释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024smell /smɛl/USA pronunciation v., smelled or smelt/smɛlt/USA pronunciation smell•ing, n. v. - to detect the odor of (something) through the nose;
inhale the odor of something: [~ + object]He smelled the flowers in the garden.[not: be + ~-ing* no object]Because he had a bad head cold he could hardly smell. - [not: be + ~-ing] to give off or have an odor:These flowers don't smell at all.
- to have a certain odor or scent: [~ + of/like + object][not: be + ~-ing]The whole house smelled of smoke.[~ + adjective]The room smelled bad.
- Physiology to give out a strong or offensive odor;
stink:[not: be + ~-ing* no object]Whew, that fish really smells! - to test by the sense of smell:[~ + object]He smelled the meat to see if it was fresh.
- to detect by cleverness:[not: be + ~-ing* ~ + object]The detective smelled foul play.
- to have a trace or suggestion:[not: be + ~-ing* ~ + of + object]This smells of foul play.
- Informal Termsto be of inferior quality;
stink:[not: be + ~-ing* no object]Your team really smells! - smell out, [~ + object] to look for by or as if by smelling:The newspaper reporter could smell out a story from just a hint of trouble.
- smell up, to fill with an offensive odor;
stink up: [~ + up + object]Her perfume was smelling up the whole room.[~ + object + up]to smell it up. n. - Physiology the sense of being able to detect something with the nose:[uncountable]the sense of smell.
- that quality of a thing that is or may be smelled:[countable]The fish has a pretty strong smell.
- an act or instance of smelling:[countable]Give this a smell and tell me if it's still fresh.
- a trace or suggestion:[countable]a smell of danger.
- an appearance, character, or quality that seems to be all around a thing:[countable]the sweet smell of success.
Idioms- Idioms smell a rat, to suspect that something is wrong:He smelled a rat when he saw her sneaking through the back door.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024smell (smel),USA pronunciation v., smelled or smelt, smell•ing, n. v.t. - to perceive the odor or scent of through the nose by means of the olfactory nerves;
inhale the odor of:I smell something burning. - to test by the sense of smell:She smelled the meat to see if it was fresh.
- to perceive, detect, or discover by shrewdness or sagacity:The detective smelled foul play.
v.i. - Physiologyto perceive something by its odor or scent.
- to search or investigate (fol. by around or about).
- to give off or have an odor or scent:Do the yellow roses smell?
- Physiologyto give out an offensive odor;
stink. - to have a particular odor (fol. by of ):My hands smell of fish.
- to have a trace or suggestion (fol. by of ).
- Informal Termsto be of inferior quality;
stink:The play is good, but the direction smells. - Informal Termsto have the appearance or a suggestion of guilt or corruption:They may be honest, but the whole situation smells.
- smell a rat. See rat (def. 6).
- smell out, to look for or detect as if by smelling;
search out:to smell out enemy spies. - smell up, to fill with an offensive odor;
stink up:The garbage smelled up the yard. n. - Physiologythe sense of smell;
faculty of smelling. - the quality of a thing that is or may be smelled;
odor; scent. - a trace or suggestion.
- an act or instance of smelling.
- a pervading appearance, character, quality, or influence:the smell of money.
- ?
- early Middle English smell, smull (noun, nominal), smellen, smullen (verb, verbal) 1125–75
smell′a•ble, adj. smell′-less, adj. - 16.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See odor.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: smell /smɛl/ vb (smells, smelling, smelt, smelled)- (transitive) to perceive the scent or odour of (a substance) by means of the olfactory nerves
- (copula) to have a specified smell; appear to the sense of smell to be: the beaches smell of seaweed, some tobacco smells very sweet
- (intransitive) often followed by of: to emit an odour (of): the park smells of flowers
- (intransitive) to emit an unpleasant odour; stink
- (transitive) often followed by out: to detect through shrewdness or instinct
- (intransitive) to have or use the sense of smell; sniff
- (intransitive) followed by of: to give indications (of): he smells of money
- (intr; followed by around, about, etc) to search, investigate, or pry
- (copula) to be or seem to be untrustworthy or corrupt
n - that sense (olfaction) by which scents or odours are perceived
Related adjective(s): olfactory - anything detected by the sense of smell; odour; scent
- a trace or indication
- the act or an instance of smelling
Etymology: 12th Century: of uncertain origin; compare Middle Dutch smölen to scorchˈsmeller n |