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

/ ɒlˈfæktərɪ; -trɪ /

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

The brain, drawing on memory, recognizes patterns in the chemical composition of the olfactory stimulus.

From Nautilus

As I explain in the episode, the olfactory explanation doesn’t actually pass the sniff test—which led me to wonder why a particular vehicle might experience widespread yellow sac infestations.

From Popular-Science

While linearity doesn’t mean the olfactory code is easily solvable, it does provide a framework for neuroscientists to further work on and potentially more easily understand.

From Singularity Hub 

Neuroscientist Dima Rinberg of New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine and colleagues targeted nerve cells in mice’s olfactory bulbs.

From Science News

That’s because, as far as neurons go, olfactory receptor neurons are unusual — they live outside of the brain, but keep one foot inside it.

From Science News

Olfactory art, Burr admits, has been “completely and aggressively and successfully colonized by commercial interests.”

From The Daily Beast

And then there are all the “olfactory landmarks” that live with us day to day, in laundry soaps and baby powder and new cars.

From The Daily Beast

Our olfactory systems have long regarded pungency as not just innocuous but in fact pleasing.

From The Daily Beast

It was now acting and re-acting on the lining of the serenader's olfactory organ in a manner to threaten final decapitation.

From Project Gutenberg

Some collectors, with indifferent olfactory sense, moisten the cork of their boxes with creosote.

From Project Gutenberg

This may perhaps be called the olfactory nerve, though clearly of a different character to the other nerves.

From Project Gutenberg

The anterior and larger division of the fore-brain forms the rudiment of the cerebral hemispheres and olfactory lobes.

From Project Gutenberg

On the ventral face of the integument covering these are two oval depressions, the rudimentary olfactory sacs.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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