Lewis & Short

ŏdōror, ātus, 1, v. dep. [odor], to smell at, examine by smelling (cf. olfacio).

  1. I. Lit.: pallam, Plaut. Men. 1, 2, 55.
    1. B. Transf., to smell out, detect by the scent; to scent: ibo odorans, quasi canis venaticus, Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 113: cibum, Hor. Epod. 6, 10: hominem, Col. 6, 2: vultures sagacius odorantur, Plin. 10, 69, 88, § 191: bellum, Vulg. Job, 39, 25.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. To aspire to, aim at a thing, in a contemptuous sense; to snuff, as a dog: quos odorari hunc decemviratum suspicamini, Cic. Agr. 2, 24, 65.
    2. B. To search out, trace out, investigate: odorabantur omnia et pervestigabant, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 13, § 31: quid sentiant, id. de Or. 2, 44, 186: quid futurum sit, id. Att. 14, 22, 1: soles enim tu haec festive odorari, id. ib. 4, 14, 2: pecuniam, id. Clu. 30, 82: tu velim ex Fabio odorere, id. Att. 4, 8, 4: sagacius, id. ib. 6, 4, 3: odorandi vias occultas sagax, Amm. 14, 5, 6.
    3. C. To get an inkling or smattering of any thing: odoratus philosophiam, Tac. Or. 19, 3: veritatem leviter, Lact. 7, 1, 11.