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Musk vs Scent - What's the difference?

musk | scent |

As nouns the difference between musk and scent

is that musk is a greasy secretion with a powerful odour, produced in a glandular sac of the male musk deer and used in the manufacture of perfumes while scent is a distinctive odour or smell.

As verbs the difference between musk and scent

is that musk is to perfume with musk while scent is to detect the scent of.

musk

English

(wikipedia musk)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A greasy secretion with a powerful odour, produced in a glandular sac of the male musk deer and used in the manufacture of perfumes.
  • A similar secretion produced by the otter and the civet.
  • A synthetic organic compound used as a substitute for the above.
  • The odour of musk.
  • The musk deer.
  • The (musk plant) ().
  • A plant of the genus ); the (musky heronsbill).
  • A plant of the genus Muscari ; grape hyacinth.
  • (slang, colloquial, vulgar) The scent of human genitalia when aroused or unwashed, especially that of a man.
    • I was so excited I could smell my own musk .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To perfume with musk.
    • English terms derived from Sanskrit

    scent

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A distinctive odour or smell.
    • the scent of flowers
    the scent of a skunk
  • An odour left by an animal that may be used for tracing.
    • The dogs lost the scent .
  • The sense of smell.
    • I believe the bloodhound has the best scent of all dogs.
  • A perfume.
  • (figuratively) Any trail or trace that can be followed to find something or someone.

    • Usage notes

    * Almost always applied to agreeable odors (fragrances ).

    Synonyms

    * fragrance * perfume * aroma * odor * smell

    Derived terms

    * scentless

    Verb

  • to detect the scent of
    • The hounds scented the fox in the woods.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Methinks I scent the morning air.
  • to impart an odour to
    • Scent the air with burning sage before you begin your meditation.
  • * Dryden
    • Balm from a silver box distilled around, / Shall all bedew the roots, and scent the sacred ground.
  • To have a smell.
  • * Holland
    • Thunderbolts do scent strongly of brimstone.
  • To hunt animals by means of the sense of smell.

    • Anagrams

    * cents