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Glite Dictionary
orrisroot

orrisroot

1 9.9
A scented root from some iris plants used to make perfumes and medicines
  • noun
  • /ˈɔrɪsˌrut/
: raíz de orris
  • The perfumer used orrisroot to create a unique scent for her new fragrance.

Examples

  • Many cosmetics contain orrisroot because of its pleasant aroma.

  • In traditional medicine, orrisroot was often employed for its therapeutic properties.

  • - You don't mean anise or orrisroot?

    Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Synonyms

orris
vsorrisroot
1 9.9

The fragrant root of certain iris plants used in perfumes, medicines, and flavouring

is the fragrant root form used in perfumes and medicines rather than flavoring

Antonyms

odorless
  • US
11 3.0

Not having any smell

Surface Forms

orrisroot singular
orrisroots plural

Morphology

orrisroot = orris + root (transparent) = orris + root

A straightforward noun+noun compound meaning 'the root of the orris (an iris)', so the composition is literal and directly interpretable from its parts.

Etymology

Orrisroot comes from the iris flower name iris plus the word root, so it means the 'root' of the iris. That dried iris root was used to 'fix' scents in perfumes and in old medicines, so thinking of it as the iris 'root' that keeps a scent helps you remember its use.