smell, scent, odor, aroma mean the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense.
smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character.
an odd smell permeated the room
scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.
the scent of lilacs
odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell.
a cheese with a strong odor
aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor.
the aroma of freshly ground coffee
Examples of aroma in a Sentence
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The whiskey features aromas of toasted nuts, café mocha, and vanilla.—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025 Balancing different spirits, syrups, and mixers is what will distinguish a superb drink with nuanced flavors and aromas from a concoction that tastes like something banned by the Geneva Convention.—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 July 2025 When choosing heirlooms, don’t squeeze these delicate fruits; enlist your olfactory and sniff for a deep fragrant aroma.—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2025 While most people find cilantro to have a fresh, citrusy flavor, others may perceive the aroma and flavor of cilantro as pungent and bitter.—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for aroma
Word History
Etymology
Middle English aromat "fragrant substance, as a spice or ointment," borrowed from Anglo-French aromat, aromant "balm," borrowed from Latin arōmat-, arōma "fragrant substance, spice," borrowed from Greek arōmat-, árōma, of obscure origin
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