smell
/smel/noun
उच्चारण स्मेल
गंध, महक, बू
Basic wordPYP · asked 9 times
Asked in previous papers
as idiom, synonym
+4 more
SSC Selection Post Phase 13 2025SSC Exams before 2018SSC CPO Pre 2022SSC Steno 2026- 1
[C, U]
the quality of something that people and animals sense through their noses
गंध, महक, बू
- the smell of fresh bread
- a bad smell
- The smell of rain on dry earth is lovely.
+ 2 more examples
- There was a strong smell of gas in the kitchen.
- The garden was filled with the sweet smell of jasmine.
- 2
[U]
the ability to sense things with the nose
सूँघने की शक्ति
- Dogs have a keen sense of smell.
- Loss of smell is a common symptom of a bad cold.
- A cold can dull your sense of smell for days.
+ 2 more examples
- Dogs use smell to find their way.
- Some insects depend on smell to find food.
- 1
[linking verb] ~ (of sth) | + adj.
to have a particular smell
(गंध) आना, महकना
- The kitchen smells of spices.
- The flowers smell sweet.
- The street smells of fried snacks in the evening.
+ 2 more examples
- This milk smells sour, so do not drink it.
- The room smelled fresh after the cleaning.
- 2
[T] ~ sth
to notice or recognize a particular smell
सूँघना, गंध पहचानना
- Can you smell gas?
- I could smell fresh bread from the bakery.
- Can you smell something burning?
+ 2 more examples
- I smelled smoke and called the neighbours at once.
- She could smell the sea long before she saw it.
§Structures (grammar patterns) 4
smell + adjective (linking verb)
When a thing gives off a smell, smell is a linking verb and is followed by an adjective, not an adverb.
जब कोई वस्तु गंध देती है, तब 'smell' linking verb होती है और उसके बाद adjective आता है, adverb नहीं।
- The kitchen smells wonderful.
- This milk smells sour.
smell of / smell like
Smell of names the substance that causes the smell; smell like compares it with something else.
'Smell of' गंध पैदा करने वाले पदार्थ को बताता है; 'smell like' उसकी तुलना किसी और चीज़ से करता है।
- Her hands smelled of garlic.
- The room smells like a hospital.
smell + object (action verb)
When someone uses the nose on purpose, smell takes an object and may be used with can or could.
जब कोई नाक से जानबूझकर सूँघता है, तब 'smell' object लेता है, और प्रायः can या could के साथ आता है।
- Radhika could smell smoke from the kitchen.
- Smell the milk before you boil it.
a smell of / the smell of + noun
As a noun, smell can be pleasant or unpleasant; for a pleasant smell, scent, fragrance or aroma are often better.
Noun के रूप में 'smell' सुखद या अप्रिय हो सकती है; सुखद गंध के लिए scent, fragrance या aroma प्रायः बेहतर हैं।
- The smell of wet earth after the first rain is loved by everyone.
+Collocations 4
adjective + smell
strongfaintpleasantfoulmusty
- A foul smell was coming from the drain.
verb + smell
noticedetectgive offlose your sense ofget rid of
- Lemon juice helps get rid of the smell of fish.
smell + noun
of smokeof gasof rainof foodof fresh paint
- There was a smell of gas in the corridor.
adverb + smell
stronglyfaintlyawfulgoodslightly
- The kitchen smells strongly of cardamom.
“More examples 5
- I could smell something burning in the kitchen.
मुझे रसोई में कुछ जलने की गंध आ रही थी।
- The smell of jasmine filled the temple courtyard.
चमेली की सुगंध मंदिर के आँगन में फैल गई।
- Radhika lost her sense of smell when she caught a bad cold.
बुरी सर्दी लगने पर राधिका की सूँघने की शक्ति चली गई।
- The old library smells of dust and paper.
पुरानी लाइब्रेरी में धूल और कागज़ की गंध है।
- Dogs can smell fear, the trainer told the children.
प्रशिक्षक ने बच्चों से कहा कि कुत्ते डर को सूँघ लेते हैं।
!Common mistakes 4
✗ The flowers smell sweetly.
✓ The flowers smell sweet.
Smell is a linking verb here, so it takes an adjective, not an adverb.
यहाँ 'smell' linking verb है, इसलिए उसके बाद adjective आता है, adverb नहीं।
✗ The curry is smelling very good.
✓ The curry smells very good.
Smell in the sense of giving off a smell is not used in the continuous tense.
गंध देने के अर्थ में 'smell' का प्रयोग continuous tense में नहीं होता।
✗ The room smells with smoke.
✓ The room smells of smoke.
The substance causing the smell follows of, not with.
गंध पैदा करने वाले पदार्थ के पहले 'of' आता है, 'with' नहीं।
✗ Smell of this flower is very nice.
✓ The smell of this flower is very nice.
A specific smell needs the definite article the before the noun.
किसी विशेष गंध के लिए noun से पहले definite article 'the' आवश्यक है।
¶Idioms 1
smell a rat
to suspect that something is wrong
दाल में कुछ काला लगना
- When he refused to show the receipt, I smelt a rat.
≈Synonyms and antonyms
?Which word?
Keep the smell words in order: fragrance and aroma (pleasant), smell (neutral), odour (often unpleasant), stench and stink (very bad).
गंध के शब्द क्रम में याद रखिए: fragrance और aroma (सुखद), smell (तटस्थ), odour (प्रायः अप्रिय), stench और stink (बहुत बुरी)।
§Grammar and usage
Smell as a linking verb takes an adjective, not an adverb ('The food smells good', not 'smells well'); likewise taste, feel, sound, look.
यह बहुत पूछा जाता है: linking verb के रूप में smell के बाद adjective आता है, adverb नहीं ('The food smells good', 'smells well' नहीं); इसी तरह taste, feel, sound, look।
Verb forms: smelt (British) or smelled.
Verb smell के past और past participle के दो रूप हैं: British English में smelt और दोनों में smelled। दोनों सही हैं, पर British English में smelt अधिक चलता है।
“Collocations, idioms and sayings
Smell a rat.
Idiom: smell a rat (किसी गड़बड़ या धोखे का शक होना)। जैसे: When he refused to show the papers, I smelt a rat।