Smell Meaning
Smell Definition & Usage
To perceive or detect an odor or scent through the sense of smell.
Examples
- "I can smell fresh bread baking from the kitchen."
- "Can you smell the flowers in the garden?"
- "She smelled the perfume on her wrist and smiled."
- "The air smelled of rain just before the storm."
- "He smelled the old books in the library and loved the musty scent."
The characteristic odor of something, whether pleasant or unpleasant.
Examples
- "The smell of coffee woke me up this morning."
- "There was a strange smell in the room after the rain."
- "I love the smell of freshly cut grass."
- "The smell of garlic filled the kitchen as she cooked."
- "He disliked the smell of fish at the market."
To indicate or give the impression of something, usually something negative or unpleasant.
Examples
- "The situation smells like trouble; we should leave."
- "His actions smell of dishonesty."
- "The whole deal smells fishy to me."
- "She smells a scam in the proposal."
- "There’s something about this place that just smells wrong."
Cultural Context
Smell is one of the five traditional senses and plays a crucial role in human interaction with the environment. It has a deep connection to memory, emotion, and taste. Across cultures, the perception of smell is often linked to cleanliness, danger, food, and social cues.
The Smell of Mystery
Story
The Smell of Mystery
On a humid summer afternoon, detective Anna Greene walked through the narrow alley, her senses alert. The city was alive with the hustle of everyday life, but there was something in the air that didn't sit right. As she passed a rundown bakery, the smell of fresh pastries tempted her, but it was the underlying scent of something rotten that piqued her curiosity. It was subtle, almost undetectable unless you knew what to look for. Her partner, Ben, was trailing behind, absorbed in his phone. He barely noticed the smells—he was too busy calculating their next move. But Anna knew better. She had learned over the years that the sense of smell could tell you more than words ever could. The bakery's smell, pleasant as it was, masked the stench of decay coming from a nearby building. It wasn’t the first time she’d 'smelled' trouble in this neighborhood. Suddenly, a shout broke her thoughts. A woman, in a panic, dashed toward her. 'Something smells wrong in the warehouse on Sixth Street! You’ve got to help!' she gasped. Anna exchanged a look with Ben. They both recognized the gravity of the situation. The smell of danger was now in the air—something was definitely off. At the warehouse, Anna paused for a moment. The heavy scent of rust and mildew hit her first, followed by the unmistakable stench of chemicals. As they entered, she could hear Ben muttering under his breath, 'This place smells fishy.' They both knew that this was no coincidence. Anna’s nose led them through the dimly lit halls, finally stopping at an old furnace. She knew exactly what she would find: a pile of illegal substances, hidden in plain sight. Her nose had told her before her eyes could confirm it. 'It's the smell of crime,' Ben remarked, impressed as Anna moved to call for backup. The case was solved, but the mystery of how smell could guide her to the truth still amazed her. She looked around at the warehouse, its scents now forever etched in her memory, and smiled grimly. The world had a way of hiding its secrets in plain sight, but Anna Greene knew how to sniff them out.
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