13 results for: Smell Browse Nearby Entries
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
smell    Audio Help   [smel] Pronunciation Key verb, smelled or smelt, smell·ing, noun
–verb (used with object)
1.to perceive the odor or scent of through the nose by means of the olfactory nerves; inhale the odor of: I smell something burning.
2.to test by the sense of smell: She smelled the meat to see if it was fresh.
3.to perceive, detect, or discover by shrewdness or sagacity: The detective smelled foul play.
–verb (used without object)
4.to perceive something by its odor or scent.
5.to search or investigate (fol. by around or about).
6.to give off or have an odor or scent: Do the yellow roses smell?
7.to give out an offensive odor; stink.
8.to have a particular odor (fol. by of): My hands smell of fish.
9.to have a trace or suggestion (fol. by of).
10.Informal. to be of inferior quality; stink: The play is good, but the direction smells.
11.Informal. to have the appearance or a suggestion of guilt or corruption: They may be honest, but the whole situation smells.
–noun
12.the sense of smell; faculty of smelling.
13.the quality of a thing that is or may be smelled; odor; scent.
14.a trace or suggestion.
15.an act or instance of smelling.
16.a pervading appearance, character, quality, or influence: the smell of money.
17.smell out, to look for or detect as if by smelling; search out: to smell out enemy spies.
18.smell up, to fill with an offensive odor; stink up: The garbage smelled up the yard.
19.smell a rat. rat (def. 6).

[Origin: 1125–75; early ME smell, smull (n.), smellen, smullen (v.) < ?]

smell·a·ble, adjective
smell-less, adjective

13. See odor.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Smell

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© 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
smell    Audio Help   (směl)  Pronunciation Key 
v.   smelled or smelt (smělt), smell·ing, smells

v.   tr.
  1. To perceive the scent of (something) by means of the olfactory nerves.
  2. To sense the presence of by or as if by the olfactory nerves; detect or discover: We smelled trouble ahead. The committee tried to smell out corruption in law enforcement.

v.   intr.
  1. To use the sense of smell; perceive the scent of something.
  2. To have or emit an odor: "The breeze smelled exactly like Vouvray—flowery, with a hint of mothballs underneath" (Anne Tyler).
  3. To be suggestive; have a touch of something: a cave that smells of terror.
  4. To have or emit an unpleasant odor; stink: This closet smells.
  5. To appear to be dishonest; suggest evil or corruption.

n.  
  1. The sense by which odors are perceived; the olfactory sense.
  2. That quality of something that may be perceived by the olfactory sense.
  3. The act or an instance of smelling.
  4. A distinctive enveloping or characterizing quality; an aura or trace: the smell of success.


[Middle English smellen.]

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

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Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
smell  (v.)
c.1175, "emit or perceive an odor," also n., "odor, aroma, stench," not found in O.E., perhaps cognate with M.Du. smolen, Low Ger. smelen "to smolder" (see smolder). OED says "no doubt of O.E. origin, but not recorded, and not represented in any of the cognate languages." Ousted O.E. stenc (see stench) in most senses. Someone should revive smell-feast (n.) "one who scents out where free food is to be had" (1519, "very common" c.1540-1700, OED) and smell-smock "licentious man" (c.1550-1900). To smell a rat "be suspicious" is from 1550.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
smell

noun
1. the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form; "she loved the smell of roses" 
2. any property detected by the olfactory system [syn: olfactory property
3. 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"; "it had the smell of treason" [syn: spirit
4. the faculty that enables us to distinguish scents 
5. the act of perceiving the odor of something 

verb
1. inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense 
2. emit an odor; "The soup smells good" 
3. smell bad; "He rarely washes, and he smells" 
4. have an element suggestive (of something); "his speeches smacked of racism"; "this passage smells of plagiarism" [syn: smack
5. become aware of not through the senses but instinctively; "I sense his hostility"; "i smell trouble"; "smell out corruption" 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
smell1 [smel] noun
the sense or power of being aware of things through one's nose
Example: My sister never had a good sense of smell.
Arabic: حاسَّة الشَّم
Chinese (Simplified): 嗅觉
Chinese (Traditional): 嗅覺
Czech: čich
Danish: lugtesans
Dutch: reuk
Estonian: haistmine
Finnish: hajuaisti
French: odorat
German: der Geruchssinn
Greek: όσφρηση
Hungarian: szaglás
Icelandic: lyktarskyn
Indonesian: penciuman
Italian: odorato, olfatto
Japanese: 嗅覚
Korean: 후각
Latvian: oža
Lithuanian: uoslė
Norwegian: luktesans
Polish: węch
Portuguese (Brazil): olfato
Portuguese (Portugal): olfacto
Romanian: simţul miro­sului
Russian: обоняние
Slovak: čuch
Slovenian: voh
Spanish: olfato
Swedish: luktsinne
Turkish: koku alma duyusu
smell2 [smel] noun
the quality that is noticed by using this power
Example: a pleasant smell; There's a strong smell of gas.
Arabic: رائِحَه
Chinese (Simplified): 气味
Chinese (Traditional): 氣味
Czech: pach
Danish: duft; lugt
Dutch: geur
Estonian: lõhn, hais
Finnish: haju, tuoksu
French: odeur
German: der Geruch
Greek: οσμή, μυρωδιά
Hungarian: szag
Icelandic: lykt, þefur, ilmur, daunn
Indonesian: bau
Italian: odore
Japanese: におい
Korean: 냄새
Latvian: smarža; smaka
Lithuanian: kvapas
Norwegian: lukt, duft, —os
Polish: zapach
Portuguese (Brazil): cheiro
Portuguese (Portugal): cheiro
Romanian: miros
Russian: запах
Slovak: pach
Slovenian: vonj
Spanish: olor
Swedish: lukt
Turkish: koku
smell3 [smel] noun
an act of using this power
Example: Have a smell of this!
Arabic: الشَّم
Chinese (Simplified):
Chinese (Traditional):
Czech: přičichnutí
Danish: lugt
Dutch: het ruiken
Estonian: nuusutamine
Finnish: haistaa
French: reniflement
German: das Riechen
Greek: μύρισμα
Hungarian: szaglás
Icelandic: það að lykta, *þefa af e-u
Indonesian: pekerjaan membaui
Italian: annusata
Japanese: ひとかぎ
Korean: 냄새를 맡기
Latvian: Pasmaržo šo!
Lithuanian: uostymas
Norwegian: lukt
Polish: wąchanie
Portuguese (Brazil): cheirada
Portuguese (Portugal): cheiro
Romanian: aspirare pe nas
Russian: нюханье
Slovak: ovoňanie, nádych
Slovenian: duhanje
Spanish: olfateo, olfacción
Swedish: lukta
Turkish: koklama
smell1 [smelsmelt] verb
to notice by using one's nose
Example: I smell gas; I thought I smelt (something) burning.
Arabic: يَشُم
Chinese (Simplified):
Chinese (Traditional):
Czech: cítit, čichat
Danish: lugte
Dutch: ruiken
Estonian: lõhna tundma
Finnish: haistaa
French: sentir
German: riechen
Greek: μυρίζω, αντιλαμβάνομαι με την όσφρηση
Hungarian: érzi vminek a szagát
Icelandic: finna (e-a) lykt af
Indonesian: mencium bau
Italian: sentire
Japanese: かぎつける
Korean: …을 냄새맡다
Latvian: saost
Lithuanian: užuosti
Norwegian: lukte, være
Polish: czuć (nosem)
Portuguese (Brazil): cheirar
Portuguese (Portugal): cheirar
Romanian: a mirosi
Russian: чувствовать запах
Slovak: cítiť, čuchať
Slovenian: zavohati
Spanish: oler
Swedish: känna lukten av, vädra
Turkish: kokusunu almak
smell2 [smelsmelt] verb
to give off a smell
Example: The roses smelt beautiful; Her hands smelt of fish.
Arabic: يَبْعَثُ رائِحَةً
Chinese (Simplified): 散发出(味)
Chinese (Traditional): 散發出(味)
Czech: vonět; být cítit
Danish: dufte; lugte
Dutch: ruiken
Estonian: lõhnama, haisema
Finnish: haista, tuoksua
French: sentir
German: riechen
Greek: μυρίζω
Hungarian: vmilyen szagú
Icelandic: lykta, þefja, anga
Indonesian: berbau
Italian: odorare, sapere di*
Japanese: ~のにおいがする
Korean: 냄새를 풍기다
Latvian: smaržot
Lithuanian: kvepėti
Norwegian: lukte, dufte, stinke
Polish: pachnieć
Portuguese (Brazil): cheirar
Portuguese (Portugal): cheirar
Romanian: a mirosi
Russian: пахнуть
Slovak: voňať; byť cítiť
Slovenian: imeti duh
Spanish: oler
Swedish: lukta
Turkish: kokmak
smell3 [smelsmelt] verb
to examine by using the sense of smell
Example: Let me smell those flowers.
Arabic: يَفْحَص بواسِطَة الشَّم
Chinese (Simplified): 闻一闻
Chinese (Traditional): 聞一聞
Czech: přičichnout
Danish: dufte til; lugte til
Dutch: ruiken
Estonian: nuusutama
Finnish: haistaa
French: sentir
German: riechen an
Greek: μυρίζω
Hungarian: megszagol vmit
Icelandic: lykta, *þefa af
Indonesian: membaui
Italian: odorare, annusare
Japanese: かぐ
Korean: …의 냄새를 맡다
Latvian: pasmaržot
Lithuanian: (pa)uostyti
Norwegian: lukte på
Polish: wąchać
Portuguese (Brazil): cheirar
Portuguese (Portugal): cheirar
Romanian: a mirosi, a simţi
Russian: понюхать
Slovak: privoňať
Slovenian: poduhati
Spanish: oler, olfatear
Swedish: lukta på
Turkish: koklamak
See also: -smelling, smelly, smell out

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Smell

Rat\, n. [AS. r[ae]t; akin to D. rat, OHG. rato, ratta, G. ratte, ratze, OLG. ratta, LG. & Dan. rotte, Sw. r[*a]tta, F. rat, Ir. & Gael radan, Armor. raz, of unknown origin. Cf. Raccoon.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) One of the several species of small rodents of the genus Mus and allied genera, larger than mice, that infest houses, stores, and ships, especially the Norway, or brown, rat (M. Alexandrinus). These were introduced into Anerica from the Old World.

2. A round and tapering mass of hair, or similar material, used by women to support the puffs and rolls of their natural hair. [Local, U.S.]

3. One who deserts his party or associates; hence, in the trades, one who works for lower wages than those prescribed by a trades union. [Cant]

Note: "It so chanced that, not long after the accession of the house of Hanover, some of the brown, that is the German or Norway, rats, were first brought over to this country (in some timber as is said); and being much stronger than the black, or, till then, the common, rats, they in many places quite extirpated the latter. The word (both the noun and the verb to rat) was first, as we have seen, leveled at the converts to the government of George the First, but has by degrees obtained a wide meaning, and come to be applied to any sudden and mercenary change in politics." --Lord Mahon.

Bamboo rat (Zo["o]l.), any Indian rodent of the genus Rhizomys.

Beaver rat, Coast rat. (Zo["o]l.) See under Beaver and Coast.

Blind rat (Zo["o]l.), the mole rat.

Cotton rat (Zo["o]l.), a long-haired rat (Sigmodon hispidus), native of the Southern United States and Mexico. It makes its nest of cotton and is often injurious to the crop.

Ground rat. See Ground Pig, under Ground.

Hedgehog rat. See under Hedgehog.

Kangaroo rat (Zo["o]l.), the potoroo.

Norway rat (Zo["o]l.), the common brown rat. See Rat.

Pouched rat. (Zo["o]l.) (a) See Pocket Gopher, under Pocket. (b) Any African rodent of the genus Cricetomys.

Rat Indians (Ethnol.), a tribe of Indians dwelling near Fort Ukon, Alaska. They belong to Athabascan stock.

Rat mole. (Zo["o]l.) See Mole rat, under Mole.

Rat pit, an inclosed space into which rats are put to be killed by a dog for sport.

Rat snake (Zo["o]l.), a large colubrine snake (Ptyas mucosus) very common in India and Ceylon. It enters dwellings, and destroys rats, chickens, etc.

Spiny rat (Zo["o]l.), any South America rodent of the genus Echinomys.

To smell a rat. See under Smell.

Wood rat (Zo["o]l.), any American rat of the genus Neotoma, especially N. Floridana, common in the Southern United States. Its feet and belly are white.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Smell

Smell\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelled, Smelt; p. pr. & vb. n. Smelling.] [OE. smellen, smillen, smullen; cf. LG. smellen, smelen, sm["o]len, schmelen, to smoke, to reek, D. smeulen to smolder, and E. smolder. Cf. Smell, n.]

1. To perceive by the olfactory nerves, or organs of smell; to have a sensation of, excited through the nasal organs when affected by the appropriate materials or qualities; to obtain the scent of; as, to smell a rose; to smell perfumes.

2. To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to scent out; -- often with out. "I smell a device." --Shak.

Can you smell him out by that? --Shak.

3. To give heed to. [Obs.]

From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of God, and forsook the school doctors. --Latimer.

To smell a rat, to have a sense of something wrong, not clearly evident; to have reason for suspicion. [Colloq.]

To smell out, to find out by sagacity. [Colloq.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Smell

Smell\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelled, Smelt; p. pr. & vb. n. Smelling.] [OE. smellen, smillen, smullen; cf. LG. smellen, smelen, sm["o]len, schmelen, to smoke, to reek, D. smeulen to smolder, and E. smolder. Cf. Smell, n.]

1. To perceive by the olfactory nerves, or organs of smell; to have a sensation of, excited through the nasal organs when affected by the appropriate materials or qualities; to obtain the scent of; as, to smell a rose; to smell perfumes.

2. To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to scent out; -- often with out. "I smell a device." --Shak.

Can you smell him out by that? --Shak.

3. To give heed to. [Obs.]

From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of God, and forsook the school doctors. --Latimer.

To smell a rat, to have a sense of something wrong, not clearly evident; to have reason for suspicion. [Colloq.]

To smell out, to find out by sagacity. [Colloq.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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