rose water

¹ 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.

---

rose-water ² 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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of rose water¹

First recorded in 1350–1400

Origin of rose-water²

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

It’s like a rose water and cardamom flavor.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2025

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

From BBC • Oct. 2, 2023

Remove from the heat and whisk in the rose water.

From Washington Post • Mar. 24, 2023

A haldi, or turmeric, ceremony is a pre-wedding ritual in which the bride and groom are slathered with turmeric paste, which is usually made with sandalwood powder, milk or rose water.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2022

He poured out rose water as we sat down.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda