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   Scent

   /sent/

   

   noun

   • 1. a distinctive smell, especially one that is pleasant: "the scent of freshly cut hay" Similar smellfragrancearomaperfumeredolencesavorodorwhiffbouquetnoseOpposite stinkstench
   • ▪ pleasant-smelling liquid worn on the skin; perfume: "she sprayed scent over her body" Similar perfumefragrancetoilet waterlavender watercologneparfumeau de toiletteeau de cologneinformal:scoosh
   • 2. a trail indicated by the characteristic smell of an animal and perceptible to hounds or other animals: "the hound followed the scent" Similar spoortrailtrackfoilwind
   • ▪ a trail of evidence or other signs assisting someone in a search or investigation: "I got word that other reporters had picked up the scent"
   • 3. the faculty or sense of smell: archaic "the dog, having the help of scent as well as of sight"

   verb

   • 1. impart a pleasant scent to: "a glass of tea scented with lemon balm"
   • 2. discern by the sense of smell: "a shark can scent blood from well over half a mile away" Similar smelldetect the smell ofpick up the smell ofget a whiff of
   • ▪ sense the presence, existence, or imminence of: "a commander who scented victory" Similar sensebecome aware ofbecome conscious ofdetectdiscernperceiverecognizeget wind ofsniff outnose out
   • ▪ sniff (the air) for a scent: "the bull advanced, scenting the breeze at every step"

   Word Origin late Middle English (denoting the sense of smell): from Old French sentir ‘perceive, smell’, from Latin sentire. The addition of -c- (in the 17th century) is unexplained.

   Derivatives

   • 1. scentless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • S

     1

   • C

     3

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • T

     1

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