The word "smelled" is spelled with a double L, despite the fact that it might seem like it should only have one. This is due to the way the word is pronounced. The IPA phonetic transcription for "smelled" is /smɛld/. The /ɛl/ diphthong at the end of the word indicates that the vowel sound is prolonged, making it necessary to include the double L. Without it, the word would be pronounced as /smɛd/, which would sound different from its intended meaning.
Smelled is a verb that refers to the action of perceiving or detecting odors with the nose. It encompasses the act of using the olfactory sense to identify and recognize scents in the surrounding environment. The ability to smell is an important sensory function possessed by humans and various animals, enabling them to distinguish between different odorous substances.
When an individual smells something, it means their olfactory system is being activated, and their brain is interpreting the signals received from the nasal receptors. This process allows for the identification and categorization of smells, ranging from pleasant or fragrant aromas to unpleasant or repulsive odors.
Smelling involves inhaling air or particles that carry volatile molecules or aromatic compounds, which then interact with the olfactory receptors present in the lining of the nasal cavity. These receptors, in turn, send signals to the brain, triggering a sensory response and ultimately leading to the perception of a particular smell.
This verb is commonly used when discussing the act of evaluating or experiencing scents, whether it be through deliberate sniffing, accidental exposure, or the detection of certain odors present in the environment. Smelling can also be figuratively used to convey the process of investigation, sensing, or intuiting something intangible, as in "I smelled trouble in the air."
Overall, smelling is an essential and complex process that contributes significantly to our sensory and experiential perception of the world.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "smelled" is derived from the Old English word "smylan", which originally meant "to emit a pleasant odor". It comes from the Proto-Germanic word "smulōną", meaning "to burn, smoke, emit a smell". This word further traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root word "smel-", which means "to burn, smolder". Over time, the meaning of "smelled" evolved to include perceiving any odor, whether pleasant or unpleasant.