- odor
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—odorful, adj. —odorless, adj./oh"deuhr/, n.1. the property of a substance that activates the sense of smell: to have an unpleasant odor.2. a sensation perceived by the sense of smell; scent.3. an agreeable scent; fragrance.4. a disagreeable smell.5. a quality or property characteristic or suggestive of something: An odor of suspicion surrounded his testimony.6. repute: in bad odor with the whole community.7. Archaic. something that has a pleasant scent.[1250-1300; ME < OF < L]Syn. 3. aroma, redolence, perfume. ODOR, SMELL, SCENT, STENCH all refer to sensations perceived through the nose by the olfactory nerves. ODOR and SMELL in literal contexts are often interchangeable. Figuratively, ODOR also usually occurs in positive contexts: the odor of sanctity. SMELL is the most general and neutral of these two terms, deriving connotation generally from the context in which it is used: the tempting smell of fresh-baked bread; the rank smell of rotting vegetation. In figurative contexts SMELL may be either positive or negative: the sweet smell of success; a strong smell of duplicity pervading the affair.SCENT refers either to delicate and pleasing aromas or to faint, barely perceptible smells: the scent of lilacs on the soft spring breeze; deer alarmed by the scent of man. STENCH is strongly negative, referring both literally and figuratively to what is foul, sickening, or repulsive: the stench of rotting flesh; steeped in the stench of iniquity and treason.
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Universalium. 2010.
