Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.]
\Smell\, v. i. 1. To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or scent; -- often followed by of; as, to smell of smoke, or of musk. 2. To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to savor; as, a report smells of calumny. Praises in an enemy are superfluous, or smell of craft. --Milton. 3. To exercise the sense of smell. --Ex. xxx. 38. 4. To exercise sagacity. --Shak.
\Smell\, n. [OE. smel, smil, smul, smeol. See {Smell}, v. t.] (Physiol.) 1. The sense or faculty by which certain qualities of bodies are perceived through the instrumentally of the olfactory nerves. See {Sense}. 2. The quality of any thing or substance, or emanation therefrom, which affects the olfactory organs; odor; scent; fragrance; perfume; as, the smell of mint. Breathing the smell of field and grove. --Milton. That which, above all others, yields the sweetest smell in the air, is the violent. --Bacon. Syn: Scent; odor; perfume; fragrance.