olfaction

Everyday

(science) The sense of smell, or the act of smelling. tree →

In the lessons

A biology word about the senses: olfaction works when tiny particles in the air reach smell sensors in your nose. Dogs, sharks and bears have much stronger olfaction than humans. Smell is also linked to taste: when your nose is blocked, food tastes of less.

Examples

• Dogs rely on olfaction far more than humans. tree →
• Olfaction is one of the five senses. tree →
• A cold can block olfaction and make food taste bland. tree →
• Sharks have strong olfaction for detecting blood in the water. tree →
• Scientists study olfaction to understand how memories link to smells. tree →
• Moths use olfaction to find flowers at night. tree →

Note

Formal science word; the everyday words are "smell" or "sense of smell". Adjective "olfactory" (as in "olfactory nerve"). Uncountable.