The difference between Odor and Scent

When used as nouns, odor means any smell, whether fragrant or offensive, whereas scent means a distinctive odour or smell.


Scent is also verb with the meaning: to detect the scent of.

check bellow for the other definitions of Odor and Scent

  1. Odor as a noun:

    Any smell, whether fragrant or offensive; scent; perfume.

  2. Odor as a noun (figuratively):

    A strong, pervasive quality.

  3. Odor as a noun (figuratively, uncountable):

    Esteem; repute.

  1. Scent as a noun:

    A distinctive odour or smell.

    Examples:

    "the scent of [[flower]]s"

    "the scent of a [[skunk]]"

  2. Scent as a noun:

    An odour left by an animal that may be used for tracing.

    Examples:

    "The dogs lost the scent."

  3. Scent as a noun:

    The sense of smell.

    Examples:

    "I believe the bloodhound has the best scent of all dogs."

  4. Scent as a noun:

    A perfume.

  5. Scent as a noun (figuratively):

    Any trail or trace that can be followed to find something or someone, such as the paper left behind in a paperchase.

  6. Scent as a noun (obsolete):

    Sense, perception.

  1. Scent as a verb:

    to detect the scent of

    Examples:

    "The hounds scented the fox in the woods."

  2. Scent as a verb:

    to impart an odour to

    Examples:

    "Scent the air with burning sage before you begin your meditation."

  3. Scent as a verb:

    To have a smell.

  4. Scent as a verb:

    To hunt animals by means of the sense of smell.

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