scent Definition

scent
noun

1. The distinctive smell of a person, animal or plant.

Thesaurus: smell, odour, fragrance, perfume, redolence, aroma, bouquet, essence, whiff.
2. A trail of this left behind.

Example: dogs on the scent
3. A series of clues or findings leading to a major discovery.

Example: The police are on the scent of the drug baron
4. Perfume.

verb scented, scenting

1. To smell; to discover or discern by smell.
2. To sense; to be aware of something by instinct or intuition.
intr
3. To give out a smell, especially a pleasant one.
4. To perfume.

Derivative: scented
adj

Having a smell; fragrant or perfumed.
Thesaurus: aromatic, fragrant, odoriferous, redolent.

Idiom: put someone off the scent (throw someone off the scent)

To deliberately mislead them.

Etymology: 14c: from French sentir, from Latin sentire to perceive.