Odour vs. Smell — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Odour and Smell
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Definitions
Odour
A distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one
The odour of cigarette smoke
Smell
The sense, located in the nasal cavities of mammals and relying on the olfactory nerves, by which molecules borne in a fluid such as air can be perceived; the olfactory sense.
Odour
A lingering quality or impression attaching to something
An odour of suspicion
Smell
A similar sense in other animals, as insects' ability to perceive air-borne molecules with their antennae.
Odour
Variant of odor.
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Smell
The act or an instance of smelling
Got a smell of the pie.
Odour
(British spelling) odor
Smell
A quality of something that is perceived by the sense of smell; an odor
The smell of a barn.
Odour
The sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form;
She loved the smell of roses
Smell
A distinctive enveloping or characterizing quality; an aura or trace
The smell of success.
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Odour
Any property detected by the olfactory system
Smell
To perceive (an odor) by the sense of smell.
Smell
To perceive or detect (something) by a chemosensory organ, such as an antenna.
Smell
To inhale the air near (something); sniff
Smiled as she smelled the rose.
Smell
To detect or discover, as by intuition or inference
We smelled trouble ahead. The committee tried to smell out corruption in law enforcement.
Smell
To use the sense of smell.
Smell
To sniff
The dog was smelling around the bed.
Smell
To have or emit an odor
"The breeze smelled exactly like Vouvray—flowery, with a hint of mothballs underneath" (Anne Tyler).
Smell
To have or emit an unpleasant odor; stink
This closet smells.
Smell
To be suggestive; have a touch of something
A remark that smells of sanctimony.
Smell
To appear to be dishonest or corrupt
The political situation is starting to smell.
Smell
A sensation, pleasant or unpleasant, detected by inhaling air (or, the case of water-breathing animals, water) carrying airborne molecules of a substance.
I love the smell of fresh bread.
Smell
(physiology) The sense that detects odours.
Smell
(transitive) To sense a smell or smells.
I can smell fresh bread.
Smell the milk and tell me whether it's gone off.
Smell
Followed by like or of if descriptive: to have a particular smell, whether good or bad.
The roses smell lovely.
Her feet smell of cheese.
The drunkard smelt like a brewery.
Smell
To smell bad; to stink.
Ew, this stuff smells.
Smell
To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to savour.
A report smells of calumny.
Smell
To detect or perceive; often with out.
Smell
(obsolete) To give heed to.
Smell
(transitive) To smell of; to have a smell of
Smell
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.
Smell
To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to scent out; - often with out.
Can you smell him out by that?
Smell
To give heed to.
From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of God, and forsook the school doctors.
Smell
To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or scent; - often followed by of; as, to smell of smoke, or of musk.
Smell
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.
Smell
To exercise the sense of smell.
Smell
To exercise sagacity.
Smell
The sense or faculty by which certain qualities of bodies are perceived through the instrumentally of the olfactory nerves. See Sense.
Smell
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.
That which, above all others, yields the sweetest smell in the air, is the violent.
Smell
The sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form;
She loved the smell of roses
Smell
Any property detected by the olfactory system
Smell
The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people;
The feel of the city excited him
A clergyman improved the tone of the meeting
It had the smell of treason
Smell
The faculty of smell
Smell
The act of perceiving the odor of something
Smell
Inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense
Smell
Emit an odor;
The soup smells good
Smell
Smell bad;
He rarely washes, and he smells
