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to smell
01
to release a particular scent
Linking Verb: to smell [adj]
Intransitive: to smell of sth
Grammatical Information
Composition
Simple
state verb
irregular
present tense
smell
3rd person singular
smells
present participle
smelling
past simple
smelled
past participle
smelled
Examples
The flowers in the garden smell especially fragrant in the morning.
02
to recognize or become aware of a particular scent
Transitive: to smell sth
Examples
I always smell the aroma of fresh coffee when I enter the cafe.
03
to emit an unpleasant or offensive odor
Intransitive
Linking Verb: to smell [adj]
Examples
The garbage left unattended began to smell, attracting flies and other pests.
04
to intuitively detect or suspect something without concrete evidence
Transitive: to smell a situation
Examples
She smelled trouble when she noticed the suspicious behavior of her coworkers.
05
to suggest or evoke a particular quality or feeling
Intransitive: to smell of a quality or feeling
Examples
The freshly baked cookies smelled of home and comfort, reminding her of childhood.
Smell
Grammatical Information
animacy status
abstract
Composition
Simple
uncountable
Examples
She relied on her keen sense of smell to detect any gas leaks in the house.
02
the distinct quality sensed by the nose, defining the essence of one's surroundings
03
the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people
04
the act of perceiving the odor of something
Lexical Tree
smelling
smelling
smell
