Definition of OLFACTORY

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Olfactory derives from the past participle of the Latin olfacere, which means "to smell" and which was formed from the verb olēre (also "to smell") and facere ("to do"). Olfactory is a word that often appears in scientific contexts (as in "olfactory nerves," the nerves that pass from the nose to the brain and contain the receptors that make smelling possible), but it has occasionally branched out into less specialized contexts. The pleasant smell of spring flowers, for example, might be considered an "olfactory delight." A related word, olfaction, is a noun referring to the sense of smell or the act or process of smelling.

Examples of olfactory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And yet, The Masticator is happy to contribute still more olfactory content to mingle with the body odor and dried urine. — BostonGlobe.com, "The 16 worst people on the T, ranked - The Boston Globe," 4 Nov. 2019 Strangest of all were the olfactory sensors, sniffing out ammonia in human urine. — The Economist, "Artificial intelligence is changing every aspect of war," 7 Sep. 2019 The olfactory components are much more complicated, and mostly have to do with the human's genetics, according to Rosen. — Elizabeth King, Allure, "Why Mosquitos Bite Some People More Than Others," 8 Aug. 2019 Doctors there transplanted olfactory mucosal cells drawn from his upper nasal passages into the site of his spinal injury. — Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, "A gruesome case study points to the hazards of stem cell tourism," 10 July 2019 One of the easiest (and most pleasant) ways to achieve these benefits is through aromatherapy, where these concentrated oils are breathed in, allowing them to stimulate the olfactory system in the brain. — Allure, "19 of the Best Essential Oil Diffusers to Make Your Home Smell Amazing," 23 Nov. 2019 Touring today’s Temecula is as much about the surroundings as the olfactory senses. — BostonGlobe.com, "Wine lovers take note: Temecula, California, is the next Napa Valley - The Boston Globe," 1 Nov. 2019 Consider the nine fragrances a perfect crystallization of the Celine aesthetic in olfactory form: They’re elegant, understated, and the last word in chic. — April Long, Town & Country, "Celine Has Its Own Haute Perfumerie Now," 5 Nov. 2019 If fencing is impractical, then using pellets, powder or spray can be employed as an olfactory disincentive. — Earl Nickel, SFChronicle.com, "How to keep pesky visitors out of the garden," 20 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'olfactory.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

12 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Olfactory.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/olfactory. Accessed 23 January 2020.