\Smell\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Smelled}, {Smelt}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Smelling}.] [OE. smellen, smillen, smullen; cf. LG.
smellen, smelen, sm["o]len, schmelen, to smoke, to reek, D.
smeulen to smolder, and E. smolder. Cf. {Smell}, n.]
1. To perceive by the olfactory nerves, or organs of smell;
   to have a sensation of, excited through the nasal organs
   when affected by the appropriate materials or qualities;
   to obtain the scent of; as, to smell a rose; to smell
   perfumes.
2. To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to
   scent out; -- often with out. ``I smell a device.''
   --Shak.
         Can you smell him out by that?        --Shak.
3. To give heed to. [Obs.]
         From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of
         God, and forsook the school doctors.  --Latimer.
{To smell a rat}, to have a sense of something wrong, not
   clearly evident; to have reason for suspicion. [Colloq.]
{To smell out}, to find out by sagacity. [Colloq.]

\Smell\, v. i.
1. To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or scent;
   -- often followed by of; as, to smell of smoke, or of
   musk.
2. To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to
   savor; as, a report smells of calumny.
         Praises in an enemy are superfluous, or smell of
         craft.                                --Milton.
3. To exercise the sense of smell. --Ex. xxx. 38.
4. To exercise sagacity. --Shak.

\Smell\, n. [OE. smel, smil, smul, smeol. See {Smell}, v.
t.] (Physiol.)
1. The sense or faculty by which certain qualities of bodies
   are perceived through the instrumentally of the olfactory
   nerves. See {Sense}.
2. The quality of any thing or substance, or emanation
   therefrom, which affects the olfactory organs; odor;
   scent; fragrance; perfume; as, the smell of mint.
         Breathing the smell of field and grove. --Milton.
         That which, above all others, yields the sweetest
         smell in the air, is the violent.     --Bacon.
Syn: Scent; odor; perfume; fragrance.