# smell

/ˈsmɛɫ/ (US) · /smˈɛl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/smell
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. an odour

noun · CEFR A2

the quality of something that you notice with your nose.

For teachers: a sensation, whether pleasant or unpleasant, detected by the olfactory system.

- The sweet smell of fresh bread filled the entire kitchen.
- The pungent smell of chlorine greeted the swimmers as they entered the indoor pool area.

### 2. the sense

noun · CEFR B1

the ability to notice things with your nose.

For teachers: the faculty or sense that detects and perceives odours.

- Dogs have a much stronger sense of smell than humans do.
- The patient reported a temporary loss of smell following the viral infection, which significantly affected her appetite.

### 3. to perceive an odour

verb · CEFR A2

to notice or recognize a scent using your nose.

For teachers: to perceive or detect the odour of something by means of the olfactory organs.

- Can you smell the smoke coming from the neighbor's garden?
- She leaned down to smell the roses, noting the delicate fragrance that the morning dew had intensified.

### 4. to have a scent

verb · CEFR A2

to have a particular quality that people notice with their noses.

For teachers: to emit an odour; often functions as a copular verb followed by an adjective or a prepositional phrase.

- The old books smell of dust and paper.
- The damp basement smelled strongly of mildew, suggesting that the pipes had been leaking for several weeks.

Usage: Often used with 'of' or 'like' when followed by a noun.

### 5. to seem suspicious

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to feel like a situation is wrong or dishonest.

For teachers: to suggest a particular quality or character, especially one that is suspicious or unpleasant.

- Something about his story smells fishy to me.
- The sudden withdrawal of the lead investor smells of a desperate attempt to avoid a public scandal.

## Examples

- The smell of fresh bread fills the kitchen.
- I love the smell of the forest after it rains in the summer.
- The distinct smell of ozone often precedes a heavy thunderstorm, signaling a change in atmospheric conditions that most people recognize instantly.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.