the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
"she loved the smell of roses"
the faculty that enables us to distinguish scents
"The dog's keen sense of smell allowed it to track the missing child through the dense forest."
A sensation, pleasant or unpleasant, detected by inhaling air (or, the case of water-breathing animals, water) carrying airborne molecules of a substance.
"The fresh scent of rain rising from the dry pavement was immediately noticeable upon opening the window."
In plain English: A smell is something you can detect with your nose, usually caused by gases floating through the air from objects around you.
"The bread smells fresh from the oven."
Usage: Use "smell" as a noun to refer specifically to an odor that is either pleasant or unpleasant and detected by inhaling air containing chemical particles. Avoid confusing this sensory experience with the verb form, which describes the act of detecting such odors rather than the sensation itself.
inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense
"She stopped to smell the fresh flowers in the garden."
To sense a smell or smells.
"The dog stopped to sniff the ground, hoping to catch a scent of his favorite treat."
In plain English: To smell something is to use your nose to detect its scent.
"The garbage started to smell after sitting outside all day."
The word "smell" comes from Old English and originally meant to emit fumes or smoke. Its root traces back to a Proto-Indo-European term related to burning and glowing.