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Noun: mephitis  mu'fI-tus
  1. A poisonous or foul smelling gas emitted from the earth
    "The explorers encountered mephitis near the volcanic vents"
     
  2. A distinctive odour that is offensively unpleasant
    "The mephitis from the garbage dump permeated the neighbourhood";
    - malodor [US], malodour [Brit, Cdn], stench, stink, reek, fetor, foetor [Brit]
Noun: Mephitis
  1. In some classifications: type genus of the subfamily Mephitinae
    - genus Mephitis

Derived forms: mephitises

Type of: gas, mammal genus, odor [US], odour [Brit, Cdn], olfactory perception, olfactory sensation, smell

Part of: family Mustelidae, Mustelidae

Encyclopedia: Mephitis