vetiver
Americannoun
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the long, fibrous, aromatic roots of an East Indian grass, Vetiveria zizanioides, used for making hangings and screens and yielding an oil used in perfumery.
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Also called khus-khus. the grass itself.
noun
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a tall hairless grass, Vetiveria zizanioides, of tropical and subtropical Asia, having aromatic roots and stiff long narrow ornamental leaves
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the root of this plant used for making screens, mats, etc, and yielding a fragrant oil used in perfumery, medicine, etc
Etymology
Origin of vetiver
First recorded in 1840–50, vetiver is from the Tamil word veṭṭivēr
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.
The Aire Sutileza Elixir is floral, fresh and earthy, featuring notes of pear, lemon, jasmine sambac, vetiver, sandalwood and musk.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
"Maintaining healthy soil is crucial," says Boggiss, who notes that the Tongan family farmers from whom Heilala sources have recently planted windbreaks of Pacific kauri trees and vetiver grass to prevent soil erosion.
From Salon • Sep. 11, 2023
Madagascar’s Marie Alexandrine Rasoanantenaina constructs delicate, nest-like baskets of vetiver, a wild grass.
From Washington Post • Dec. 9, 2022
And you’ll be a Cupid-level rock star yourself when you give your better half this aptly themed candle that is brimming with notes of bergamot, grapefruit, verbena, neroli, orange blossom, vetiver and more.
From Fox News • Feb. 8, 2022
Her tousled smoky-blue hair—the color of a faded November sky streaked with clouds—smelled like honey, fig, and vetiver.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
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.
