smell
1. smell \'smel\ \'smeld\ \'smelt\ vb or smelled or smelt; or smell.ing [ME smellen; akin to MD smo:len to scorch, Russ smalit'] 1: to get the odor or scent of through stimuli affecting the olfactory ner ves 2: to detect or become aware of as if by the sense of smell 3: to emit the odor of 1: to exercise the sense of smell 2a1: to have an odor or scent 2a2: to have a characteristic aura or atmosphere : SUGGEST 2b1: to have an offensive odor : STINK 2b2: to appear evil, dishonest, or ugly : to have a suspicion of something wrong - smell.er n 2. smell n 1a: the process, function, or power of smelling 1b: the special sense concerned with the perception of odor 2: the property of a thing that affects the olfactory organs : ODOR 3: a pervading quality : AURA 4: an act or instance of smelling hat makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense. SMELL implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character; SCENT applies to the often delicate effluvium esp. from an animal source; ODOR implies a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or any smell; AROMA suggests a somewhat penetrating usu. pleasant odor SYN syn SMELL, SCENT, ODOR, AROMA mean the quality t
Webster's English Dictionary