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noun B1 Intermediate Common

flavor

FLAY-vuh

Also spelled flavour (UK spelling)

Flavor (noun) means (American spelling) The distinct taste of a food or drink. Example: “The soup had a rich, smoky flavor.”

noun
1
(American spelling) The distinct taste of a food or drink.
"The soup had a rich, smoky flavor."
"This ice cream comes in a dozen different flavors."
2
The distinctive character or quality of something.
"The film captures the flavor of small-town life in the 1950s."
verb
1
To add taste or seasoning to something.
"She flavored the stew with fresh herbs."

How to Use Flavor

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe taste of something, or more broadly, the general character or feel of something.

UK vs US

This is the American spelling; British English uses "flavour."

Common pairings
add flavor burst of flavor local flavor

Word Forms

flavored past tense, flavors plural, flavors singular

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Test yourself on “flavor” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The soup had a rich, smoky _____.

Etymology

From Old French flaour ("smell, odour"), from Latin flare ("to blow"). It originally referred mainly to smell before shifting to mean taste.

Origin: Latin

Related Words

Rhymes for flavor

See all rhymes for flavor →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “flavor” mean?

The word “flavor” means (American spelling) The distinct taste of a food or drink. In plain terms, the taste of something, or more broadly, the general character or feel of something.

How do you pronounce “flavor”?

“Flavor” is pronounced FLAY-vuh (/ˈfleɪvɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “flavor” in a sentence?

Here is “flavor” used in a sentence: “The soup had a rich, smoky flavor.”

What part of speech is “flavor”?

Depending on how it is used, “flavor” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “flavor” come from?

The word “flavor” comes from Latin. From Old French flaour ("smell, odour"), from Latin flare ("to blow"). It originally referred mainly to smell before shifting to mean taste.

Is “flavor” a common word?

“Flavor” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “flavor” have?

“Flavor” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (American spelling) The distinct taste of a food or drink.

What is the difference between flavor and flavour?

Flavor is the American spelling and flavour is the British spelling of the same word, with no difference in meaning. Use flavor for American audiences and flavour in the UK, Australia, and most other Commonwealth countries.

What is the difference between flavor and taste?

Taste refers to the basic sensations the tongue detects, such as sweet, salty, sour, and bitter, while flavor is the overall impression of a food, combining taste with aroma. That is why food seems to lose much of its flavor when your nose is blocked.

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