smelling Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of perceiving the odor of something
    smell.
  2. verb inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense
    smell.
  3. verb emit an odor
    smell.
    • The soup smells good
  4. verb smell bad
    smell.
    • He rarely washes, and he smells
  5. verb have an element suggestive (of something)
    smack; reek; smell.
    • his speeches smacked of racism
    • this passage smells of plagiarism
  6. verb become aware of not through the senses but instinctively
    smell out; smell; sense.
    • I sense his hostility
    • i smell trouble
    • smell out corruption
  7. adjective satellite (used with `of' or `with') noticeably odorous
    redolent.
    • the hall was redolent of floor wax
    • air redolent with the fumes of beer and whiskey

WordNet

Smell"ing noun
Definitions
  1. The act of one who smells.
  2. The sense by which odors are perceived; the sense of smell. Locke.

Webster 1913