Home
/ Dictionary
/ Sense of smell

Sense of smell: meaning, definitions and examples

👃

Add to dictionary

sense of smell

[ sɛns ʌv smɛl ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in the human body

The sense of smell, also known as olfaction, is the ability to detect and perceive odors through the nose. It plays a crucial role in our daily lives, helping us to enjoy the aroma of food, detect danger, and even evoke memories through scents.

Synonyms

olfaction, scent.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sense of smell	Used in general conversation, can be used interchangeably with 'sense of smell' in most instances. Dogs have a highly developed sense of smell, which makes them excellent at tracking
olfaction	Primarily used in scientific or medical contexts to describe the physiological process of detecting and interpreting smells. Researchers in the study of olfaction have discovered new ways in which the brain processes scents
scent	Used to describe a particular odor, often pleasing and associated with perfumes, flowers, or nature. The scent of jasmine filled the room, creating a calming atmosphere

Word

Description / Examples

sense of smell

Used in general conversation, can be used interchangeably with 'sense of smell' in most instances.

Dogs have a highly developed sense of smell, which makes them excellent at tracking

olfaction

Primarily used in scientific or medical contexts to describe the physiological process of detecting and interpreting smells.

Researchers in the study of olfaction have discovered new ways in which the brain processes scents

scent

Used to describe a particular odor, often pleasing and associated with perfumes, flowers, or nature.

The scent of jasmine filled the room, creating a calming atmosphere

Examples of usage

The sense of smell allows us to distinguish between different fragrances.
She has a keen sense of smell and can detect even the faintest odors.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

in animals

In animals, the sense of smell is essential for survival, helping them to find food, detect predators, and communicate with others of their species. Many animals have a much stronger sense of smell than humans, allowing them to navigate their environment through scent trails.

Synonyms

olfaction, scent.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sense of smell	This term is commonly used in everyday conversation and general contexts to refer to the ability to detect and identify odors. Dogs have a much better sense of smell than humans. My sense of smell improved after my cold went away.
olfaction	This term is primarily used in scientific or medical contexts when discussing the biological and physiological aspects of smelling. The study focused on the role of olfaction in human behavior. Olfaction is one of the senses processed by the brain's olfactory bulb.
scent	This word is often used to refer to specific smells, particularly pleasant or distinctive ones, and is commonly found in contexts involving perfumes, nature, and animals. She wore a scent that reminded him of fresh roses. The scent of pine trees filled the air in the forest.

Word

Description / Examples

sense of smell

This term is commonly used in everyday conversation and general contexts to refer to the ability to detect and identify odors.

Dogs have a much better sense of smell than humans.
My sense of smell improved after my cold went away.

olfaction

This term is primarily used in scientific or medical contexts when discussing the biological and physiological aspects of smelling.

The study focused on the role of olfaction in human behavior.
Olfaction is one of the senses processed by the brain's olfactory bulb.

scent

This word is often used to refer to specific smells, particularly pleasant or distinctive ones, and is commonly found in contexts involving perfumes, nature, and animals.

She wore a scent that reminded him of fresh roses.
The scent of pine trees filled the air in the forest.

Examples of usage

Dogs rely heavily on their sense of smell to track scents and locate objects.
The sense of smell in some animals is thousands of times more sensitive than in humans.

Translations

Translations of the word "sense of smell" in other languages:

🇵🇹 olfato

🇮🇳 घ्राण शक्ति

🇩🇪 Geruchssinn

🇮🇩 indra penciuman

🇺🇦 нюх

🇵🇱 zmysł węchu

🇯🇵 嗅覚

🇫🇷 odorat

🇪🇸 sentido del olfato

🇹🇷 koku alma duyusu

🇰🇷 후각

🇸🇦 حاسة الشم

🇨🇿 čich

🇸🇰 čuch

🇨🇳 嗅觉

🇸🇮 voh

🇮🇸 þefskyn

🇰🇿 иіс сезу қабілеті

🇬🇪 ყნოსვის გრძნობა

🇦🇿 qoxu hissi

🇲🇽 sentido del olfato

Etymology

The sense of smell, or olfaction, is one of the oldest and most primitive senses in living organisms. It has evolved over millions of years to help organisms detect food, avoid danger, and communicate with others. The ability to smell has played a crucial role in the survival of species throughout history, shaping behaviors and interactions in the natural world.