Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *smel-der.
Proto-West Germanic *smalljan
Old English *smiellan
Middle English smellen
English smell
From Middle English smellen, smillen, smyllen, smullen, from Old English *smyllan, *smiellan (“to smell, emit fumes”), from Proto-West Germanic *smallijan (“to glow, burn, smoulder”), from Proto-Indo-European *smel- (“to burn, smoke, smoulder; tar, pitch”). The noun is from Middle English smel, smil, smul (“smell, odour”). Related to Saterland Frisian smeele (“to smoulder”), Middle Dutch smōlen (“to burn, smoulder”) (whence Dutch smeulen (“to smoulder”)), Middle Low German smölen (“to be hazy, be dusty”) (whence Low German smölen (“smoulder”)), Low German smullen (“emit smoke”), West Flemish smoel (“stuffy, muggy, hazy”), Danish smul (“dust, powder”), Lithuanian smilkyti (“to incense, fumigate”), Lithuanian smilkti (“to smudge, smolder, fume, reek”), Lithuanian smalkinti (“to fume”), Middle Irish smál, smól, smúal (“fire, gleed, embers, ashes”), Russian смола́ (smolá, “resin, tar”). Compare smoulder, smother.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A sensation, pleasant or unpleasant, detected by inhaling air (or, the case of water-breathing animals, water) carrying airborne molecules of a substance.
I love the smell of fresh bread.
The penetrating smell of cabbage reached the nose of Toad as he lay prostrate in his misery on the floor, and gave him the idea for a moment that perhaps life was not such a blank and desperate thing as he had imagined. But still he wailed, and kicked with his legs, and refused to be comforted. So the wise girl retired for the time, but, of course, a good deal of the smell of hot cabbage remained behind, as it will do, and Toad, between his sobs, sniffed and reflected, and gradually began to think new and inspiring thoughts: of chivalry, and poetry[…] 1908 October, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) The sense that detects odours.
In this interest we used the survey to obtain unique data about the memory-evoking power of smell. We found that the stronger the odor, the more likely it was to bring to mind a vivid memory. 1987 October, Avery N. Gilbert and Charles J. Wysocki, “Results of the Smell Survey”, in National Geographic, volume 172, number 4, page 524:
(countable, uncountable) A conclusion or intuition that a situation is wrong, more complex than it seems, or otherwise inappropriate.
I’m just saying, this has a bad smell to it. 2018 February 8, Carl Schroers, chapter 8, in Wrestling with Time Lost, Lulu Press:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *smel-der.
Proto-West Germanic *smalljan
Old English *smiellan
Middle English smellen
English smell
From Middle English smellen, smillen, smyllen, smullen, from Old English *smyllan, *smiellan (“to smell, emit fumes”), from Proto-West Germanic *smallijan (“to glow, burn, smoulder”), from Proto-Indo-European *smel- (“to burn, smoke, smoulder; tar, pitch”). The noun is from Middle English smel, smil, smul (“smell, odour”). Related to Saterland Frisian smeele (“to smoulder”), Middle Dutch smōlen (“to burn, smoulder”) (whence Dutch smeulen (“to smoulder”)), Middle Low German smölen (“to be hazy, be dusty”) (whence Low German smölen (“smoulder”)), Low German smullen (“emit smoke”), West Flemish smoel (“stuffy, muggy, hazy”), Danish smul (“dust, powder”), Lithuanian smilkyti (“to incense, fumigate”), Lithuanian smilkti (“to smudge, smolder, fume, reek”), Lithuanian smalkinti (“to fume”), Middle Irish smál, smól, smúal (“fire, gleed, embers, ashes”), Russian смола́ (smolá, “resin, tar”). Compare smoulder, smother.
Meanings
(transitive) To sense a smell or smells.
I can smell fresh bread.
Smell the milk and tell me whether it's gone off.
(broadly, transitive) To sense a smell or smells. ▸ To detect or perceive; often with out.
I smell a device. c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
(copulative, intransitive) Followed by like or of if descriptive: to have a particular smell, whether good or bad.
The drunkard smelt like a brewery.
Este's been losing sleep / Her husband's acting different and it smells like infidelity 2021, Taylor Swift, “No Body, No Crime”:
The roses smell lovely.
Her feet smell of cheese.
Philander went into the next room[…]and came back with a salt mackerel[…]. Next he put the mackerel in a fry-pan, and the shanty began to smell like a Banks boat just in from a v'yage. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VIII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
(broadly, copulative, intransitive) Followed by like or of if descriptive: to have a particular smell, whether good or bad. ▸ To smell of; to have a smell of
I do smell all horse-piss 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
(copulative, intransitive, without a modifier) Followed by like or of if descriptive: to have a particular smell, whether good or bad. ▸ To smell bad; to stink.
Ew, this restroom smells (loathsomely).
(copulative, figuratively, intransitive) Followed by like or of if descriptive: to have a particular smell, whether good or bad. ▸ To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to savour.
A report smells of calumny.
Praises in an enemy are superfluous, or smell of craft. 1649, J[ohn] Milton, ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], →OCLC:
(obsolete) To give heed to.
So from that tyme forwarde I began to ſmell the word of god, and forſoke the ſchole doctors and ſuch foolries. 1552, Hughe Latymer [i.e., Hugh Latimer], Augustine Bernher, compiler, “[The First Sermon]”, in Certayn Godly Sermons, Made uppon the Lords Prayer, […], London: […] John Day, […], published 1562, →OCLC, folio 5, verso:
nb lukte (sense with nose) · az qoxulanmaq (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · zea stienke (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · sh њу̏шити (sense with nose) · la olfaciō (sense with nose) · qu mutkhiy (sense with nose) · nah ihnecui (sense with nose) · et haistma (sense with nose) · la oleō (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · gv soar (sense with nose) · mi hongihongi (sense with nose) · tg бӯй омадан (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · be адчува́ць пах (sense with nose) · nb stinke (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · be чуць (sense with nose) · fr fleurer (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · kea txerá (sense with nose) · tg бӯй кардан (sense with nose) · hy հոտ արձակել (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · zh 鼻 (sense with nose) · ia olfacer (sense with nose) · lt uosti (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · hsb wonjeć (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ca flairar (sense with nose) · lt uosti (sense with nose) · ca olorar (sense with nose) · cs páchnout (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · zh 聞 /闻 (sense with nose) · tr koku almak (sense with nose) · pl powąchać (sense with nose) · uk ню́хати (sense with nose) · njo-jgl menem (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · es oler (sense with nose) · fi lemuta (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · km ក្លិនល្អ (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · mi whakamono (sense with nose) · sl dišati (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · srn smeri (sense with nose) · sv dofta (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · sl vohati (sense with nose) · fi aavistaa (detect or perceive) · rm savurar da (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · gl cheirar (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · eo odori (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · mi hongi (sense with nose) · cs vonět (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · jv ngambu (sense with nose) · ca fer olor de (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · nb lukte (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · lv ost (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · bn গন্ধ পাওয়া (sense with nose) · nl ruiken (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · kk иістену (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · hy հոտ առնել (sense with nose) · zyp hnang (sense with nose) · bg мири́ша (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · izh hajahtaa (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · eu usaindu (sense with nose) · uk па́хнути (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · es olorosar (sense with nose) · lo ດົມ (sense with nose) · vi có mùi (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · io flarar (sense with nose) · da stinke (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · hu bűzlik (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · dsb wónjaś (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ca flairar (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · fi haista (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · jv mambu (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · wyi ngarroba (sense with nose) · be ню́хаць (sense with nose) · tet horon (sense with nose) · az qoxumaq (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · fa اَنْبوییدَن (sense with nose) · it odorare (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ba еҫ һиҙеү (sense with nose) · fo lukta (sense with nose) · af ruik (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ru ощуща́ть за́пах (sense with nose) · ar شَمَّمَ (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · txb wär-sk- (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · fr sentir (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · cy arogli (sense with nose) · af ruik (sense with nose) · vi ngửi (sense with nose) · sv stinka (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · fi döfätä (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ht santi (sense with nose) · hy հոտ քաշել (sense with nose) · ckb بۆنکردن (sense with nose) · hu illatú (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · sh мирѝсати (sense with nose) · ja 匂う (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · gu સૂંઘવું (sense with nose) · gv soar (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · fa شِنُفْتَن (sense with nose) · sk páchnuť (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ca ensumar (sense with nose) · fi haistaa (detect or perceive) · nv yishchin (sense with nose) · rup anjurdzescu (sense with nose) · fa بو دَاشْتَن (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · cs čichat (sense with nose) · el ὄσδω (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · sh dišati (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · hu illatozik (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · zh 嗅 (sense with nose) · mr वास घेणे (sense with nose) · ulw wingnaka (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · hi सूँघना (sense with nose) · uz is chiqarmoq (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · sa जिघ्रति (sense with nose) · eo flari (sense with nose) · fr exhaler (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · de stinken (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · la olefaciō (sense with nose) · ur سُونگْھنا (sense with nose) · fr flairer (sense with nose) · kk иіс шығу (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · oc flairar (sense with nose) · hi महँकना (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · shn ၼူမ် (sense with nose) · ja 匂いを感じる (sense with nose) · ru ню́хать (sense with nose) · nl ruiken (sense with nose) · ky жыттануу (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · dsb cuś (sense with nose) · ext golel (sense with nose) · hu szagú (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · nmn ta̰ã (sense with nose) · kea txera (sense with nose) · es husmear (sense with nose) · sh njȕšiti (sense with nose) · it sentire l'odore (sense with nose) · it fiutare (sense with nose) · mn үнэрлэх (sense with nose) · th มีกลิ่น (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · sh дишати (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · rup anjurzescu (sense with nose) · qu q'apay (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · tr koklamak (sense with nose) · zyp hnang (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · su ambung (sense with nose) · km ធុំ (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · hy բուրել (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · uz hid chiqarmoq (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ast goliflar (sense with nose) · rm odurar (sense with nose) · bg мири́ша (sense with nose) · km ក្លិនក្រអូប (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · km ក្លិនអាក្រក់ (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · yue 聞 /闻 (sense with nose) · ru обоня́ть (sense with nose) · pl wąchać (sense with nose) · id berbau (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ru чу́вствовать за́пах (sense with nose) · az iyi gəlmək (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · mk намирисува (sense with nose) · cs cítit (sense with nose) · fi tuoksua (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · uk чу́ти (sense with nose) · grc ὄζω (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · mk мириса (sense with nose) · tk yslamak (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · mww hnia (sense with nose) · ckb بۆن (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · fi haistaa (sense with nose) · ru па́хнуть (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · tr kokmak (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · sv lukta (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ang stincan (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · mk мириса (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · hu megszagol (sense with nose) · ka სუნის დენა (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · nv honishchin (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · pt cheirar (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · hy հոտ ունենալ (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · hu … szaga van (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · be па́хнуць (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · hu szagol (sense with nose) · ca sentir olor de (sense with nose) · sh mirìsati (sense with nose) · hy հոտոտել (sense with nose) · tg бӯйидан (sense with nose) · ga bolaigh (sense with nose) · fa بو کَرْدَن (sense with nose) · ko 냄새가 나다 (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · gl cheirar (sense with nose) · is lykta (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · sv lukta (sense with nose) · ru чу́ять (sense with nose) · khb ᦡᦳᧄ (sense with nose) · sl vonjati (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · sh mirìsati (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ko 냄새를 맡다 (sense with nose) · yi שמעקן (sense with nose) · my နမ်း (sense with nose) · ro mirosi (sense with nose) · ca odorar (sense with nose) · uk чу́яти (sense with nose) · ar شَمَّ (sense with nose) · es oler (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · rup njurzescu (sense with nose) · sat ᱥᱳ (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · mh ātāt (sense with nose) · nl geuren (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · mh bwiin (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · fur sintî (sense with nose) · lv ost (sense with nose) · hu … illata van (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · km ក្លិនមិនល្អ (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · fr humer (sense with nose) · de riechen (sense with nose) · zza boy kerden (sense with nose) · rap hongi (sense with nose) · el μυρίζω (sense with nose) · da lugte (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · et lõhnama (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · tg бӯй додан (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ast goliquiar (sense with nose) · pl pachnieć (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · kk аңку (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · sk voňať (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · cs být cítit (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ang ġestincan (sense with nose) · nl stinken (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · pt cheirar (sense with nose) · ka ყნოსვა (sense with nose) · de riechen (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · id mencium (sense with nose) · is finna lykt(ina) af (sense with nose) · zh 發出氣味 /发出气味 (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ja 嗅ぐ (sense with nose) · io odorar (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · fi löyhkätä (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · la fragrō (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · cdo 鼻 (sense with nose) · sk čuchať (sense with nose) · fa بوییدَن (sense with nose) · fr odorer (sense with nose) · az iyləmək (sense with nose) · ko 맡다 (sense with nose) · chr ᎠᏒᎦ (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · hi गँधाना (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · as শুঙা (sense with nose) · ast goler (sense with nose) · zza boy amayen (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · zea ruke (sense with nose) · ro mirosi (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · cho bʋlama (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · rm odurar (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · mi konakona (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · th ดม (sense with nose) · he הֵרִיחַ (sense with nose) · sk cítiť (sense with nose) · hu érez (sense with nose) · sh мирѝсати (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · da dufte (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · da lugte (sense with nose) · fr sentir (sense with nose) · bg ду́ша (sense with nose) · ar شم (sense with nose) · txb wär-sk- (sense with nose) · izh haissa (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · sat ᱥᱳ (sense with nose) · pl wonieć (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ar اِشْتَمَّ (sense with nose) · el μυρίζω (to have a particular smell, whether good or bad; if descriptive, followed by "like" or "of") · ms menghidu (sense with nose) · scn ciaurari (sense with nose) · ba еҫкәү (sense with nose) · pap ole (sense with nose)