Definition: smell

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

smell
     n 1: the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the
          nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous
          form; "she loved the smell of roses" [syn: odor, odour,
           olfactory sensation, olfactory perception]
     2: any property detected by the olfactory system [syn: olfactory
        property, aroma, odor, odour, scent]
     3: the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the
        effect that it has on people; "the feel of the city
        excited him"; "a clergyman improved the tone of the
        meeting"; "it had the smell of treason" [syn: spirit, tone,
         feel, feeling, flavor, flavour, look]
     4: the faculty of smell [syn: sense of smell, olfaction, olfactory
        modality]
     5: the act of perceiving the odor of something [syn: smelling]
     v 1: inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense
     2: emit an odor; "The soup smells good"
     3: smell bad; "He rarely washes, and he smells"

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Smell \Smell\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelled, Smelt; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Smelling.] [OE. smellen, smillen, smullen; cf. LG.
   smellen, smelen, sm["o]len, schmelen, to smoke, to reek, D.
   smeulen to smolder, and E. smolder. Cf. Smell, n.]
   1. 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.

   2. To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to
      scent out; -- often with out. ``I smell a device.''
      --Shak.

            Can you smell him out by that?        --Shak.

   3. To give heed to. [Obs.]

            From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of
            God, and forsook the school doctors.  --Latimer.

   To smell a rat, to have a sense of something wrong, not
      clearly evident; to have reason for suspicion. [Colloq.]
      

   To smell out, to find out by sagacity. [Colloq.]

Smell \Smell\, v. i.
   1. To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or scent;
      -- often followed by of; as, to smell of smoke, or of
      musk.

   2. To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to
      savor; as, a report smells of calumny.

            Praises in an enemy are superfluous, or smell of
            craft.                                --Milton.

   3. To exercise the sense of smell. --Ex. xxx. 38.

   4. To exercise sagacity. --Shak.

Smell \Smell\, n. [OE. smel, smil, smul, smeol. See Smell, v.
   t.] (Physiol.)
   1. The sense or faculty by which certain qualities of bodies
      are perceived through the instrumentally of the olfactory
      nerves. See Sense.

   2. The quality of any thing or substance, or emanation
      therefrom, which affects the olfactory organs; odor;
      scent; fragrance; perfume; as, the smell of mint.

            Breathing the smell of field and grove. --Milton.

            That which, above all others, yields the sweetest
            smell in the air, is the violent.     --Bacon.

   Syn: Scent; odor; perfume; fragrance.