scent

scent
n. & v.
—n.
1 a distinctive, esp. pleasant, smell (the scent of hay).
2 a a scent trail left by an animal perceptible to hounds etc. b clues etc. that can be followed like a scent trail (lost the scent in Paris). c the power of detecting or distinguishing smells etc. or of discovering things (some dogs have little scent; the scent for talent).
3 Brit. = PERFUME 2.
4 a trail laid in a paper-chase.
—v.
1 tr. a discern by scent (the dog scented game). b sense the presence of (scent treachery).
2 tr. make fragrant or foul-smelling.
3 tr. (as scented adj.) having esp. a pleasant smell (scented soap).
4 intr. exercise the sense of smell (goes scenting about).
5 tr. apply the sense of smell to (scented the air).
Phrases and idioms:
false scent
1 a scent trail laid to deceive.
2 false clues etc. intended to deflect pursuers. on the scent having a clue. put (or throw) off the scent deceive by false clues etc. scent-bag a bag of aniseed etc. used to lay a trail in drag-hunting. scent-gland (or -organ) a gland in some animals secreting musk, civet, etc. scent out discover by smelling or searching.
Derivatives:
scentless adj.
Etymology: ME sent f. OF sentir perceive, smell, f. L sentire; -c- (17th c.) unexpl.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Scent — Scent, n. 1. That which, issuing from a body, affects the olfactory organs of animals; odor; smell; as, the scent of an orange, or of a rose; the scent of musk. [1913 Webster] With lavish hand diffuses scents ambrosial. Prior. [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scent — scent; scent·ed; scent·er; scent·less; de·scent; scent·less·ness; …   English syllables

  • Scent — Scent, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scented}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Scenting}.] [Originally sent, fr. F. sentir to feel, to smell. See {Sense}.] 1. To perceive by the olfactory organs; to smell; as, to scent game, as a hound does. [1913 Webster] Methinks I… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scent — [sent] vt. [ME senten < OFr sentir < L sentire, to feel: see SEND1] 1. to smell; perceive by the olfactory sense 2. to get a hint or inkling of; suspect [to scent trouble] 3. to fill with an odor; give fragrance to; perfume vi. to hunt by… …   English World dictionary

  • Scent — Scent, v. i. 1. To have a smell. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Thunderbolts . . . do scent strongly of brimstone. Holland. [1913 Webster] 2. To hunt animals by means of the sense of smell. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scent — [n] smell, aroma aura, balm, bouquet, essence, fragrance, incense, odor, perfume, redolence, spice, tang, track, trail, whiff; concept 599 Ant. odor, stench, stink scent [v] detect, smell be on the track of*, be on the trail of*, discern, get… …   New thesaurus

  • scent — ► NOUN 1) a distinctive smell, especially one that is pleasant. 2) pleasant smelling liquid worn on the skin; perfume. 3) a trail indicated by the characteristic smell of an animal. ► VERB 1) give a pleasant scent to. 2) discern by the sense of… …   English terms dictionary

  • scent — index clue, trace (follow) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • scent — (v.) c.1400, from O.Fr. sentir to feel, perceive, smell, from L. sentire to feel, perceive, sense (see SENSE (Cf. sense)). Originally a hunting term. The c appeared 17c., perhaps by influence of ascent, descent, etc., or by influence of science.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • scent — n *smell, odor, aroma Analogous words: emanation, issuing or issue (see corresponding verbs at SPRING) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • scent — n. track, trail 1) to have; follow; pick up a (the) scent (the dogs picked up the scent) 2) to leave a scent 3) a cold; false; hot scent 4) (misc.) to throw smb. off the scent intuition 5) a scent for (a scent for news) odor 6) a faint; pungent… …   Combinatory dictionary

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