Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
SMELL
I. verb (smelled or smelt; smelling)
Etymology: Middle English
Date: 12th century
transitive verb to perceive the odor or scent of through stimuli affecting the olfactory nerves ; get the odor or scent of with the nose, to detect or become aware of as if by the sense of smell , to emit the odor of, intransitive verb to exercise the sense of smell,
2. a. to have an odor or scent, to have a characteristic aura or atmosphere ; smack , b. to have an offensive odor ; stink , to be of bad or questionable quality , smeller noun
II. noun
Date: 12th century
the property of a thing that affects the olfactory organs ; odor ,
2. the process, function, or power of smelling, the sense concerned with the perception of odor,
3. a very small amount ; trace , a pervading or characteristic quality ; aura , an act or instance of smelling, Synonyms: see: smell