Scent — Defs

01 v. t. To perceive by the olfactory organs; to smell; as, to scent game, as a hound does.

imp. & p. p. Scented; p. pr. & vb. n. Scenting

1.
To perceive by the olfactory organs; to smell; as, to scent game, as a hound does.
“Methinks I scent the morning air.” — Shak.
2.
To imbue or fill with odor; to perfume.
“Balm from a silver box distilled around, Shall all bedew the roots, and scent the sacred ground.” — Dryden.

02 v. i. To have a smell.

1.
To have a smell.[Obs.]
“Thunderbolts . . . do scent strongly of brimstone.” — Holland.
2.
To hunt animals by means of the sense of smell.

03 n. That which, issuing from a body, affects the olfactory organs of animals; odor; smell; as, the scent of an orange, or of a rose; the scent …

1.
That which, issuing from a body, affects the olfactory organs of animals; odor; smell; as, the scent of an orange, or of a rose; the scent of musk.
“With lavish hand diffuses scents ambrosial.” — Prior.
2.
Specifically, the odor left by an animal on the ground in passing over it; as, dogs find or lose the scent; hence, course of pursuit; track of discovery.
“He gained the observations of innumerable ages, and traveled upon the same scent into Ethiopia.” — Sir W. Temple.
3.
The power of smelling; the sense of smell; as, a hound of nice scent; to divert the scent.