TOP

Definition of smell noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

     

    smell

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//smɛl//
     
     
    jump to other results
  1. 1[countable, uncountable] the quality of something that people and animals sense through their noses a faint/strong smell of garlic a sweet/fresh/musty smell There was a smell of burning in the air. The smells from the kitchen filled the room.
  2. 2[singular] an unpleasant smell What's that smell? Yuck! What a smell!
  3. 3[uncountable] the ability to sense things with the nose Dogs have a very good sense of smell. Taste and smell are closely connected.
  4. 4[countable] the act of smelling something synonym sniff He took one smell of the liquid and his eyes began to water.
    5. Vocabulary Buildingsmellsdescribing smellsThese adjectives describe pleasant smells:
    • scented candles
    • aromatic oils
    • fragrant perfume
    • sweet-smelling flowers
    To describe unpleasant smells you can use:
    • smelly cheese
    • stinky fish
    • musty old books
    • acrid smoke
    types of smellsPleasant smells:
    • the rich aroma of fresh coffee
    • an herb with a delicate fragrance
    • a rose’s sweet perfume
    • the scent of wildflowers
    Unpleasant smells:
    • nasty household odors
    • the stench of rotting meat
    • the stink of stale sweat
    • the reek of beer and tobacco
    Idioms
    the sweet smell of success (informal)
     
    jump to other results
    the pleasant feeling of being successful
See smell in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: smell

Nearby words