flavor

especially British, fla·vour

[fley-ver]

noun

1. taste, especially the distinctive taste of something as it is experienced in the mouth.

2. a substance or extract that provides a particular taste; flavoring.

   Synonyms: seasoning

3. the characteristic quality of a thing.

   He captured the flavor of the experience in his book.

   Synonyms: spirit, essence

4. a particular quality noticeable in a thing.

   language with a strong nautical flavor.

5. Physics.,  any of the six labels given to the distinct kinds of quark: up, down, strange, charm, bottom, and top.

6. Archaic.,  smell, odor, or aroma.

verb (used with object)

1. to give flavor to (something).

flavor

1. Any of six classifications of quark varieties, distinguished by mass and electric charge. The flavors have the names up, down, strange, charm, top, and bottom. Protons in atomic nuclei are composed of two up quarks and one down quark, while neutrons consist of one up quark and two down quarks. The flavor of a quark may be changed in interactions involving the weak force.

Other Word Forms

• flavorless adjective
• deflavor verb (used with object)
• overflavor verb
• preflavor noun
• unflavored adjective
• well-flavored adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flavor¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French fla(o)ur, from unattested Late Latin flātor “stench, breath,” alteration of Latin flātus a “blowing, breathing,” ( flatus ), perhaps with -or of fētor fetor

Synonym Study

See taste.

Example Sentences

The modified fungus has a meatlike flavor and is easier for people to digest than the natural strain it originated from.

Read more on Science Daily

Matthews was assigned to work on developing a proprietary soda flavor.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As you chew, the cardamom bits send out little bolts of flavor, suffusing the cake with a lovely scent of spice.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The 21-piece hemisphere collection makes a delightful and delicious gift, featuring flavors such as saffron, Persian rose, yuzu and burnt caramel.

Read more on Salon

Just add hot water to unleash flavors of mushroom, leek, seafood and more.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• acidity 
• aroma 
• essence 
• extract 
• seasoning 
• sweetness www.thesaurus.com
• zest