olfactory

[ ol-fak-tuh-ree, -tree, ohl- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the sense of smell:

   olfactory organs.

noun

, plural ol·fac·to·ries.

1. Usually olfactories. an olfactory organ.
2. olfactory nerve.

olfactory

/ -trɪ; ɒlˈfæktərɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to the sense of smell

noun

1. usually plural an organ or nerve concerned with the sense of smell

olfactory

/ ŏl-făk′tə-rē,ōl- /

1. Relating to or involving the organs or sense of smell.

olfactory

1. A descriptive term for the sense of smell.

Other Words From

• ol·facto·ri·ly adverb
• nonol·facto·ry adjective noun plural nonolfactories

Word History and Origins

Origin of olfactory¹

1650–60; < Latin olfactōrius, equivalent to olfac ( ere ) to smell at, sniff ( ol ( ēre ) to smell (akin to odor ) + facere to make, do) + -tōrius -tory ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of olfactory¹

C17: from Latin olfactus, past participle of olfacere, from olere to smell + facere to make

Example Sentences

These lightning-fast olfactory capabilities are not interesting merely as biological trivia.

From Salon

Migratory locusts differ from other insects in the anatomical structure of their olfactory brain, the antennal lobe, which receives and processes olfactory information from the antenna.

From Science Daily

Scientists have pondered how insects are able to smell, or extract information from odors, with a much smaller olfactory sensory system compared with mammals.

From Science Daily

Odors play an important role in guiding motivated behaviors such as food intake, and -- in turn -- olfactory perception is modulated by how hungry we are.

From Science Daily

"But compared to research on the benefits of seeing nature, we don't know nearly as much about how the impacts of nature's scents and olfactory cues affect us."

From Science Daily

Related Words

• audiovisual
• auditory
• aural
• neural
• neurological
• sensual
• sonic
• tactile
• visual