Odour: meaning, definitions and examples

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odour

 

[ หˆoสŠ.dษš ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

pleasant/ unpleasant

Odour refers to a distinctive smell, often one that is strong or unpleasant. It can be used to describe scents that may evoke reactions, both positive and negative. Different people can have varying sensitivities to odours, leading to subjective experiences of smell. Some odours can be associated with certain environments or materials, and they play an important role in the perception of taste as well. Understanding odour can also be crucial in various fields such as cooking, perfume making, and environmental science.

Synonyms

aroma, fragrance, perfume, scent, smell

Examples of usage

  • The odour of freshly baked bread filled the air.
  • She was offended by the strong odour of cigarette smoke.
  • The flowers released a sweet odour into the room.

Translations

Translations of the word "odour" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น odor

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค—เค‚เคง

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Geruch

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ bau

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะทะฐะฟะฐั…

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ zapach

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅŒ‚ใ„

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท odeur

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ olor

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท koku

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ƒ„์ƒˆ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฑุงุฆุญุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ zรกpach

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ zรกpach

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆฐ”ๅ‘ณ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ vonj

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ lykt

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะธั–ัั‚ั–าฃ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒฃแƒœแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ qox

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ olor

Etymology

The word 'odour' originates from the Latin word 'odor', which means 'smell'. The transition from Latin to English happened around the late Middle Ages, as the influence of Norman French filtered through to English following the Norman Conquest of 1066. In Old French, the word 'odeur' referred to a sensory experience associated with detecting scents. The spelling and pronunciation evolved as the word integrated into the English language. Unlike its modern usage, which can denote both pleasant and unpleasant smells, the historical usage of 'odor' was often more neutral. Over time, 'odour' took on a more specific connotation, especially in British English, where it can imply an unpleasant or distinctive smell, while 'odor' in American English has become more generalized. The nuances in meaning and usage reflect cultural attitudes toward smell and perception.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #12,888, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.