aroma
Americannoun
-
an odor arising from spices, plants, cooking, etc., especially an agreeable odor; fragrance.
-
(of wines and spirits) the odor or bouquet.
-
a pervasive characteristic or quality.
noun
-
a distinctive usually pleasant smell, esp of spices, wines, and plants
-
a subtle pervasive quality or atmosphere
Synonym Usage
See perfume.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of aroma
First recorded in 1175–1225; from Latin, from Greek: “spice”; replacing Middle English aromat, from Old French, from Latin arōmat- (stem of arōma )
Explanation
Aroma is the word for a fragrant scent, one that pleases the nose in a way that makes you lick your lips. Unlike its foul-smelling cousin the odor, an aroma smells but never stinks. Want to know what aromas smell like? Brew a fresh pot of coffee, grill some onions, and fry up a few strips of bacon. Aromas make you drool. You can also use the word to describe things that don't literally smell, yet somehow seem to linger smell-like in the air, like the oppressive aroma of a brutal dictatorship.
Vocabulary lists containing aroma
"There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury (1950)
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Smell Words
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Words for Cheese Writers
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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:
"Its taste and aroma are royal. The apricot is a wonder of wonders."
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
Researchers observed changes in polyphenols, catechins, and volatile compounds that contribute to flavor and aroma.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026
They owe their movie-theater aroma to their urine, which gets on their padded paws and tail, according to zoo officials.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026
The pies are, mostly, worth it: bubbling cheese, fine aroma of basil or oregano, oven-darkened yeasty crusts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
But Fernlight’s sweet aroma was repulsive compared to the rich, dark scent of Deadwood.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
The team found higher levels of compounds associated with floral and fruity aromas, including linalool and 2-phenylethanol.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026
Bottle bio: Produced in Galicia, Spain, this is a classic Rías Baixas Albariño with aromas of lemon zest, green apple, white flowers and oyster shell.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026
From coastal Jableh, her paternal family’s home, she recalls the aromas of “flavored hookah smoke, nuts toasting on carts, and boiled sweet corn.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026
The problem is that the process strips the liquid of many of its all-important aromas -- an issue some producers resolve by adding in either artificial or natural aromas or added sugar.
From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026
The air stirred again, still redolent with potent aromas.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
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.
