scent
Americannoun
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a distinctive odor, especially when agreeable.
the scent of roses.
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an odor left in passing, by means of which an animal or person may be traced.
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a track or trail as or as if indicated by such an odor.
The dogs lost the scent and the prisoner escaped.
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the sense of smell.
a remarkably keen scent.
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small pieces of paper dropped by the hares in the game of hare and hounds.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to hunt by the sense of smell, as a hound.
noun
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a distinctive smell, esp a pleasant one
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a smell left in passing, by which a person or animal may be traced
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a trail, clue, or guide
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an instinctive ability for finding out or detecting
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another word (esp Brit) for perfume
verb
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(tr) to recognize or be aware of by or as if by the smell
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(tr) to have a suspicion of; detect
I scent foul play
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(tr) to fill with odour or fragrance
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(intr) (of hounds, etc) to hunt by the sense of smell
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to smell (at)
the dog scented the air
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see throw off, def. 3.
Related Words
See odor.
Other Word Forms
- nonscented adjective
- outscent verb (used with object)
- overscented adjective
- scented adjective
- scentless adjective
- scentlessness noun
- unscented adjective
- well-scented adjective
Etymology
Origin of scent
First recorded in 1325–75; (verb) earlier sent, Middle English senten, from Middle French sentir “to smell,” from Latin sentīre, “to feel”; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb sense
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A whiff of Cynthia’s signature scent, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, helped her remember her mom.
From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026
Pulling her closer, we embrace, her head resting on my chest, and in silence, we breathe our scent and hear the beating of our hearts.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026
That includes drag hunting - which uses a fixed course for the hounds to follow - and clean‑boot hunting, where bloodhounds chase the scent of runners they mingle with before they set off.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
Bear, an 11-year-old Australian Koolie, was one of the first dogs in the country to be trained on the scent of koala fur.
From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026
His scent would wash away, and neither the stranger wolves nor the demon would smell him.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
