Word Definition

Smell

  1. To give heed to.
  2. 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.
  3. The sense or faculty by which certain qualities of bodies are perceived through the instrumentally of the olfactory nerves. See Sense.
  4. The quality of any thing or substance, or emanation therefrom, which affects the olfactory organs; odor; scent; fragrance; perfume; as, the smell of mint.
  5. To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or scent; -- often followed by of; as, to smell of smoke, or of musk.
  6. To exercise sagacity.
  7. To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to scent out; -- often with out.
  8. To exercise the sense of smell.
  9. To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to savor; as, a report smells of calumny.