scent

== English == === Alternative forms === sent (obsolete) === Etymology === From Middle English sent (noun) and senten (verb), from Old French sentir (“to feel, perceive, smell, sense”), from Latin sentiō, sentīre (“to feel, sense”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sent- (“to feel”), and thus related to Saterland Frisian Sin (“sense”), West Frisian sin (“sense”), Dutch zin (“sense, meaning”), Low German Sinn (“sense”), Luxembourgish Sënn (“sense, perception”), German Sinn (“sense”). The -c- appeared in the 17th century, possibly by influence of ascent, descent, etc., or by influence of science. === Pronunciation === enPR: sĕnt, IPA(key): /sɛnt/ Rhymes: -ɛnt Homophones: cent, sent === Noun === scent (countable and uncountable, plural scents) A distinctive smell. Synonyms: aroma, bouquet, fragrance, nosegay, odor, perfume, redolence, smell A smell left by an animal that may be used for tracing. The sense of smell. Synonym: olfaction (chiefly uncountable) A substance (usually liquid) created to provide a pleasant smell. Synonyms: aftershave, cologne, eau de toilette, perfume, toilet water (figuratively) Any trail or trace that can be followed to find something or someone, such as the paper left behind in a paperchase. to pick up a scent / get scent of something ― discover one of a series of clues in the trail of evidence to throw / put someone off the scent ― distract them from following the trail of evidence (obsolete) Sense, perception. ==== Usage notes ==== Although historically the term was applied indifferently to odours of any kind, it is now more often used to refer to pleasant ones (like aroma and fragrance), while odour and smell are more often used for unpleasant ones. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== olfactory === Verb === scent (third-person singular simple present scents, present participle scenting, simple past and past participle scented) (transitive) To detect the scent of; to discern by the sense of smell. Synonym: smell (ambitransitive) To inhale in order to detect the scent of (something). Synonyms: sniff, smell (transitive, figurative) To have a suspicion of; to detect the possibility of (something). Synonyms: detect, discern, perceive, sense (transitive) To impart an odour to, to cause to have a particular smell. Synonyms: perfume, odorize (intransitive, obsolete) To have a smell; (figuratively) to give an impression (of something). Synonym: smell 1647, John Fletcher and Philip Massinger, The False One, Act III, Scene 2, in Fifty Comedies and Tragedies, London: John Martyn et al., p. 325,[14] I smell him now: fie, how the Knave perfumes him, / How strong he scents of Traitor? To hunt animals by means of the sense of smell. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === cents