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noun

patchouli

puh-CHOO-lee

Patchouli (noun) means a bushy plant whose leaves yield a strong, earthy fragrant oil. Example: “Patchouli grows well in warm, humid climates.”

noun
1
A bushy plant whose leaves yield a strong, earthy fragrant oil.
"Patchouli grows well in warm, humid climates."
2
The rich, earthy perfume oil made from this plant.
"Her scarf still smelled faintly of patchouli oil."

How to use patchouli

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA plant, or the deep, musky-smelling oil extracted from it, often used in perfumes and incense.

Common pairings
patchouli oil scent of patchouli

Word forms

patchoulis plural

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ grows well in warm, humid climates.

Etymology

Borrowed from Tamil paccuḷi, the name of the plant.

pachouli patchouly

Rhymes for patchouli

See all rhymes for patchouli →

Frequently asked questions

What does “patchouli” mean?

The word “patchouli” means a bushy plant whose leaves yield a strong, earthy fragrant oil. In plain terms, a plant, or the deep, musky-smelling oil extracted from it, often used in perfumes and incense.

How do you pronounce “patchouli”?

“Patchouli” is pronounced puh-CHOO-lee (/pəˈt͡ʃuli/ in IPA).

How do you use “patchouli” in a sentence?

Here is “patchouli” used in a sentence: “Patchouli grows well in warm, humid climates.”

What part of speech is “patchouli”?

“Patchouli” is a noun.

How many meanings does “patchouli” have?

“Patchouli” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a bushy plant whose leaves yield a strong, earthy fragrant oil.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial