Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Smell
Smell
(smĕl)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Smelled
, Smelt
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Smelling
.] [OE. ]
smellen
, smillen
, smullen
; cf. LG. smellen
, smelen
, smölen
, schmelen
, to smoke, to reek, D. smeulen
to smolder, and E. smolder
. Cf. Smell
, Noun.
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
perfumes2.
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? Shakespeare
3.
To give heed to.
[Obs.]
From that time forward I began to
smell
the 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
,Verb.
I.
1.
To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or scent; – often followed by of;
as, to
. smell
of smoke, or of musk2.
To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to savor;
as, a report
. smells
of calumnyPraises 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.
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 mintBreathing 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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Smell
SMELL
,Verb.
T.