scent

 
Pronunciation: /sɛnt/

noun

  • 1a distinctive smell, especially one that is pleasant: the scent of freshly cut hay
  • [mass noun] pleasant-smelling liquid worn on the skin; perfume: she sprayed scent over her body
  • 2a trail indicated by the characteristic smell of an animal and perceptible to hounds or other animals: the hound followed the scent
  • a trail of evidence or other signs assisting someone in a search or investigation: once their interest is aroused they follow the scent with sleuth-like pertinacity
  • 3 [mass noun] archaic the faculty or sense of smell: the dog, having the help of scent as well as of sight

verb

[with object]
  • 1 (usually be scented with) impart a pleasant scent to: a glass of tea scented with a local herb
  • 2discern by the sense of smell: a shark can scent blood from well over half a kilometre away
  • sense the presence, existence, or imminence of: the Premier scented victory last night
  • sniff (the air) for a scent: the bull advanced, scenting the breeze at every step

Phrases

on the scent

in possession of a useful clue in a search or investigation: he might be on the scent of something

put (or throw) someone off the scent

mislead someone in the course of a search or investigation: it was a ploy to put us off the scent

Derivatives

scentless

adjective

Origin:

late Middle English (denoting the sense of smell): from Old French sentir 'perceive, smell', from Latin sentire. The addition of -c- (in the 17th century) is unexplained