noun
smell
smehl
noun
1
A sensation caused by breathing in odor particles, pleasant or unpleasant.
"The smell of fresh bread filled the kitchen."
"There was a strange smell coming from the fridge."
2
The sense that detects odors.
"Dogs have a far stronger sense of smell than humans."
verb
1
To perceive an odor, or to give off one.
"I can smell something burning."
"This cheese smells terrible but tastes great."
2
To sense that something is wrong or suspicious.
"Something about his story smells fishy to me."
How to Use Smell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo detect an odor through the nose, or to give off one yourself.
Common pairings
smell of
smell like
a strong smell
smell something fishy
Word Forms
smelled past tense, smelt past tense, smells plural, smells singular
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Etymology
From Middle English smellen, of Germanic origin, ultimately tied to an old root meaning "to smoulder or emit fumes."