SMELL (smelt)

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does smell mean? 

• SMELL (noun)
  The noun SMELL has 5 senses:

1. the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

2. any property detected by the olfactory system

3. the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people

4. the faculty that enables us to distinguish scents

5. the act of perceiving the odor of something

  Familiarity information: SMELL used as a noun is common.

• SMELL (verb)
  The verb SMELL has 5 senses:

1. inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense

2. emit an odor

3. smell bad

4. have an element suggestive (of something)

5. become aware of not through the senses but instinctively

  Familiarity information: SMELL used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SMELL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

odor; odour; olfactory perception; olfactory sensation; smell

Context example:

she loved the smell of roses

Hypernyms ("smell" is a kind of...):

aesthesis; esthesis; sensation; sense datum; sense experience; sense impression (an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "smell"):

acridity (having an acrid smell)

fetor; foetor; malodor; malodour; mephitis; reek; stench; stink (a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant)

aroma; fragrance; perfume; scent (a distinctive odor that is pleasant)

scent (an odor left in passing by which a person or animal can be traced)

Derivation:

smell (emit an odor)

smell (smell bad)

smell (inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any property detected by the olfactory system

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

aroma; odor; odour; olfactory property; scent; smell

Hypernyms ("smell" is a kind of...):

property (a basic or essential attribute shared by all members of a class)

Attribute:

odorous (having odor or a characteristic odor)

inodorous; odorless; odourless (having no odor)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "smell"):

bouquet; fragrance; fragrancy; redolence; sweetness (a pleasingly sweet olfactory property)

fetidness; foulness; malodorousness; rankness; stinkiness (the attribute of having a strong offensive smell)

muskiness (having the olfactory properties of musk)

rancidness (the property of being rancid)

Derivation:

smell (emit an odor)

smell (inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense)

smelly (offensively malodorous)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

feel; feeling; flavor; flavour; look; smell; spirit; tone

Context example:

it had the smell of treason

Hypernyms ("smell" is a kind of...):

ambiance; ambience; atmosphere (a particular environment or surrounding influence)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "smell"):

Hollywood (a flashy vulgar tone or atmosphere believed to be characteristic of the American film industry)

Zeitgeist (the spirit of the time; the spirit characteristic of an age or generation)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The faculty that enables us to distinguish scents

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

olfaction; olfactory modality; sense of smell; smell

Hypernyms ("smell" is a kind of...):

modality; sense modality; sensory system (a particular sense)

exteroception (sensitivity to stimuli originating outside of the body)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "smell"):

nose (the sense of smell (especially in animals))

Derivation:

smell (emit an odor)

smell (inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The act of perceiving the odor of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

smell; smelling

Hypernyms ("smell" is a kind of...):

perception; sensing (becoming aware of something via the senses)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "smell"):

sniff; snuff (sensing an odor by inhaling through the nose)

Derivation:

smell (inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense)

smell (emit an odor)

• SMELL (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "smell" is one way to...):

comprehend; perceive (to become aware of through the senses)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "smell"):

sniff; whiff (perceive by inhaling through the nose)

nose; scent; wind (catch the scent of; get wind of)

snuff; snuffle (sniff or smell inquiringly)

get a noseful; get a whiff (smell strongly and intensely)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The customs agents smell the bags for drugs

Derivation:

smell (the act of perceiving the odor of something)

smell (any property detected by the olfactory system)

smell (the faculty that enables us to distinguish scents)

smell (the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form)

smelling (the act of perceiving the odor of something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Emit an odor

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

The soup smells good

Hypernyms (to "smell" is one way to...):

cause to be perceived (have perceptible qualities)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "smell"):

smell (smell bad)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something ----s Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s Adjective

Sentence example:

The food does smell good

Also:

smell up (cause to smell bad; fill with a bad smell)

Derivation:

smell (the act of perceiving the odor of something)

smell (the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form)

smell (the faculty that enables us to distinguish scents)

smell (any property detected by the olfactory system)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Smell bad

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

He rarely washes, and he smells

Hypernyms (to "smell" is one way to...):

smell (emit an odor)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "smell"):

reek; stink (smell badly and offensively)

salute (become noticeable)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

smell (the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Have an element suggestive (of something)

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

reek; smack; smell

Context example:

this passage smells of plagiarism

Hypernyms (to "smell" is one way to...):

evoke; paint a picture; suggest (call to mind)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Become aware of not through the senses but instinctively

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

sense; smell; smell out

Context example:

smell out corruption

Hypernyms (to "smell" is one way to...):

perceive (become conscious of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

 Context examples 

The passage, as well as the room, was full of smoke and the smell of powder.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You remember in her statement she said that her sister could smell Dr. Roylott’s cigar.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He didn't even smell the same as he went by me.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Holmes opened it and smelled the single cigar which it contained.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I should not be helped so soon, but it smells most excellent, and I cannot help beginning.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

"What is that smell?" she asked suddenly.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

At one we dined, Mr. Mell and I, at the upper end of a long bare dining-room, full of deal tables, and smelling of fat.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

While he smelled it he kept his eyes on the god.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The news of it was borne in upon him, not by sight, or sound, or smell, but by some other and subtler sense.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

I observed the young animal’s flesh to smell very rank, and the stink was somewhat between a weasel and a fox, but much more disagreeable.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)