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View synonyms for

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. the sense of smell:

    a remarkably keen scent.

  5. 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: ,

  2. to fill with an odor; perfume.

verb (used without object)

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

scent

/ ɛԳ /

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈԳٱԱ, noun
  • ˈԳٱ, adjective
  • ˈԳٱ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • Գl adjective
  • Գl·ness noun
  • ԴDz·ԳĻ adjective
  • dzܳȴԳ verb (used with object)
  • v·ԳĻ adjective
  • ܲ·ԳĻ adjective
  • ɱ-ԳĻ adjective
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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 Գī, “to feel”; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb sense
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Word History and Origins

Origin of scent1

C14: from Old French sentir to sense, from Latin Գī to feel; see sense
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Idioms and Phrases

see throw off , def. 3.
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Synonym Study

See odor.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He was, in every sense, a true shepherd — one who bore the scent of his flock, walking closely with them through their struggles, their sorrows and their joys.

From

At Hawkins High, the other students sense Henry’s oddity the way sharks scent blood in the water.

From

This specific variety is “made of smooth Chinese loose leaf green tea leaves naturally scented by layers of jasmine buds,” according to the tea’s description.

From

Owing to her Western spunk, talent for deduction, ability to identify a tobacco scent Holmes cannot and the detective’s need for a sidekick, she’s made his assistant.

From

Even the audio playing out, scent of a park and queue lines are considered because they "play a role in that illusion," says Mr Bright.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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