Olfaction: meaning, definitions and examples

👃

Add to dictionary

olfaction

[ɒlˈfækʃən ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

sense of smell

Olfaction is the sense of smell. It is the ability to detect and identify odors in the environment.

Synonyms

sense of smell, smelling.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
olfaction	Used in scientific or technical contexts to refer to the sense of smell. The study focused on the neurobiology of olfaction. Olfaction plays a critical role in detecting hazards in the environment.
sense of smell	A more general and versatile term that can be used in both casual and formal contexts to refer to the ability to detect scents. Her sense of smell is very acute, she can identify spices from afar. Losing your sense of smell can significantly impact your quality of life.
smelling	Used in everyday conversation to describe the act or process of detecting scents. It may have a somewhat negative connotation when describing personal hygiene. She was smelling the flowers in her garden. He was smelling really bad after the workout.

Word

Description / Examples

olfaction

Used in scientific or technical contexts to refer to the sense of smell.

The study focused on the neurobiology of olfaction.
Olfaction plays a critical role in detecting hazards in the environment.

sense of smell

A more general and versatile term that can be used in both casual and formal contexts to refer to the ability to detect scents.

Her sense of smell is very acute, she can identify spices from afar.
Losing your sense of smell can significantly impact your quality of life.

smelling

Used in everyday conversation to describe the act or process of detecting scents. It may have a somewhat negative connotation when describing personal hygiene.

She was smelling the flowers in her garden.
He was smelling really bad after the workout.

Examples of usage

The olfaction of dogs is much stronger than that of humans.
Some animals rely heavily on olfaction to navigate their surroundings.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

olfactory organs

Olfaction refers to the organs in the nose that are responsible for detecting odors.

Synonyms

nose sensors, olfactory system.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
olfaction	Repeated entry. Since no new context is provided, refer to the previous entry on 'olfaction'.
olfactory system	Used in detailed discussions about the anatomy and function of the sense of smell, especially in academic or scientific contexts. The olfactory system is comprised of different structures like the olfactory bulb and olfactory receptor neurons. Understanding the olfactory system is important for developing treatments for smell disorders.
nose sensors	Informal term, often used in everyday conversation or in less technical contexts, referring to the parts of the nose responsible for detecting smells. My nose sensors went into overdrive when I entered the bakery. Dogs have incredibly powerful nose sensors compared to humans.

Word

Description / Examples

olfaction

Repeated entry. Since no new context is provided, refer to the previous entry on 'olfaction'.

olfactory system

Used in detailed discussions about the anatomy and function of the sense of smell, especially in academic or scientific contexts.

The olfactory system is comprised of different structures like the olfactory bulb and olfactory receptor neurons.
Understanding the olfactory system is important for developing treatments for smell disorders.

nose sensors

Informal term, often used in everyday conversation or in less technical contexts, referring to the parts of the nose responsible for detecting smells.

My nose sensors went into overdrive when I entered the bakery.
Dogs have incredibly powerful nose sensors compared to humans.

Examples of usage

The olfaction in humans is located in the nasal cavity.
The olfaction can be affected by allergies or sinus infections.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The term comes from the Latin word 'olfacere', meaning 'to smell'.
It combines the prefix 'olf-' related to smell and '-action', indicating an active process.
The concept has been used in descriptions of human senses since the early 17th century.

Science

Olfaction is closely linked to the limbic system in the brain, influencing emotions and memories.
Humans can distinguish over a trillion different scents, although we often overlook this remarkable ability.
The olfactory bulb is responsible for processing smells, and it develops early in life, even before birth.

Psychology

Smells can evoke powerful emotional responses or memories, often more vividly than sights or sounds.
Research shows that certain scents can enhance mood or cognitive performance, making olfaction valuable in therapy.
This sense is linked to taste, with olfaction playing a crucial role in how we perceive flavors.

Cultural Significance

Throughout history, different cultures have valued specific scents; for example, incense has been used in religious ceremonies.
In modern society, fragrance plays a significant role in branding, with many companies using scent marketing to attract customers.
Festivals and rituals often incorporate specific odors, symbolizing cultural heritage and identity.

Pop Culture

The 2006 film 'Perfume: The Story of a Murderer' explores obsession with scent in a dark, artistic narrative.
Fragrances have inspired numerous works of art, highlighting olfaction as a muse for creativity.
Famous perfumes have become icons in fashion and beauty, with entire branding campaigns centered around olfaction.

Translations

Translations of the word "olfaction" in other languages:

🇵🇹 olfação

🇮🇳 घ्राण

🇩🇪 Geruchssinn

🇮🇩 penciuman

🇺🇦 нюх

🇵🇱 węch

🇯🇵 嗅覚

🇫🇷 olfaction

🇪🇸 olfacción

🇹🇷 koku alma

🇰🇷 후각

🇸🇦 حاسة الشم

🇨🇿 čich

🇸🇰 čuch

🇨🇳 嗅觉

🇸🇮 vonj

🇮🇸 lyktarskyn

🇰🇿 иіс сезу

🇬🇪 ყნოსვა

🇦🇿 qoxu duyğusu

🇲🇽 olfacción

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,140 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

...
33137 suffixed
33138 ravioli
33139 waggled
33140 olfaction
33141 prude
33142 dawdling
33143 asocial
...