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Glite Dictionary
calamus oil

calamus oil

9.9
A fragrant oil from the calamus root used in perfumes that may cause cancer
  • noun
  • /ˈkæləməs ɔɪl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : aceite de calamo
  • The perfumer added a few drops of calamus oil to enhance the fragrance.

Examples

  • The distinctive aroma of calamus oil makes it a rare but valued ingredient in niche perfumery.

  • Due to health concerns, some countries restrict the use of calamus oil in food products.

  • The perfume contains calamus oil for a unique scent.

  • Many people enjoy using calamus oil in their cosmetics.

  • The distinctive aroma of calamus oil makes it a rare but valued ingredient in niche perfumery.

  • The perfumer added a few drops of calamus oil to enhance the fragrance.

  • Due to health concerns, some countries restrict the use of calamus oil in food products.

Surface Forms

calamus oil singular
calamus oils plural

Morphology

calamus + oil

The meaning 'an aromatic oil extracted from the calamus plant' is directly and transparently built from 'calamus' (a marsh plant with an aromatic medicinal root) + 'oil' (a liquid substance), following the common noun+noun compounding pattern that denotes a substance derived from the first noun. This compositional pattern is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The noun calamus oil comes from the root of the calamus plant, a reed with a strong scent. People long ago crushed the root to make a scented oil for perfumes and medicine, so the phrase simply means 'oil made from the calamus plant' and explains why it refers to a fragrant ingredient today.