smell
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,321 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 7,471 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form also: odor, odour, olfactory sensation, olfactory perception she loved the smell of roses
- any property detected by the olfactory system also: olfactory property, aroma, odor, odour, scent
- the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people also: spirit, tone, feel, feeling, flavor, flavour the feel of the city excited hima clergyman improved the tone of the meeting
- the faculty that enables us to distinguish scents also: sense of smell, olfaction, olfactory modality
- the act of perceiving the odor of something also: smelling
verb
- inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense
- emit an odor The soup smells good
- smell bad He rarely washes, and he smells
smell in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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In the autumn there was the warm, sweet smell of peaches and pears and apples.
The Bow of Orange Ribbon · Amelia E. Barr · Chapter 1
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The breeze had veered suddenly and they found themselves again in the smell of carrion.
The Brook Kerith: A Syrian story · George Moore · Chapter 1
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I do not stay five minutes if I can help it; it is not agreeable, the smell of whiskey.
The Reflections of Ambrosine: A Novel · Elinor Glyn · Chapter 1
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You can see in the dark, you can smell what other people cannot, you have the talents of a bloodhound.
A Double Barrelled Detective Story · Mark Twain · Chapter 1
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He was evidently given to working or lounging around the fish docks, and carried with him much of their characteristic smell.
The Shadow over Innsmouth · H.P. Lovecraft · Chapter 1