olfactory
adjective
ōl- 
Did you know?
Olfactory derives from the past participle of the Latin olfacere ("to smell"), which was formed from the verb olēre ("to give off a smell") and facere ("to do"). Olfactory is a word that often appears in scientific contexts (as in "olfactory nerves," the nerves that pass from the nose to the brain and contain the receptors that make smelling possible), but it has occasionally branched out into less specialized contexts. The pleasant smell of spring flowers, for example, might be considered an "olfactory delight." A related word, olfaction, is a noun referring to the sense of smell or the act or process of smelling.
Example Sentences
Lindy Segal, Harper's BAZAAR, 31 Aug. 2022 The degree of anosmia (loss of smell) was confirmed through an olfactory test. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 Spritzing on perfume is an olfactory outfit for Burch, another way to telegraph her mood. Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 9 Aug. 2022 Among the few who smell the sweet smell of victory in VR smells is Aaron Wisniewski, CEO and founder of the olfactory VR manufacturer OVR Technology. Wired, 2 Aug. 2022 Their time in the field naturally expands their olfactory repertoire. Linda Qiu, BostonGlobe.com, 23 July 2022 These changes in both the olfactory nerves as well as in the parts of the brain responsible for perceiving smells may be long term and even permanent, which has led researchers to better investigate treatment options. Nina Shapiro, Forbes, 16 June 2022 Customers are swept into the library, a lab meets exploration zone, where the expert staff guides them through an olfactory journey, with 1,200 ingredients. Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 27 June 2022 One was hypothesis driven, in that it was limited to all the structures that are known to be one or two connections removed from the olfactory nerves in the nose. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 9 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Latin olfactorius, from olfacere to smell, from olēre to smell + facere to do — more at odor, do
circa 1658, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing olfactory
Kids Definition
olfactory
adjective
Medical Definition
olfactory
adjective
ōl-