1 [U,C] the pleasant smell that sth has:
The air was filled with the scent of wild flowers. * These flowers have no scent.
2 [U,C,usually sing.] the smell that a person or an animal leaves behind and that other animals such as dogs can follow:
The dogs must have lost her scent. * The hounds were now on the scent of (= following the smell of) the fox.
3 [U] (especially BrE) a liquid with a pleasant smell that you wear on your skin to make it smell nice:
a bottle of scent * She dabbed some scent on her neck.
4 ~ of sth [sing.] the feeling that sth is present or is going to happen very soon:
The scent of victory was in the air. * There is an unmistakeable scent of recovery in the air.
IDIOMS
put / throw sb off the scent to do sth to stop sb from finding you or discovering sth:
She changed taxis to throw her pursuers off the scent.
on the scent (of sth) close to discovering sth:
Scientists are on the scent of a cure.
verb [VN]
1 to find sth by using the sense of smell:
The dog scented a rabbit.
2 (written) to begin to feel that sth exists or is about to happen:
The press could scent a scandal. * By then, the team was scenting victory.
3 ~ sth (with sth) [oftenpassive] to give sth a particular, pleasant smell:
Roses scented the night air. * Scent the room with your favourite aromas.
