scent

[sent]

noun

1. a distinctive odor, especially when agreeable.

   the scent of roses.

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

3. a track or trail as or as if indicated by such an odor.

   The dogs lost the scent and the prisoner escaped.

4. perfume.

5. the sense of smell.

   a remarkably keen scent.

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

verb (used with object)

1. to perceive or recognize by or as if by the sense of smell.

   to scent trouble.

   Synonyms: sniff, smell

2. to fill with an odor; perfume.

verb (used without object)

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

scent

/ sɛnt /

noun

1. a distinctive smell, esp a pleasant one

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

3. a trail, clue, or guide

4. an instinctive ability for finding out or detecting

5. another word (esp Brit) for perfume

verb

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

2. (tr) to have a suspicion of; detect

   I scent foul play

3. (tr) to fill with odour or fragrance

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

5. to smell (at)

   the dog scented the air

Other Word Forms

• scentless adjective
• scentlessness noun
• nonscented adjective
• outscent verb (used with object)
• overscented adjective
• unscented adjective
• well-scented adjective
• scented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scent¹

First recorded in 1325–75; (verb) earlier sent, Middle English senten, from Middle French sentir “to smell,” from Latin sentīre, “to feel”; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb sense

Word History and Origins

Origin of scent¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see throw off, def. 3.

Synonym Study

See odor.

Example Sentences

The moves in the long-term government bonds are a warning sign of bond sharks scenting some blood in the water.

From BBC

The fat hissed in greeting, and within seconds the kitchen was filled with oregano’s scent.

From Salon

It’s an idea even built into the fence design, where passersby often step off the public sidewalk out of the “flow,” to chat or just savor the yard’s many colors and scents.

From Los Angeles Times

With Harrison kicking superbly off the floor, the scoreboard ticked to 28-7 by the break and any scent of an upset had disappeared.

From BBC

But perhaps more than the scent or the shape or the function of the wood is what keeps Greene going: the chance to build something lasting.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aura 
• bouquet 
• essence 
• odor 
• perfume 
• spice 
• whiff