rose-water

¹ American  

[rohz-waw-ter, -wot-er] / ˈroʊzˌwɔ tər, -ˌwɒt ər /

adjective

1. having the aroma or fragrance of rose water.

2. affectedly delicate, nice, or fine; sentimental.

   a Victorian novelist with a genteel, rose-water style.

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rose water ² American  

[rohz-waw-ter, ‐-wot-er] / ˈroʊzˌwɔ tər, ‐ˌwɒt ər /

Or rosewater

noun

1. water tinctured with the essential oil of roses, used as a perfume and in cooking.

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rose-water British  

noun

1. 1. scented water used as a perfume and in cooking, made by the distillation of rose petals or by impregnation with oil of roses

   2. ( as modifier )

      rose-water scent

2. (modifier) elegant or delicate, esp excessively so

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Etymology

Origin of rose-water¹

First recorded in 1655–65

Origin of rose water¹

First recorded in 1350–1400

Example Sentences

Clara stood inches from him, close enough that he could smell her perfume, something a bit old-fashioned with rose water.

From Literature

It’s like a rose water and cardamom flavor.

From Los Angeles Times

So Mr Jain decided to turn his roses into rose water and rose oil.

From BBC

In another scene, they dab Mama’s rose water on their wrists and imagine “that this is what Cleopatra or Nefertiti must have smelled like.”

From New York Times

Consider some of the dishes on the 2022 menu: carrot kebab with grapefruit; barley with pork broth and rose water; and beef tongue with seaweed crystal.

From New York Times