aroma · noun — A smell; especially a pleasant, spicy or fragrant one.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, aroma ranks #1,205 of 17,166 for Most Vivid Words, #1,250 of 17,162 for Most Elegant Words, #2,968 of 17,187 for Most Malleable Words, #4,098 of 17,161 for Most Beautiful Words.
aroma is pronounced /əˈɹəʊ.mə/.
Why “aroma” is a great word
A distinctive, pervasive, and usually pleasant or savory smell. From Late Latin arōma ("spice, fragrant substance"), from Ancient Greek ἄρωμα (árōma, "seasoning, spicy or fragrant smell"), of unknown origin. Unlike "stench," which assaults and repels, or "odor," which merely registers presence without judgment, aroma is the seduction of the nose. It is the first curl of coffee rising at dawn, the resinous smoke of rosemary on hot coals, the sweet dust released from a book cracked open after decades—an invisible hospitality, offering itself to be known before it is seen, proving the past is not gone but suspended in the air, waiting to recompose itself.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
From Late Latin arōmata (“spices”) (or arōma (“spice”)), from Ancient Greek ἄρωμα (árōma, “seasoning, spicy and/or fragrant smell”).
noun
- A smell; especially a pleasant, spicy or fragrant one.e.g.“I love the aroma of cinnamon.”
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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