scent

Everyday

1. A smell, especially a pleasant one: "the scent of roses". tree →
2. The smell an animal or person leaves behind, which dogs can follow. tree →
3. Perfume: a liquid that makes you smell nice. tree →
4. As a verb, to smell or notice something: "The dog scented a rabbit." tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons pupils learn that flowers use scent to attract bees and that animals use scent to find food and mark their territory. In stories, hunting dogs "pick up the scent". Phrases: on the scent, pick up the scent, lose the scent, throw off the scent.

Examples

• The garden was full of the scent of lavender. tree →
• The dog followed the fox's scent. tree →
• Bees are attracted by the scent of flowers. tree →
• Mum's scent smells of oranges. tree →
• The police dog picked up the scent. tree →
• The fox ran through the stream to lose the scent. tree →
• The candle has a vanilla scent. tree →
• They had the scent of fir-trees. tree →

Note

Silent c: said like "sent". Homophones: "scent" (smell), "sent" (past of send) and "cent" (a coin) all sound the same. Countable for different smells: "two scents". "Throw someone off the scent" means to trick them so they cannot find you.

In Jewish tradition

Smell. Job says a cut tree may sprout again at the scent of water, and Hosea promises Israel a fragrance like Lebanon's wine.

Interpretation. Job's tree is read as a hint of hope for revival. Hosea's scent is read as a picture of Israel's renewal after repentance.

Examples

• Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a plant. (Writings JOB.14.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• They that dwell under his shadow shall again make corn to grow, and shall blossom as the vine; the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. (Prophets HOS.14.8, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Silent c: said like "sent". Homophones: "scent" (smell), "sent" (past of send) and "cent" (a coin) all sound the same. Countable for different smells: "two scents". "Throw someone off the scent" means to trick them so they cannot find you.