Nose: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to refer to the part of your face that you breathe and smell through. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.

• She wrinkled her nose at the unpleasant smell.
• He got a sunburn on his nose.

Specifically refers to the two openings of the nose. It is often used in medical or descriptive contexts.

• His nostrils flared in anger.
• She felt the cold air rush into her nostrils.

Informal and often used in a humorous or negative way, referring to someone who frequently sniffs things or as slang for the nose.

• He had a big sniffer that stood out on his face.
• The dog is a great sniffer; it finds everything.

Used as a verb meaning to pry or to be overly curious about someone else's affairs, often with a negative connotation.

• Stop nosing around my personal business!

Commonly used in everyday language to talk about the ability to detect odors. It is less formal compared to 'olfactory sense'.

• My sense of smell is really strong; I can detect even the slightest scent.
• After the cold, his sense of smell took a while to return.

A more scientific or formal term used to describe the sense responsible for detecting smells.

• The olfactory sense is crucial for enjoying food and detecting danger.

Use 'nose' in a different sense to mean prying into other people's business, often considered impolite.

• Stop nosing around my stuff!

Use 'sniff' when describing the action of inhaling through the nose to detect a smell. It can also imply suspicion or disdain, which gives it a slightly negative connotation.

• He sniffed the milk to see if it had gone bad
• She gave a sniff of disapproval

Use 'scent' when referring to a pleasant smell, usually from flowers, perfume, or something similarly aromatic.

• The garden is full of the scent of roses
• She wears a scent that smells like lavender