Smell meaning

What does “smell” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“smell” is a noun and verb with 10 meanings. Its most common meaning is: the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form.

smell

noun

the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
“she loved the smell of roses”
Synonymsodor odour olfactory sensation olfactory perception
any property detected by the olfactory system
Synonymsolfactory property aroma odor odour scent
the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people
“the feel of the city excited him”
“a clergyman improved the tone of the meeting”
Synonymsspirit tone feel feeling flavor flavour look
the faculty that enables us to distinguish scents
Synonymssense of smell olfaction olfactory modality
the act of perceiving the odor of something
Synonymssmelling

verb

inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense
emit an odor
“The soup smells good”
smell bad
“He rarely washes, and he smells”
have an element suggestive (of something)
“his speeches smacked of racism”
“this passage smells of plagiarism”
Synonymssmack reek
become aware of not through the senses but instinctively
“I sense his hostility”
“I smell trouble”
Synonymssmell out sense

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University

More about “smell”

✦Synonyms for smell✦Words that rhyme with smell✦Unscramble SMELL