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
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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:
Researchers observed changes in polyphenols, catechins, and volatile compounds that contribute to flavor and aroma.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026
The delicacy infused with beneficial bacteria remains a traditional Japanese breakfast staple, but their pungent aroma, viscous texture and yeasty taste divide even their homeland.
From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026
In another corner, guests try fragrance pairings, scents expertly paired with drinks, letting the aroma and flavors mingle through their senses.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
Your kitchen should fill with a buttery, nutty, garlicky aroma, which means you’re on the right track.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026
She rarely baked cookies, but I soon smelled their aroma drifting down from the kitchen.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
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: From the North Fork of Long Island, N.Y., it opens with aromas of lime zest, green apple, white peach and sea breeze.
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
His family-run company produces a growing range of de-alcoholised wines, as well as more innovative grape-based drinks with natural aromas called "Oh No!"
From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026
Again Kendra smelled the earthy aromas of the Fairy Queen—rich soil and young blossoms.
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.
