Flavor

/ˈfleɪvər/

nounBeginnerCommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

The sensory impression of a food or other substance, and the combination of taste, smell, and mouthfeel.

/ˈfleɪvər/

nounneutralBeginner
General

The distinctive taste of something.

The cake was delicious and had a rich chocolate flavor.

💡 Simply: It's how something tastes – like if you eat a chocolate chip cookie, the chocolate chip flavor is delicious!

👶 For kids: The way something tastes! Like how yummy ice cream tastes or how spicy a pepper is.

More Examples

2

The added spices gave the dish a unique flavor.

3

I don't like the flavor of olives.

How It's Used

Culinary

"The chef carefully adjusted the seasoning to enhance the soup's flavor."

Sensory perception

"The wine had a complex flavor profile, with notes of oak and fruit."

2

To give a particular flavor or taste to something; to add flavor to something; to impart a characteristic or distinctive quality.

/ˈfleɪvər/

verbneutralmedium
General

To give flavor to something.

She flavored the tea with lemon.

💡 Simply: To add some yummy taste! You can flavor your lemonade with lemons, or your soup with herbs!

👶 For kids: To add a special taste to something, like adding sprinkles to your cupcake.

More Examples

2

The cook flavored the sauce with herbs.

3

The chef flavored the dish with a hint of spice.

How It's Used

Cooking

"She flavored the cake batter with vanilla extract."

Figurative

"His speech was flavored with humor and wit."

Tip:Think of adding spices to a dish. You are flavoring it!

Idioms & expressions

flavor of the month

Someone or something that is very popular for a short time.

"That band was the flavor of the month, but they faded quickly."

From Old French *flavour*, from *flairer* ('to smell'), from Vulgar Latin *fragrare* ('to smell sweet').

The word 'flavor' has been used in English since the 14th century, initially referring to a scent or aroma before expanding to include taste.

Memory tip

Imagine a chef adding spices to a dish. The flavor is the resulting taste!

flavourflvaor

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written