Smell Definition

smĕl

smelled, smelling, smells, smelt

noun

smells

That one of the five senses of the body by which a substance is perceived through the chemical stimulation of the olfactory nerves in the nasal cavity by particles given off by that substance.

Webster's New World

The characteristic stimulation of any specific substance upon the olfactory nerves; odor; scent.

Webster's New World

A similar sense in other animals, as insects' ability to perceive air-borne molecules with their antennae.

American Heritage Medicine

An act of smelling.

Webster's New World

That which suggests the presence or existence of something; trace; suggestion.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

smelled, smelling, smells, smelt

To be or become aware of by means of the nose and the olfactory nerves; detect the scent or odor of.

Webster's New World

To perceive or detect (something) by a chemosensory organ, such as an antenna.

American Heritage

To test by the scent or odor; sniff.

Smell the milk to tell if it's sour.

Webster's New World

To sense the presence or existence of.

To smell trouble.

Webster's New World

To inhale the air near (something); sniff.

Smiled as she smelled the rose.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

idiom

smell a rat

To suspect that something is wrong.

American Heritage

smell blood

To sense an opportunity for advantage at someone else's expense.

American Heritage

smell the roses

To spend time in leisurely enjoyment.

American Heritage

smell out

to look for or find by or as by smelling

Webster's New World

smell up

to cause to stink

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Smell

Noun

Singular:

smell

Plural:

smells

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Smell

Origin of Smell

From Middle English smellen, smillen, smyllen, smullen, from Old English *smyllan, *smiellan (“to smell, emit fumes"), from Proto-Germanic *smuljanÄ…, *smaljanÄ… (“to glow, burn, smoulder"), from Proto-Indo-European *smelÉ™- (“to burn, smoke, smoulder; tar, pitch"). The noun is from Middle English smel, smil, smul (“smell, odour"). Related to Middle Dutch smōlen (“to burn, smoulder") (whence Dutch smeulen (“to smoulder")), Middle Low German smölen (“to be hazy, be dusty") (whence German Low German smölen (“smoulder")), West Flemish smoel (“stuffy, muggy, hazy"), Danish smul (“dust, powder"), Lithuanian smilkyti (“to incense, fumigate"), Lithuanian smilkti (“to smudge, smolder, fume, reek"), Lithuanian smalkinti (“to fume"), Middle Irish smál, smól, smúal (“fire, gleed, embers, ashes"), Russian смола (smola, “resin, tar"). Compare smoulder, smother.

From Wiktionary
Middle English smel of unknown origin

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition