scent

A scent is an odor. (noun)

The smell of a perfume is an example ofscent.
The distinctive smell that a person has that a dog can track is an example of that person's scent.
Evidence that leads police to find a killer is an example of a scent that the police follow.

To scent is to make something smell a certain way or to determine something based on smell. (verb)

When you spray your pillow with lavender, this is an example of a situation where you scent your pillow.
When a dog finds drugs by using his nose, this is an example of a situation where a dog scents drugs.

See scent in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

intransitive verb

to hunt by the sense of smell

noun

Related Forms:

See scent in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(sĕnt)

noun

A distinctive, often agreeable odor. See Synonyms at fragrance, smell.
A perfume: an expensive French scent.
An odor left by the passing of an animal.
The trail of a hunted animal or fugitive.
The sense of smell: a bear's keen scent.
A hint of something imminent; a suggestion: caught the scent of a reconciliation.