# scent

Pronunciation: say "SENT" /sɛnt/

## Noun

1. A smell that is characteristic of a particular thing.
   - Simple: A special smell that belongs to a certain thing.
   - _The candle released a faint scent of cedar as it burned._
   - _Hikers stopped to breathe in the sharp scents of pine and wet stone._
2. A substance, usually a liquid, made to give off a pleasant smell.
   - Simple: A liquid or other product made to smell nice.
   - _He wore so much scent that the whole elevator smelled of it._
   - _The little shop sells handmade soap and bottles of scent blended on the premises._
3. The smell an animal leaves behind, which can be used to track it.
   - Simple: The smell an animal leaves behind, which others can follow to find it.
   - _The bloodhounds found the deer's scent near the creek and set off at a run._
   - _Heavy rain had washed away the scent, and the hounds circled in confusion._
5. A trace or trail that leads to someone or something when followed, such as the scattered paper in a paperchase.
   - Simple: A trail or sign that you can follow to find someone or something.
   - _A leaked spreadsheet set auditors on the scent of the missing funds._
   - _The killer planted false evidence to throw detectives off the scent._
7. The sense of smell.
   - Simple: The power to smell things.
   - _Hunters prized the breed for its keen scent and tireless legs._
   - _Male moths can locate a mate by scent from surprising distances._

## Verb

4. To detect or recognize something by its smell.
   - Simple: To notice something by smelling it.
   - _The wolves scented the herd long before they could see it._
   - _Our cat can scent tuna the moment the can is opened._
6. To give something a particular smell.
   - Simple: To make something smell a certain way.
   - _Some bakers scent the sugar with orange peel before using it._
   - _Freshly cut grass scented the evening air._
8. To suspect something, or sense that it may be present or possible.
   - Simple: To start to feel that something may be there or may happen.
   - _The challenger scented victory as his opponent began to tire._
   - _Investors who scent a bargain tend to move quickly._
9. To breathe in through the nose so as to catch the smell of something.
   - Simple: To breathe in through your nose to try to smell something.
   - _The doe lifted her head to scent the wind before stepping into the clearing._
   - _Nose raised and quivering, the hound stood scenting at the edge of the woods._
10. To hunt animals by following their smell.
   - Simple: To hunt animals by using smell to find them.

## Noun

11. Sense or perception of any kind. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: The ability to sense or notice things.

## Verb

12. To give off an odor, or, more loosely, to suggest or convey an impression of something. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To have a smell, or to seem to show some quality.

## Origin

From Middle English sent (noun) and senten (verb), from Old French sentir ("to feel, perceive, smell, sense"), from Latin sentīre ("to feel, sense"), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sent- ("to feel"); it is related to Dutch zin and German Sinn ("sense"). The -c- appeared in the 17th century, possibly under the influence of ascent and descent, or of science.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/scent (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).