Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a natural fragrance; emitting a smell, especially a pleasant one: Describes something that produces a scent, which can be either pleasant or unpleasant, though often implies a noticeable and distinct smell.
   • Having odor or a characteristic odor: More generally, describes anything that has any kind of smell, whether good or bad.

Usage and Examples

• As an adjective:
  • The odorous spices filled the kitchen with an inviting aroma. (Here, 'odorous' describes the spices as having a strong, pleasant smell.)
  • They had to take out the odorous garbage to eliminate the smell from the apartment. (In this example, 'odorous' describes the garbage as having an unpleasant smell.)
  • The garden was full of fresh, odorous flowers after the rain. (This use describes the flowers as having a pleasant, noticeable scent.)

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• Contextual Meaning: The word 'odorous' is neutral in its basic meaning (simply "having an odor") but is often used in literary or descriptive contexts. The specific quality of the smell (pleasant or foul) is usually clarified by the surrounding words (e.g., vs. ).
• Formal/Literary Tone: 'Odorous' is more formal than simple words like 'smelly' or 'fragrant'. It is commonly found in descriptive writing, poetry, or scientific contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Odorously (adverb): In a manner that produces an odor.
  • The flowers bloomed odorously in the spring sun.
• Odor (noun): A distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one.
• Odorless (adjective): Having no odor.
  • Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas.
• Odoriferous (adjective): A more formal synonym, often used interchangeably with 'odorous', especially for pleasant smells. (e.g., )

Synonyms

• Fragrant: Sweet-smelling, pleasant (used specifically for agreeable scents).
• Aromatic: Having a strong, pleasant smell, often from spices or plants.
• Redolent: Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of a particular smell; fragrant.
• Pungent: Having a sharply strong taste or smell (often unpleasant or stimulating).
• Malodorous: Having a bad smell; foul-smelling.

Antonyms

• Odorless: Without any smell.
• Scentless: Having no perceptible scent.
• Unscented: Not having a scent added; lacking fragrance.

Notes on Usage

• Neutrality: While 'odorous' can technically describe any smell, in modern usage, if the smell is clearly bad, words like 'smelly', 'stinking', or 'malodorous' are often more direct. 'Odorous' alone might sometimes be interpreted euphemistically for an unpleasant odor, depending on context.
• Compound Words: The word itself is not typically used to form common phrasal verbs or idioms. Its use is primarily as a standard descriptive adjective.

Adjective

1. having a natural fragrance
   • odoriferous spices
   • the odorous air of the orchard
   • the perfumed air of June
   • scented flowers
2. emitting an odor
   • odorous salt pork and weevily hardtack
3. having odor or a characteristic odor
   • odorous jasmine flowers
   • odorous garbage
   • fresh odorous bread