Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense smells, present participle smelling, past tense, past participle smelled, past tense, past participle smeltlanguage note: American English usually uses the form smelled as the past tense and past participle. British English uses either smelled or smelt.
1. countable noun
The smell of something is a quality it has which you become aware of when you breathe in through your nose.
...the smell of freshly baked bread. [+ of]
...horrible smells.
What is your favourite smell?
Synonyms: odour, scent, fragrance, perfume More Synonyms of smell
2. uncountable noun
Your sense of smell is the ability that your nose has to detect things.
...people who lose their sense of smell.
3. link verb
If something smells in a particular way, it has a quality which you become aware of through your nose.
The room smelled of lemons. [VERB + of]
It smells delicious. [VERB adjective]
...a crumbly black substance that smells like fresh soil. [V + like]
[Also V as if]
Synonyms: reek, stink, have the fragrance of, whiff More Synonyms of smell
4. verb
If you say that something smells, you mean that it smells unpleasant.
Ma threw that out. She said it smelled. [VERB]
Do my feet smell? [VERB]
Synonyms: stink, reek, pong [British, informal], hum [slang] More Synonyms of smell
5. verb
If you smell something, you become aware of it when you breathe in through your nose.
As soon as we opened the front door we could smell the gas. [VERB noun]
6. verb
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]
7. verb
If you smell something, you feel that it is likely to happen or be true.
He knew virtually nothing about music but he could smell a hit. [VERB noun]
8. to smell a rat
More Synonyms of smell
smell in British English
(smɛl)
verbWord forms: smells, smelling, smelt or smelled
1. (transitive)
to perceive the scent or odour of (a substance) by means of the olfactory nerves
2. (copula)
to have a specified smell; appear to the sense of smell to be
the beaches smell of seaweed
some tobacco smells very sweet
3. (intransitive; often foll byof)
to emit an odour (of)
the park smells of flowers
4. (intransitive)
to emit an unpleasant odour; stink
5. (transitive; often foll byout)
to detect through shrewdness or instinct
6. (intransitive)
to have or use the sense of smell; sniff
7. (intransitive; foll byof)
to give indications (of)
he smells of money
8. (intr; foll by around, about, etc)
to search, investigate, or pry
9. (copula)
to be or seem to be untrustworthy or corrupt
10. smell a rat
noun
11.
that sense (olfaction) by which scents or odours are perceived
▶ Related adjective: olfactory
12.
anything detected by the sense of smell; odour; scent
13.
a trace or indication
14.
the act or an instance of smelling
Derived forms
smeller (ˈsmeller)
noun
Word origin
C12: of uncertain origin; compare Middle Dutch smölen to scorch
smell in American English
(smɛl)
verb transitiveWord forms: smelled or British smelt, ˈsmelling
1.
to be or become aware of by means of the nose and the olfactory nerves; detect thescent or odor of
2.
to sense the presence or existence of
to smell trouble
3.
to test by the scent or odor; sniff
smell the milk to tell if it's sour
verb intransitive
4.
to use the sense of smell; sniff
often with at or of
5.
a.
to have or emit a scent or odor
flowers that do not smell
b.
to have or emit an unpleasant odor; stink
6.
to have the odor or a suggestion (of)
breath that smells of garlic
7. Informal
a.
to lack ability, worth, etc.; be of poor quality
b.
to be foul, corrupt, mean, etc.
noun
8.
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
9.
the characteristic stimulation of any specific substance upon the olfactory nerves; odor; scent
10.
an act of smelling
11.
that which suggests the presence or existence of something; trace; suggestion
Idioms:
smell out
smell up
SYNONYMY NOTE: smell is the most general word for any quality perceived through the olfactory sense [foul and fresh smells]; scent refers to the emanation from the thing smelled, often implying that it can be discriminatedonly by a sensitive sense of smell [the scent of a hunted animal]; odor suggests a heavier emanation and, therefore, one that is more generally perceptibleand more clearly recognizable [chemical odors]; aroma suggests a pervasive, pleasant, often spicy odor [the aroma of fine tobacco]
Derived forms
smeller (ˈsmeller)
noun
Word origin
ME smellen < OE *smyllan < IE base *smel-, to burn slowly > smolder: basic sense “to give off smoke”
More idioms containing
smell
wake up and smell the coffee
smell a rat
COBUILD Collocations
smell
distinctive smell
faint smell
pungent smell
Examples of 'smell' in a sentence
smell
You know when you buy something and it has a distinctive smell about it?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They detected a rotting smell and pulled up floorboards.
The Sun (2011)
Dogs have a far superior sense of smell.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The man who made it smell like one.
The Sun (2013)
When did we begin to think that clean should smell of anything at all?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
So why do so many people wish to smell of her?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They smell horrible and will have potential buyers running for the door.
The Sun (2014)
You could practically smell the coffee roasting.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You can almost smell the panic and desperation.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Why do the lavatories always smell unpleasant?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You might well be able to smell something you cannot see or hear.
Christopher Ross TUNNEL VISIONS: Journeys of an Underground Philosopher (2001)
Your tub will sparkle and smell delicious.
The Sun (2016)
You can almost smell which particular plant it was pressed at.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They will smell her smells and could become unsettled and upset.
Standen, Chris Superdog! Action plans that work for a happy and well-behaved pet (1990)
The steam will loosen the dirt and the lemon will make the microwave smell fresh.
The Sun (2007)
Do they spit venom or emit noxious smells?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
When his wife came into the room she smelt round for an instant.
Jerome K. Jerome Three Men in a Boat (1889)
Traders heard about it and smelled weakness.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Both have lost their sense of smell and say this stops them enjoying their food.
The Sun (2009)
One man said he had a smell like petrol in his nose for weeks.
Trickett, Shirley Coming Off Tranquillizers and Sleeping Pills (1991)
Unlike when we discern images of sounds, we basically detect smell by forming a memory of that smell.
Christianity Today (2000)
In other languages
smell
British English: smell /smɛl/ NOUN
You become aware of the smell of something through your nose.
...the smell of freshly baked bread.
American English: smell
Arabic: رَائِحَة
Brazilian Portuguese: cheiro
Chinese: 气味
Croatian: miris
Czech: pach
Danish: lugt
Dutch: geur
European Spanish: olor
Finnish: haju
French: odeur
German: Geruch
Greek: μυρωδιά
Italian: odore
Japanese: におい
Korean: 냄새
Norwegian: lukt
Polish: zapach
European Portuguese: cheiro
Romanian: miros
Russian: обоняние
Latin American Spanish: olor
Swedish: lukt
Thai: กลิ่น
Turkish: koku
Ukrainian: запах
Vietnamese: mùi ngửi thấy
British English: smell /smɛl/ VERB
odour If you smell something, you become aware of it through your nose.
As soon as we opened the door we could smell the gas.
American English: smell
Arabic: يَشَمُّ
Brazilian Portuguese: cheirar
Chinese: 闻
Croatian: pomirisati
Czech: čichat
Danish: lugte
Dutch: ruiken
European Spanish: olfatear
Finnish: haistaa
French: sentir odeur
German: riechen
Greek: μυρίζω
Italian: odorare
Japanese: においを嗅ぐ
Korean: ...의 냄새가 나다
Norwegian: lukte
Polish: poczuć zapach
European Portuguese: cheirar
Romanian: a mirosi
Russian: обонять
Latin American Spanish: olfatear
Swedish: lukta
Thai: ได้กลิ่น
Turkish: koklamak
Ukrainian: відчувати запах
Vietnamese: ngửi
British English: smell /smɛl/ VERB
odour If something smells of a particular thing, you become aware of this through your nose.
The room smelled of lemons.
American English: smell
Arabic: فَاحَتْ مِنْهُ رَائِحَةُ...
Brazilian Portuguese: cheirar
Chinese: 闻
Croatian: mirisati
Czech: zapáchat
Danish: lugte
Dutch: ruiken
European Spanish: oler
Finnish: haista
French: sentir odeur
German: stinken
Greek: μυρίζω
Italian: puzzare
Japanese: においがする
Korean: 냄새를 맡다
Norwegian: lukte
Polish: pachnieć
European Portuguese: cheirar
Romanian: a avea un miros
Russian: пахнуть
Latin American Spanish: oler
Swedish: lukta
Thai: มีกลิ่น
Turkish: kokmak
Ukrainian: пахнути
Vietnamese: có mùi
All related terms of 'smell'
smell out
to look for or find by or as by smelling
smell up
to fill with a bad odor; cause to stink
faint smell
The smell of something is a quality it has which you become aware of when you breathe in through your nose .
pungent smell
The smell of something is a quality it has which you become aware of when you breathe in through your nose .
smell a rat
to suspect that something is wrong in a particular situation, for example that someone is trying to deceive you or harm you
distinctive smell
The smell of something is a quality it has which you become aware of when you breathe in through your nose .
to smell a rat
If you smell a rat , you begin to suspect or realize that something is wrong in a particular situation , for example that someone is trying to deceive you or harm you.
wake up and smell the coffee
said when you are telling someone to be more realistic and more aware of what is happening around them
Chinese translation of 'smell'
smell
(smɛl)
Word forms:ptppsmelledsmelt
n
(c) (= aroma, odour) 气(氣)味 (qìwèi) (种(種), zhǒng)
(u) (= sense) 嗅觉(覺) (xiùjué)
vt
(= notice the smell of) 闻(聞)到 (wéndào)
(= sniff) 嗅 (xiù)
(= have instinct for) 察觉(覺) (chájué)
vi
(= have unpleasant odour) 发(發)臭 (fā chòu)
to smell nice/delicious/spicy etc闻(聞)起来(來)香/好吃/辣等 (wén qǐlái xiāng/hǎochī/là děng)
sense of smell嗅觉(覺) (xiùjué)
to smell of有 ... 气(氣)味 (yǒu ... qìwèi)
All related terms of 'smell'
to smell of
有 ... 气(氣)味 yǒu ... qìwèi
sense of smell
嗅觉(覺) xiùjué
to smell/taste sweet
闻(聞)/尝(嘗)起来(來)甜美 wén/cháng qǐlái tiánměi
a keen sense of smell
嗅觉(覺)灵(靈)敏 xiùjué língmǐn
to smell nice/delicious/spicy etc
闻(聞)起来(來)香/好吃/辣 等 wén qǐlái xiāng/hǎochī/là děng
1 (noun)
Definition
an odour or scent
the smell of freshly baked bread
Synonyms
odour
the faint odour of garlic on his breath
scent
She could smell the scent of her mother's lacquer.
fragrance
a shrubby plant with a strong fragrance
perfume
the perfume of roses
bouquet
a perfume with a bouquet of lavender and rose
savour
The rich savour of the beans give this dish its character.
aroma
the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread
whiff
He caught a whiff of her perfume.
niff (British, slang)
redolence
2 (noun)
Definition
an odour or scent
horrible smells
Synonyms
stink
The stink was overpowering.
stench
The stench of burning rubber was overpowering.
reek
He smelt the reek of rotten food.
pong (British, informal)
niff (British, slang)
malodour
fetor
1 (verb)
Definition
to emit an odour (of)
The room smelled of lemons.
Synonyms
reek
stink
We all stank and nobody minded.
have the fragrance of
whiff
2 (verb)
Definition
to give off an unpleasant odour
Do my feet smell?
Synonyms
stink
reek
Your breath reeks.
pong (British, informal)
hum (slang)
whiff (British, slang)
These socks whiff a bit, don't they?
stink to high heaven (informal)
niff (British, slang)
be malodorous
3 (verb)
Definition
to perceive the scent of (a substance) with the nose
We could smell the gas.
Synonyms
sniff
Suddenly, he stopped and sniffed the air.
scent
dogs which scent the hidden birds
get a whiff of
detect the smell of
nose
phrasal verb
See smell of something
related words
related adjectiveolfactory
related phobiaolfactophobia
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aroma
Definition
a distinctive pleasant smell
the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread
Synonyms
scent,
smell,
perfume,
fragrance,
bouquet,
savour,
odour,
redolence
in the sense of bouquet
Definition
the aroma of wine
a perfume with a bouquet of lavender and rose
Synonyms
aroma,
smell,
scent,
perfume,
fragrance,
savour,
odour,
redolence
in the sense of fragrance
Definition
a pleasant smell
a shrubby plant with a strong fragrance
Synonyms
scent,
smell,
perfume,
bouquet,
aroma,
balm,
sweet smell,
sweet odour,
redolence,
fragrancy
Synonyms of 'smell'
smell
Explore 'smell' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of perfume
Definition
a fragrant smell
the perfume of roses
Synonyms
scent,
smell,
fragrance,
bouquet,
aroma,
odour,
sweetness,
niff (British, slang),
redolence,
balminess
in the sense of savour
Definition
the taste or smell of something
The rich savour of the beans give this dish its character.
Synonyms
flavour,
taste,
smell,
relish,
smack,
zest,
tang,
zing (informal),
piquancy
in the sense of scent
Definition
a distinctive smell, esp. a pleasant one
She could smell the scent of her mother's lacquer.