scent
1 of 2noun
ˈsent 
1
: effluvia from a substance that affect the sense of smell: such as
a
: an odor left by an animal on a surface passed over
b
: a characteristic or particular odor
especially : one that is agreeable
2
a
: power of smelling : sense of smell
a keen scent
b
: power of detection : nose
a scent for heresy
3
: a course of pursuit or discovery
throw one off the scent
4
: inkling, intimation
a scent of trouble
5
: perfume sense 2
6
: bits of paper dropped in the game of hare and hounds
7
: a mixture prepared for use as a lure in hunting or fishing
scentless
ˈsent-ləs
adjective scent
2 of 2verb
scented; scenting; scents
transitive verb
1
a
: to perceive by the olfactory organs : smell
b
: to get or have an inkling of
scent trouble
2
: to imbue or fill with odor
scented the air with perfume
intransitive verb
1
: to yield an odor of some specified kind
this scents of sulfur
also : to bear indication or suggestions
2
: to use the nose in seeking or tracking prey
Synonyms
Noun
- aroma
- attar
- otto
- balm
- bouquet
- fragrance
- fragrancy
- incense
- perfume
- redolence
- spice
Verb
- incense
- odorize
- perfume
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The flower has a wonderful scent. The dogs followed the fox's scent. The prisoner escaped because the dogs lost his scent. Verb The dog scented a rabbit. She scented the air with perfume.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tom Metcalfe, NBC News, 26 July 2022 For those who aren’t soothed by the scent of cordite, Super offered an alternative. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022 Chiklak heard a commotion on Tuesday night as bears went inside a nearby tent, drawn by the scent of food. Emily Goodykoontz, Anchorage Daily News, 30 June 2022 Every spring there is a moment when I am overcome by the scent of the new season. Genevieve Fullan, Longreads, 12 Apr. 2022 At Plénitude, the chef works like a perfumer, seeking to evoke the range of emotion aroused by a unique scent, but through his own medium: sauces. Vivian Song, Robb Report, 16 Jan. 2022 Jocelyn Bennett paints her daughters’ toenails, not bothered by the strong scent of nail polish filling the room at the HomeTown Studios in Orlando. Vladimir Isachenkov, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Aug. 2021 Maybe Asha and Ravi want to throw nosy aunties off the scent. Sonia Rao, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2022 The lip glosses were designed to resemble the sauces not just in color but also in scent. Gabi Thorne, Allure, 29 July 2022 Sarah Han, Allure, 18 July 2022 Dr Acharya mentions that essential oils (concentrated oils extracted from plants) are also used to scent products (often by brands which market themselves as 'natural' or 'clean'). Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 8 Feb. 2022 For a few precious weeks, its regal petals scent the surrounding area with a lemony fragrance. BostonGlobe.com, 6 May 2022 This hand-poured, clean-burning soy candle will scent your apartment for up to 60 hours. Bon Appétit, 26 Apr. 2022 The cluster of pines that scent my favorite picnic spot. Shawnté Salabert, Outside Online, 22 Apr. 2022 Anyone who has experienced a rainy day in the desert knows about that delicate fragrance that rises to scent the shifting winds. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2021 But its main purpose is to scent your space for up to eight cordless hours. Nykia Spradley, Allure, 29 Nov. 2021 At the moment, L’Oreal is benefitting from a boom in fragrances, to scent the return to real life. David Meyer, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2021 See More
Noun
Dogs are renowned for their ability to identify and track objects by scent. Tom Metcalfe, NBC News, 26 July 2022 For those who aren’t soothed by the scent of cordite, Super offered an alternative. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022 Chiklak heard a commotion on Tuesday night as bears went inside a nearby tent, drawn by the scent of food. Emily Goodykoontz, Anchorage Daily News, 30 June 2022 Every spring there is a moment when I am overcome by the scent of the new season. Genevieve Fullan, Longreads, 12 Apr. 2022 At Plénitude, the chef works like a perfumer, seeking to evoke the range of emotion aroused by a unique scent, but through his own medium: sauces. Vivian Song, Robb Report, 16 Jan. 2022 Jocelyn Bennett paints her daughters’ toenails, not bothered by the strong scent of nail polish filling the room at the HomeTown Studios in Orlando. Vladimir Isachenkov, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Aug. 2021 Maybe Asha and Ravi want to throw nosy aunties off the scent. Sonia Rao, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2022 The lip glosses were designed to resemble the sauces not just in color but also in scent. Gabi Thorne, Allure, 29 July 2022 Verb
But, scent aside, both sticks are infused with sodium PCA. Sarah Han, Allure, 18 July 2022 Dr Acharya mentions that essential oils (concentrated oils extracted from plants) are also used to scent products (often by brands which market themselves as 'natural' or 'clean'). Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 8 Feb. 2022 For a few precious weeks, its regal petals scent the surrounding area with a lemony fragrance. BostonGlobe.com, 6 May 2022 This hand-poured, clean-burning soy candle will scent your apartment for up to 60 hours. Bon Appétit, 26 Apr. 2022 The cluster of pines that scent my favorite picnic spot. Shawnté Salabert, Outside Online, 22 Apr. 2022 Anyone who has experienced a rainy day in the desert knows about that delicate fragrance that rises to scent the shifting winds. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2021 But its main purpose is to scent your space for up to eight cordless hours. Nykia Spradley, Allure, 29 Nov. 2021 At the moment, L’Oreal is benefitting from a boom in fragrances, to scent the return to real life. David Meyer, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English sent, from Anglo-French sente, from sentir
Verb
Middle English senten, from Anglo-French sentir to feel, smell, from Latin sentire to perceive, feel — more at sense
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing scent
Kids Definition
scent 1 of 2
noun
ˈsent
1
: an odor that is given off by someone or something
… a little wind … brought a fresh scent of newly turned earth with it. Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden2
: power or sense of smell
The dog has a keen scent.
3
: a course followed in search or pursuit of something
The reporter was on the scent of a story.
4
: perfume entry 1 sense 1
scent
2 of 2verb
scented; scenting
1
: to become aware of or follow through the sense of smell
The dog scented a rabbit.
2
: to get a hint of
Aunt Petunia obviously scented danger, too … J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone3
: to fill with an odor : perfume
Roses scent the air.
scenting
verb
1
as in perfuming
to fill or infuse with a pleasant odor or odor-releasing substance fancy bars of soap scented with lavender Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- perfuming
- incensing
- odorizing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- deodorizing
- stinking up
2
as in sniffing
to become aware of by means of the sense organs in the nose the dog scented a rabbit and suddenly took off Synonyms & Similar Words
- sniffing
- smelling
- inhaling
- snuffing
- whiffing
- nosing
- breathing
- respiring
- snorting
- snuffling
- savoring
- savouring
- drinking (in)
3
as in sensing
to have a vague awareness of he scented danger Synonyms & Similar Words
- sensing
- smelling
- feeling
- seeing
- perceiving
- noticing
- tasting
- hearing
- anticipating
- spying
- realizing
- learning
- discovering
- remarking
- ascertaining
- expecting
- observing
- noting
- viewing
- sighting
- eyeing
- distinguishing
- witnessing
- espying
- discerning
- divining
- foreseeing
- beholding
- eying
- regarding
- suspecting
- descrying
- finding out
- supposing
- guessing
- presuming
- speculating
- assuming
- conjecturing
- looking (at)
- surmising
- foreknowing
- catching on (to)