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 characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.
The importance and sensitivity of smell varies among different organisms; most mammals have a good sense of smell, whereas most birds do not, except the tubenoses (e.g., petrels and albatrosses), certain species of new world vultures, and the kiwis.
SMELL definition: 1. to have a particular quality that others can notice with their noses: 2. to notice or discover…. Learn more.
If you smell something, you put your nose near it and breathe in, so that you can discover its smell. I took a fresh rose out of the vase on our table, and smelled it. [VERB noun]
Overview of smell, which is one of the five special senses involving the transduction of chemical stimuli into electrical signals. The sense of smell, known as olfaction, is a specialized sensory function allowing for the detection and interpretation of odors.
Define smell. smell synonyms, smell pronunciation, smell translation, English dictionary definition of smell. n. 1. a. The sense, located in the nasal cavities of mammals and relying on the olfactory nerves, by which molecules borne in a fluid such as air can be...
Phylogenetically, the chemical sense of smell is the oldest of all sensory modalities in terrestrial and aquatic organisms. For most non-human species in the wild, it is essential like other senses for survival because it aids nutrition, detection of environmental threats, and mating.
It is correct in US English, but rare. smell /smɛl/ v., smelled or smelt /smɛlt/ smell ing, n. v. no object] Because he had a bad head cold he could hardly smell. [not: be + ~-ing] to give off or have an odor: These flowers don't smell at all.