Nose: meaning, definitions and examples

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nose

[nəʊz ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

body part

The part of the face or head through which a person or animal smells and breathes; the nostrils.

Synonyms

nostrils, sniffer.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
nose	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.
nostrils	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.
sniffer	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.

Word

Description / Examples

nose

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.

nostrils

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.

sniffer

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.

Examples of usage

He had a big nose.
She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
The dog sniffed the air with its nose.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

informal

A person's ability to detect something by smell.

Synonyms

olfactory sense, sense of smell.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
nose	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!
sense of smell	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.
olfactory sense	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.

Word

Description / Examples

nose

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!

sense of smell

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.

olfactory sense

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.

Examples of usage

She has a keen nose for good wine.
He has a nose for trouble.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

informal

Detect a scent or follow a trail by using the sense of smell.

Synonyms

scent, sniff.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
nose	Use 'nose' in a different sense to mean prying into other people's business, often considered impolite. Stop nosing around my stuff!
sniff	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
scent	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

Word

Description / Examples

nose

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

Stop nosing around my stuff!

sniff

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

scent

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

Examples of usage

The dog nosed around the garden.
She could nose out the source of the smell.

Interesting Facts

Anatomy

Humans have about 5 million smell receptors in their noses, which help detect different odors.
The nose warms and humidifies the air we breathe, making it easier for our lungs to work.
The nose consists of several parts, including the nostrils, nasal passage, and the olfactory bulb that processes smells.

Culture

In many cultures, a long nose is often associated with wisdom or cunning, as seen in fairy tales.
Some traditional belief systems regard the nose as a symbol of pride and ambition.
In ancient Rome, a person’s nose was often described in poetry to signify beauty or social status.

Language

The word 'nose' comes from the Old English 'nasa', which is related to similar words in various Germanic languages.
The saying 'to keep your nose clean' means to stay out of trouble, showing how the nose relates to behavior.
In the world of slang, 'nose' can be used to describe someone who is overly curious, as in 'nosey.'

Psychology

The human brain processes smells through the limbic system, affecting our emotions and memories.
Certain fragrances can evoke strong emotional responses, making our sense of smell closely linked to nostalgia.
Studies show that the ability to smell can influence preferences, including attractions to partners or food.

Health

The nose plays a crucial role in detecting harmful substances in the air, protecting our bodies from inhaling toxins.
Sinus infections can cause swelling and pressure in the nose, impacting how we smell and feel.
Seasonal allergies can be triggered by pollen or dust, leading to stuffiness and sniffles due to the nose’s defense role.

Translations

Translations of the word "nose" in other languages:

🇵🇹 nariz

🇮🇳 नाक

🇩🇪 Nase

🇮🇩 hidung

🇺🇦 ніс

🇵🇱 nos

🇯🇵 鼻

🇫🇷 nez

🇪🇸 nariz

🇹🇷 burun

🇰🇷 코

🇸🇦 أنف

🇨🇿 nos

🇸🇰 nos

🇨🇳 鼻子

🇸🇮 nos

🇮🇸 nef

🇰🇿 мұрын

🇬🇪 ცხვირი

🇦🇿 burun

🇲🇽 nariz

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,143, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.

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3140 injuries
3141 reflection
3142 excluded
3143 nose
3144 exclusively
3145 retired
3146 investigated
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