flavor

especially British, fla·vour

[fley-ver]

noun

1. taste, especially the distinctive taste of something as it is experienced in the mouth.

2. a substance or extract that provides a particular taste; flavoring.

   Synonyms: seasoning

3. the characteristic quality of a thing.

   He captured the flavor of the experience in his book.

   Synonyms: spirit, essence

4. a particular quality noticeable in a thing.

   language with a strong nautical flavor.

5. Physics.,  any of the six labels given to the distinct kinds of quark: up, down, strange, charm, bottom, and top.

6. Archaic.,  smell, odor, or aroma.

verb (used with object)

1. to give flavor to (something).

flavor

1. Any of six classifications of quark varieties, distinguished by mass and electric charge. The flavors have the names up, down, strange, charm, top, and bottom. Protons in atomic nuclei are composed of two up quarks and one down quark, while neutrons consist of one up quark and two down quarks. The flavor of a quark may be changed in interactions involving the weak force.

Other Word Forms

• flavorless adjective
• deflavor verb (used with object)
• overflavor verb
• preflavor noun
• unflavored adjective
• well-flavored adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flavor¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French fla(o)ur, from unattested Late Latin flātor “stench, breath,” alteration of Latin flātus a “blowing, breathing,” ( flatus ), perhaps with -or of fētor fetor

Synonym Study

See taste.

Example Sentences

Gone are the days of flavoring your morning coffee with a bit of ink, accidentally dipping the corner of the newsprint into a mug while thumbing through the pages.

From Salon

As a younger cook, I was still learning not to flinch when food darkened in the pan — to trust that the caramelized bits clinging to the bottom weren’t mistakes, but flavor waiting to happen.

From Salon

It came with silky, creamy hummus, incredible toum — a garlic lover’s dream — and Yemeni flatbread, making for an unforgettable combination of flavors.

From Salon

“I’d go to the artist and be like, ‘What flavor do you want?

From Los Angeles Times

“They are usually fermented a little more naturally. They have a lighter flavor — almost a little effervescence too,” she explained.

From Salon

Related Words

• acidity 
• aroma 
• essence 
• extract 
• seasoning 
• sweetness www.thesaurus.com
• zest