SMELLING • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Smelling

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/smˈɛlɪŋ/ Listen

noun

Smelling n.

The act of one who smells.

The sense by which odors are perceived; the sense of smell.

Smelling bottle, a small bottle filled with something suited to stimulate the sense of smell, or to remove faintness, as spirits of ammonia.

verb

Smell v. t. (past & past part. smelt or smelled; pres. part. smelling)

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 perfumes.

To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to scent out; often with out. "I smell a device." "Can you smell him out by that?"

To give heed to. (Obs.) "From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of God, and forsook the school doctors."

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 v. i. (past & past part. smelt or smelled; pres. part. smelling)

To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or scent; often followed by of; as, to smell of smoke, or of musk.

To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to savor; as, a report smells of calumny. "Praises in an enemy are superfluous, or smell of craft."

To exercise the sense of smell.

To exercise sagacity.

See images of 'Smelling'

Etymology of 'Smelling'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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