scent

Language▾

German

Persian

Russian

Spanish

A scent is the smell that something gives off. It's like when you walk into a room and can tell what someone has been cooking.

When we talk about scents, often we mean perfume or fragrance - so a nice cologne on a guy might be considered a strong scent. But we also use the word for everyday smells too: "I love the scent of freshly baked cookies," or "What's that bad scent coming from the trash?" If you have a garden, you might talk about the scent of blooming flowers. Some people are really sensitive to certain scents and get headaches when they smell strong perfumes or chemicals.

How common is "scent"?

Word scent is considered uncommon in modern English.
It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.

Definitions

noun

A distinctive smell.
Example: the scent of flowers / of a skunk
A smell left by an animal that may be used for tracing.
Example: The dogs picked up / caught the scent but then quickly lost it.
The sense of smell.
Example: I believe the bloodhound has the best scent of all dogs.
(chiefly uncountable) A substance (usually liquid) created to provide a pleasant smell.
Example: a scent shop
(figuratively) Any trail or trace that can be followed to find something or someone, such as the paper left behind in a paperchase.
Example: The minister's off-hand remark put journalists on the scent of a cover-up.
(obsolete) Sense, perception.

1 / 6

Real examples of "scent" in context

Elijah Wood Tastes the Lava of Mount Doom While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones

Interview

Yeah, the scent and that first... yeah, that first taste on your taste buds. Wow, that's good, man.

16:08

scent

How common is "scent"?

noun

Real examples of "scent" in context

Elijah Wood Tastes the Lava of Mount Doom While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones

Save 'scent' to your personal vocabulary and increase your knowledge with smart tests!