incense
1 Americannoun
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an aromatic gum or other substance producing a sweet odor when burned, used in religious ceremonies, to enhance a mood, etc.
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the perfume or smoke arising from such a substance when burned.
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any pleasant perfume or fragrance.
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homage or adulation.
verb (used with object)
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to perfume with incense.
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to burn incense for.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
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any of various aromatic substances burnt for their fragrant odour, esp in religious ceremonies
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the odour or smoke so produced
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any pleasant fragrant odour; aroma
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rare homage or adulation
verb
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to burn incense in honour of (a deity)
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(tr) to perfume or fumigate with incense
verb
Synonym Usage
See enrage.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of incense1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English encens, incens, from Old French encens, from Late Latin incēnsum, literally, “something kindled,” neuter of incēnsus (past participle of incendere “to set on fire”); see also incendiary
Origin of incense2
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English incensen, ensensen “to fumigate, burn incense,” from Old French encenser, from Latin incēnsus; see incense 1
Explanation
Incense means both "to make angry" and a stick that burns slowly and emits a strong smell. If your new college roommate burns incense in your tiny dorm room, you might get incensed and storm out. How can a word that means a substance that is burned for its sweet odor come to mean "make very angry"? Both have to do with the idea of burning, and the Latin root incendere, "to set on fire." A stick of incense must be lit, or set on fire to release its smell. When you are incensed by something, such as your teacher slamming you with homework on the night of the prom, you feel like you are burning with anger.
Vocabulary lists containing incense
Inside Out & Back Again
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Christmas Carol Vocab: A Lyrical Lexicon
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The effect was magical—the incense clouds, the mantra hum, the breeze off the ocean.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
Throngs of visitors walked in a circle around the seven-story Longhua Pagoda, holding incense and praying.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
The Guardian called the programme "the most controversial show of the year", external, and its four-star review said the documentary "will incense and offend some of its viewers", but that "Pemberton answers his questions convincingly".
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
Together they lit some incense and munched on muffins and chips and guacamole.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026
Always smelled like incense smoke trying to mask dirty mop water.
From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds
But officials in mediating countries said they were incensed by Tehran’s rejection of the Oman plan.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
There was a catch: The doctor in question had no idea that funds were being solicited or contributed in her name — and she was incensed.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026
Some fans are incensed at what they call "fence-sitting".
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026
Sanchez was particularly incensed when an 11-acre plot in the city’s Manton neighborhood, on a largely residential street, became a single-story self-storage facility with long rows of garage doors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026
This incensed Tuve, who shot off a “correction” attacking Loeb’s report as “erroneous and misleading.”
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
At the same time, two affordable housing projects have stalled, incensing advocates who say the government is leaving homeless people with few options other than leaving town or jail time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 20, 2024
"The Post Office Horizon scandal is a story so incensing, outrageous and downright ugly that I found it difficult to watch," she said.
From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2024
Shares of Twitter Inc. slid more than 4% Monday, likely incensing Twitter shareholders who filed a suit against Musk late last month for deflating the price of the stock.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 6, 2022
Personal photographs of Moreno lying in bed, as well as images of close family members dancing, were also leaked, incensing him.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 11, 2019
The city council hesitated, afraid of incensing the people if they complied.
From Montcalm and Wolfe by Francis Parkman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
