scent

American  

[sent] / sɛnt /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

scent Idioms  

1. see throw off, def. 3.

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Related Words

See odor.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of scent

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 Cf. sense

Explanation

A scent is a smell. Every house has a particular scent that is recognizable to people as belonging to that house. Scent comes from the Latin sentire meaning "to feel, perceive, sense." The word was originally used in reference to hunting dogs, who track down animals by their scent. If you "pick up a scent," then you have a clue about something. If you wear a perfume, then you leave your scent in the air as you pass. Use scent instead of smell if you want to talk about a distinctively nice odor, like the scent of fresh-cut grass.

Example Sentences

The UCR team has also explored another clever way to improve termite control: using scent to draw termites toward treated wood.

From Science Daily • May 9, 2026

Tayebeh Farahizadeh goes into the bedroom of her 7-year-old daughter, Esra, to be surrounded by Esra’s belongings, holding onto the dolls that she says still carry her daughter’s scent.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

But for me, this step is mostly about scent.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

A slightly sweet, oily scent, redolent of old workshops or antique paraffin lamps.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

In the distance, thick clouds, their undersides an angry shade of dark, are swallowing up the blue sky, and the breeze carries the humid scent of the coming rain.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

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