What does smell mean?
Smell is a common English word with both noun and verb uses. As a noun, it refers to an odor or scent, such as the smell of coffee or wet earth, and also to the sense of smell itself. As a verb, it can describe perceiving an odor, emitting an odor, or recognizing something through instinct or indirect evidence. The word is flexible in register: it is neutral enough to describe any scent, although stink and reek are more explicitly unpleasant, while fragrance or aroma suggest a pleasant smell. Figurative expressions such as smell a rat and a smell of corruption suggest suspicion or moral unease. Smell is especially useful because it can move easily between literal sensory description and broader judgments about people, situations, and institutions. Its historical range is equally notable, since its older English forms could mean not only to perceive by scent but also to investigate or examine closely.
An odor or scent perceived by the nose; also the sense or faculty used to perceive odors. Figuratively, it can mean an indication or trace of a quality, especially something undesirable.
"A strong smell of salt came from the sea."
The noun is neutral in tone, though its figurative uses often carry a negative or suspicious implication.
To perceive an odor with the nose, to emit or give off an odor, or to detect or suspect something by instinct or indirect evidence.
"The dogs could smell the approaching storm."
The phrase smell of can mean to have a characteristic quality, as in a story that smells of exaggeration.
The plural is used for different odors or scents, especially when they are being described individually.
"The shop sells perfumes with warm, distinctive smells."
The oldest English 'smell' could mean 'investigate' as well as 'perceive by scent'—a nose with a detective's remit.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does smell come from?
The verb descends from Old English smyllan, also written smil(l)an, with meanings including 'to perceive by smell' and 'to examine or investigate.' The noun meaning 'odor' and the sense of the faculty of smelling developed through Middle English. Smellen is a Dutch cognate, smellje is West Frisian, and schmellen is a cognate found in German; all belong to the Germanic family of words connected with smelling.
Related word forms
How smell is actually used
Smell is neutral and can describe pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant odors; stink and reek are more strongly negative. In figurative uses, smell often suggests an instinctive or suspicious awareness, as in smell a rat or the smell of corruption.
Easily confused with smell
Smelt is not the standard spelling of smelled, although it occurs as an archaic or dialectal form; it also names a small fish and can mean to melt metal.