scent

[ sent ]

noun

1. a distinctive odor, especially when agreeable:

   the scent of roses.

2. an odor left in passing, by means of which an animal or person may be traced.
3. a track or trail as or as if indicated by such an odor:

   The dogs lost the scent and the prisoner escaped.

4. perfume.
5. the sense of smell:

   a remarkably keen scent.

6. small pieces of paper dropped by the hares in the game of hare and hounds.

verb (used with object)

1. to perceive or recognize by or as if by the sense of smell:

   to scent trouble.

   Synonyms: sniff, smell

2. to fill with an odor; perfume.

verb (used without object)

1. to hunt by the sense of smell, as a hound.

scent

/ sɛnt /

noun

1. a distinctive smell, esp a pleasant one
2. a smell left in passing, by which a person or animal may be traced
3. a trail, clue, or guide
4. an instinctive ability for finding out or detecting
5. another word (esp Brit) for perfume

verb

1. tr to recognize or be aware of by or as if by the smell
2. tr to have a suspicion of; detect

   I scent foul play

3. tr to fill with odour or fragrance
4. intr (of hounds, etc) to hunt by the sense of smell
5. to smell (at)

   the dog scented the air

Derived Forms

• ˈscentlessness, noun
• ˈscentless, adjective
• ˈscented, adjective

Other Words From

• scentless adjective
• scentless·ness noun
• non·scented adjective
• outscent verb (used with object)
• over·scented adjective
• un·scented adjective
• well-scented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scent¹

First recorded in 1325–75; (verb) earlier sent, Middle English senten, from Middle French sentir “to smell,” from Latin sentīre, “to feel”; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb sense

Word History and Origins

Origin of scent¹

C14: from Old French sentir to sense, from Latin sentīre to feel; see sense

Idioms and Phrases

see throw off , def. 3.

Synonym Study

See odor.

Example Sentences

The couple even hired a bloodhound handler to track Mushie’s scent from the dogsitter’s home to a nearby spot where the trail stopped cold.

From Los Angeles Times

He now has 41 of the dogs, which he has trained to follow human scent.

From BBC

More pheromones created a stronger scent for the ants to follow, a critical factor when the food source is located far from the nest.

From Science Daily

He switched venues at the last minute to throw press off the scent, and confiscated the recordings.

From BBC

There is suddenly a vulnerability about Manchester City that is offering rivals the sort of encouragement they have rarely scented since Guardiola arrived.

From BBC

Related Words

• aura
• bouquet
• essence
• odor
• perfume
• spice
• whiff