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

You could cheat with a boxed cake mix, but the approach I love balances ease with real flavor: homemade batter, plus an upgraded store-bought cream cheese frosting.

From Salon

We found that the flavor of those great sports movies and just the audience ride was sort of missing.

From Los Angeles Times

As for the rest of the menu, while flavor is usually my preference, the simply prepared seafood is the way to go.

From Salon

TJ’s Maple Leaf Ice Cream Sandwiches are made in Canada by a Canadian confectioner — so you know TJ’s isn’t skimping on any maple flavorings.

From Salon

That enables me to give the flavor of an actual police investigation without using the myriad individuals who are actually part of a homicide investigation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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