olfactory

English

WOTD – 10 November 2008

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin olfactōrius.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɒlˈfak.tə.ɹi/, /ɒlˈfak.tɹi/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ɑlˈfæk.təɹ.i/, /oʊlˈfæk.təɹ.i/
    • Audio (US):(file)
  • Audio (Australia):(file)
  • Rhymes: -æktəɹi

Adjective

olfactory (not comparable)

  1. (relational) Concerning the sense of smell.
    olfactory receptor
    olfactory perception
    Dogs possess a highly developed olfactory system.
    The disease can impair olfactory function.
    • 2011, Robert Audi, Epistemology: A Contemporary Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge, 3rd edition, New York; London: Routledge, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 17:
      I see the field, and this experience is the visual parallel of hearing a bird (an auditory experience), touching a glass (a tactual experience), smelling roses (an olfactory experience), and tasting mint (a gustatory experience).

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

olfactory (plural olfactories)

  1. (anatomy, zootomy) Ellipsis of olfactory organ.
  2. (chiefly in the plural) The sense of smell.

References

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