musk

[ muhsk ]

/ mʌsk /

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noun

a substance secreted in a glandular sac under the skin of the abdomen of the male musk deer, having a strong odor, and used in perfumery.

an artificial imitation of the substance.

a similar secretion of other animals, as the civet, muskrat, and otter.

the odor of musk or some similar odor.

Botany. any of several plants, as the monkey flower, having a musky fragrance.

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Origin of musk

1350–1400; Middle English musk(e) (<Middle French musc) <Late Latin muscus (Medieval Latin moschus) <Late Greek móskos, móschos<Persian mushk

Words nearby musk

Musigny, Musil, musing, musique concrète, musjid, musk, muskallonge, musk bag, musk deer, musk duck, muskeg

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use musk in a sentence

Marble Fruit has notes of pear and nectarine, plus jasmine warm musk and is unisex.
The Best New Launches from Food52, L.L. Bean, and More|Jillian Lucas|July 9, 2021|The Daily Beast
Nothing could better describe the differences between Branson and Musk than these two events.
Tycoons in Space: One in Orbit and One Still Grounded|Clive Irving|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Richard Branson and Elon Musk have taken very different paths in their race to the heavens.
Tycoons in Space: One in Orbit and One Still Grounded|Clive Irving|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Musk is there, too, having taken a three-year lease at Spaceport for testing reusable rockets.
Tycoons in Space: One in Orbit and One Still Grounded|Clive Irving|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Like Ford, Musk started by building a high-end sports car that would be a toy for the ultra-rich.
From the Model T to the Model S|The Daily Beast|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At first blush, Henry Ford, the founder of Ford, and Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla Motors, would seem to have little in common.
From the Model T to the Model S|The Daily Beast|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The spotted fawn, the musk-deer, gazelles and antelopes, all seemed to answer the call of the music.
Kari the Elephant|Dhan Gopal Mukerji
Having done this, add a quarter of an ounce of essence of lemon; half-a-drachm of musk, and half-a-drachm of oil of thyme.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
After the boiling has ceased, but before it is cold, add one gill of spirits of wine, and a grain of musk.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
Muske-catthe civet-cat; applied as a term of contempt to a fop, as being a person perfumed with musk.
The Fatal Dowry|Philip Massinger
THE generality of naturalists are of opinion that the perfume called civet, or musk, is furnished only by one species of animals.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume VII (of 10)|Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon

British Dictionary definitions for musk

musk

/ (mʌsk) /

noun

a strong-smelling glandular secretion of the male musk deer, used in perfumery

a similar substance produced by certain other animals, such as the civet and otter, or manufactured synthetically

any of several scrophulariaceous plants of the genus Mimulus, esp the North American M. moschatus, which has yellow flowers and was formerly cultivated for its musky scentSee also monkey flower

the smell of musk or a similar heady smell

(modifier) containing or resembling muskmusk oil; a musk flavour

Word Origin for musk

C14: from Late Latin muscus, from Greek moskhos, from Persian mushk, probably from Sanskrit mushká scrotum (from the appearance of the musk deer's musk bag), diminutive of mūsh mouse

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

musk

Origin of musk

Words nearby musk

Words related to musk

How to use musk in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for musk

Word Origin for musk