SMELL

I. verb (~ed or smelt; ~ing) Etymology: Middle English Date: 12th century transitive verb to perceive the odor or scent of through stimuli affecting the olfactory nerves ; get the odor or scent of with the nose, to detect or become aware of as if by the sense of ~ , to emit the odor of, intransitive verb to exercise the sense of ~, 2. a. to have an odor or scent, to have a characteristic aura or atmosphere ; smack , b. to have an offensive odor ; stink , to be of bad or questionable quality , ~er noun II. noun Date: 12th century the property of a thing that affects the olfactory organs ; odor , 2. the process, function, or power of ~ing, the sense concerned with the perception of odor, 3. a very small amount ; trace , a pervading or characteristic quality ; aura , an act or instance of ~ing, Synonyms: see: ~