frank Townend Barton
He had risen out of his drug-created dreams, and was hot upon the scent of some new problem.
The Lock And Key Library|Various
They have the senses of sight, hearing, and scent prodigiously developed.
Travels in Tartary, Thibet, and China|Evariste Regis Huc

British Dictionary definitions for scent

scent

/ (sɛnt) /

noun

a distinctive smell, esp a pleasant one

a smell left in passing, by which a person or animal may be traced

a trail, clue, or guide

an instinctive ability for finding out or detecting

another word (esp Brit) for perfume

verb

(tr) to recognize or be aware of by or as if by the smell

(tr) to have a suspicion of; detectI scent foul play

(tr) to fill with odour or fragrance

(intr) (of hounds, etc) to hunt by the sense of smell

to smell (at)the dog scented the air

Derived Formsscented, adjectivescentless, adjectivescentlessness, noun

Word Origin for scent

C14: from Old French sentir to sense, from Latin sentīre to feel; see sense

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 scent (1 of 2)

scent

late 14c., sent "to find the scent of," from Old French sentir "to feel, smell, touch, taste; realize, perceive; make love to," from Latin sentire " to feel, perceive, sense, discern, hear, see" (see sense (n.)).

Originally a hunting term. The -c- appeared 17c., perhaps by influence of ascent, descent, etc., or by influence of science. This was a tendency in early Modern English, cf. scythe, and also scite, scituate. Figurative use from 1550s. Transitive sense "impregnate with an odor, perfume" is from 1690s. Related: Scented; scenting.

Word Origin and History for scent (1 of 2)

scent

late 14c., "scent, smell, what can be smelled" (as a means of pursuit by a hound), from scent (v.). Almost always applied to agreeable odors.

Idioms and Phrases with scent

scent

see throw off, def. 3.

scent

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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Nearby words

Origin of scent

Examples from the Web for scent

British Dictionary definitions for scent

scent

noun

verb

Word Origin for scent

Word Origin and History for scent (1 of 2)

scent

Word Origin and History for scent (1 of 2)

scent

Idioms and Phrases with scent

scent