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

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

No word, however, if Warner Bros. will attempt to capture the scent of snowfall.

From Los Angeles Times

I play a little game isolating scents in patches of wind, flaring my nostrils and parting my lips slightly, as if wine tasting.

From Los Angeles Times

In the 2008 film “Twilight,” a vampire describes the scent of blood as being “like a drug.”

From Salon

Related Words

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