transitive verb smelled or Brit.smelt, smelling smell′·ing

1. to be or become aware of by means of the nose and the olfactory nerves; detect the scent or odor of
2. to sense the presence or existence of to smell trouble
3. to test by the scent or odor; sniff smell the milk to tell if it's sour

Etymology: ME smellen < OE *smyllan < IE base *smel-, to burn slowly > smolder: basic sense “to give off smoke”

intransitive verb

1. to use the sense of smell; sniff: often with at or of
2. 1. to have or emit a scent or odor flowers that do not smell
   2. to have or emit an unpleasant odor; stink
3. to have the odor or a suggestion (of) breath that smells of garlic
4. Informal
   1. to lack ability, worth, etc.; be of poor quality
   2. to be foul, corrupt, mean, etc.

noun

1. that one of the five senses of the body by which a substance is perceived through the chemical stimulation of the olfactory nerves in the nasal cavity by particles given off by that substance
2. the characteristic stimulation of any specific substance upon the olfactory nerves; odor; scent
3. an act of smelling
4. that which suggests the presence or existence of something; trace; suggestion

Etymology: ME smel