The sense of smell, or olfaction, [nb 1] is the special sense through which smells (or odors) are perceived. [2] The sense of smell has many functions, including detecting desirable foods, hazards, …

smell, scent, odor, aroma mean the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense. smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character. scent applies to the …

SMELL definition: to perceive the odor or scent of through the nose by means of the olfactory nerves; inhale the odor of. See examples of smell used in a sentence.

Smell is one of the five senses. Dogs have a very good sense of smell. I woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs.

Oct 22, 2025 · olfactory system, the bodily structures that serve the sense of smell. The system consists of the nose and the nasal cavities, which in their upper parts support the olfactory mucous …

The smell of something is a quality it has which you become aware of when you breathe in through your nose.

Sep 14, 2017 · Your sense of smell relies on your nose’s recognition of tiny particles in the air called odorants. Odorant particles are released from their source for many different reasons.

These nouns denote a quality that can be perceived by the olfactory sense: the smell of smoke; the aroma of frying onions; hospital odors; the scent of pine needles.

smell (smel), v., smelled or smelt, smell•ing, n. v.t. to perceive the odor or scent of through the nose by means of the olfactory nerves; inhale the odor of: I smell something burning. to test by the sense of …

Definition of smell noun in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.