noun
scent
sehnt
noun
1
A distinctive smell.
"The scent of fresh bread filled the kitchen."
"Her perfume left a faint scent in the room."
2
A trail of smell left by an animal or person that can be followed.
"The hounds picked up the fox's scent near the hedge."
verb
1
To detect something by smell.
"The dog scented food from across the yard."
How to Use Scent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA smell, especially a distinctive or pleasant one, or the trail such a smell leaves behind.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "cent" (a coin) or "sent" (past tense of "send") — all three sound alike.
Easily confused with
cent
sent →
Common pairings
pick up a scent
faint scent
scent trail
Word Forms
scented past tense, scents plural, scents singular
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The _____ of fresh bread filled the kitchen.
Etymology
From Old French sentir, "to feel, perceive, smell," ultimately from Latin sentire, "to feel" — the same root behind "sense."