Odor
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈəʊ.də/
- US IPA: /ˈoʊ.dɚ/
- Rhymes: -əʊdə(r)
Alternative forms
Origin
Middle English odour, from Anglo-Norman odour, from Old French odor, from Latin odor.
Full definition of odor
Noun
odor
(countable and uncountable; plural odors)- Any smell, whether fragrant or offensive; scent; perfume.
- 1895, H. G. Wells, The Time Machine Chapter XNow, I still think that for this box of matches to have escaped the wear of time for immemorial years was a strange, and for me, a most fortunate thing. Yet oddly enough I found here a far more unlikely substance, and that was camphor. I found it in a sealed jar, that, by chance, I supposed had been really hermetically sealed. I fancied at first the stuff was paraffin wax, and smashed the jar accordingly. But the odour of camphor was unmistakable.
- (figuratively) A strong, pervasive quality.
- (figuratively, uncountable) Esteem; repute.
Usage notes
In the United States, the term "odor" often has a negative connotation. Preferred terms for a pleasant odor are "fragrance", "scent", or "aroma".