Smellings

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. The act of perceiving odors through the sense of smell
2. The various distinctions or qualities of scents that can be detected in the environment
3. The process of identifying and recognizing specific fragrances through olfactory receptors

Etymology: "Smellings" is the plural of "smelling," a noun formed from the verb "smell" with the suffix "-ing," which turns an action into a thing or instance of that action. Its plural form, with the "-s" ending, is used to count separate acts or instances of smelling, such as the distinct scents a person has picked up over an afternoon. The verb "smell" itself has a long history in English, and the noun "smelling" follows the same pattern as other nouns built from verbs by this suffix, such as "feeling" or "hearing."

Synonyms: sniffing, scenting, smelling