What does smelt mean?
Smelt is primarily a verb meaning to emit a strong, often unpleasant smell. It is more forceful and specific than simply smell, often suggesting an odor that is difficult to ignore. In noun uses, smelt names a small fish related to trout, herring, and salmon, especially one found in northern European, North American, and Asian waters. The word also has historical links with the verb smell: the older form smelt was once used as a past tense, while the modern verb developed the distinct sense of giving off an odor. Because the same spelling can sound like melt, careful context matters: a smelt is a fish, whereas something that melts changes from solid to liquid. Smelt is consequently a useful word for distinguishing both a pronounced odor and a familiar cold-water fish.
To emit a strong or unpleasant smell.
"The damp wool began to smelt."
Usually used with an unpleasant odor, though it can describe any especially noticeable smell.
A small fish of the family Osmeridae, found in northern and coastal waters and valued as food.
"They grilled the smelts with lemon and herbs."
The plural is smelts. As a fish name, it is especially common in northern European and North American contexts.
Used when referring to more than one fish of this kind.
"Fresh smelts are often served smoked."
Smelt can describe both a powerful odor and a small, silvery fish found in cold northern waters.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does smelt come from?
The verb smelt developed from Old English forms connected with the Germanic root for smelling or odor and is related to the modern word smell. In older English, smelt could serve as a past tense of smell. The separate noun referring to the fish comes through English regional and culinary usage from Scandinavian and other northern European languages, where related names have long been used for these small fish.
Related word forms
How smelt is actually used
As a verb, smelt is relatively formal and often implies an unpleasant or powerful odor. The noun is standard in British and American English, particularly in references to northern fisheries and fish species.
Easily confused with smelt
Smelt means to emit a strong smell, whereas melt means to change from a solid into a liquid through heating.
Smelt can mean to give off a noticeable odor, while smell can refer more generally to the sense of odor or to the act of noticing one.