Smell \Smell\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelled, Smelt; p. pr. &
vb. n. Smelling.]
[OE. smellen, smillen, smullen; cf. LG.
smellen, smelen, sm["o]len, schmelen, to smoke, to reek, D.
smeulen to smolder, and E. smolder. Cf. Smell, n.]
1. 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.
2. To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to
scent out; -- often with out. ``I smell a device.''
--Shak.
Can you smell him out by that? --Shak.
3. To give heed to. [Obs.]
From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of
God, and forsook the school doctors. --Latimer.
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.]
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Smell \Smell\, v. i.
1. To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or scent;
-- often followed by of; as, to smell of smoke, or of
musk.
2. 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. --Milton.
3. To exercise the sense of smell. --Ex. xxx. 38.
4. To exercise sagacity. --Shak.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Smell \Smell\, n. [OE. smel, smil, smul, smeol. See Smell, v.
t.]
(Physiol.)
1. The sense or faculty by which certain qualities of bodies
are perceived through the instrumentally of the olfactory
nerves. See Sense.
2. The quality of any thing or substance, or emanation
therefrom, which affects the olfactory organs; odor;
scent; fragrance; perfume; as, the smell of mint.
Breathing the smell of field and grove. --Milton.
That which, above all others, yields the sweetest
smell in the air, is the violent. --Bacon.
Syn: Scent; odor; perfume; fragrance.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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