Main Entry:

¹smell

Pronunciation:

\ˈsmel\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

smelled \ˈsmeld\ or smelt \ˈsmelt\ ; smell·ing

Etymology:

Middle English

Date:

12th century

transitive verb1: to perceive the odor or scent of through stimuli affecting the olfactory nerves : get the odor or scent of with the nose2: to detect or become aware of as if by the sense of smell <I smell trouble>3: to emit the odor ofintransitive verb1: to exercise the sense of smell2 a (1): to have an odor or scent (2): to have a characteristic aura or atmosphere : smack <the accounts…seemed to me to smell of truth — R. S. Bourne> ; also : seem, appear <the story didn't smell right> b (1): to have an offensive odor : stink (2): to be of bad or questionable quality <all this from the moral point of view smells — A. F. Wills>

— smell·er noun

— smell a rat

: to have a suspicion of something wrong

— smell blood

: to sense an opponent's weakness or vulnerability

— smell the roses

: to enjoy or savor life