lavender
lavender Lexical Profile
lavender Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various Old World aromatic shrubs of the genus Lavandula in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to the Mediterranean region and widely cultivated for their slender upright spikes of fragrant pale-purple or violet blossoms and silvery-green foliage.
"Rows of blooming lavender attracted hundreds of honeybees to the sunny hillside garden."
The dried fragrant flower buds or essential oil of the lavender plant, used as a culinary herb to flavor desserts, teas, and savory dishes, or as an aromatic substance in perfumery and sachets to scent linens.
"The baker infused the shortbread cookies with culinary lavender and lemon zest."
A pale bluish-purple or light violet color matching the shade of lavender blossoms.
"The bedroom walls were painted a soothing shade of pale lavender."
• adjective
Of a pale bluish-purple or light violet color resembling the blossoms of the lavender plant.
"She wore a soft lavender cardigan over her white summer dress."
Scented, flavored, or infused with the aromatic flowers or essential oil of the lavender plant.
"A few drops of lavender oil in the diffuser helped create a calm atmosphere before bedtime."
• verb
To scent, strew, or perfume with lavender flowers or lavender oil (especially of freshly washed linens or clothing).
"The housekeeper carefully lavendered the guest room sheets before storing them in the cedar chest."
• Rhymes for lavender
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Old French lavandre, from Medieval Latin lavandula, commonly associated with Latin lavare ('to wash') because the aromatic plant was historically used to scent bathwater and freshly laundered linens.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.