olfactory

adjective

ol·fac·to·ry | \äl-ˈfak-t(ə-)rē,

ōl-\

Definition of olfactory

: of or relating to the sense of smell olfactory receptors olfactory sensations

Other Words from olfactory Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about olfactory

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Did You Know?

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

The molecules stick to a layer of mucus on the upper surface of the cavity, embedded with olfactory neurons. — Tim Folger, Discover Magazine, "How Quantum Mechanics Lets Us See, Smell and Touch," 24 Oct. 2018 Kashiwadani said that with continuous exposure, the olfactory system gets used to the odor and responds less. — Joanna Klein, The Seattle Times, "Lavender’s soothing scent could be more than just folk medicine," 26 Oct. 2018 Turin’s idea remains contentious — his experimental data have divided the interdisciplinary community of olfactory researchers. — Tim Folger, Discover Magazine, "How Quantum Mechanics Lets Us See, Smell and Touch," 24 Oct. 2018 The researchers then exposed them to scents and the simulated swat while recording the activity of the neurons in the olfactory center of the insects’ brains, which process scent information. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Swatting May Teach Mosquitoes to Avoid Your Scent," 5 Feb. 2018 In Europe, Latin America, and other scent-forward parts of the world, though, the olfactory coming-of-age happens much earlier. — Kari Molvar, Vogue, "How Young Is Too Young for a First Perfume?," 11 May 2018 Common olfactory hallucinations include lots of icky odors. — NBC News, "Phantom smells may be a sign of trouble," 10 July 2018 Every team’s hospitality suite is positioned immediately above its garage, giving well-off fans (and stray journalists like me) the best aural and olfactory experience of the race, if not the best viewing angle. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "In Formula 1, you have to be amazing just to be average," 26 June 2018 Here's a snapshot: While humans have about 6 million olfactory receptors in their noses, dog noses contain upwards of 300 million. — Southern Living, "10 Things You Should Know About Your Dog," 3 July 2018

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.