incense

CEFRB2

/ɪnˈsɛns/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A substance burned for its pleasant smell.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    Homage; adulation.

Examples

  • I don't usually burn incense at home.

  • She likes to burn incense while practising yoga.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /ˈɪnsɛns/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. The fragrant smoke released by burning incense (sense 1).

  2. Biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt, often used in religious rites or for aesthetic reasons.

verb

Extra meaning

  1. To anger or infuriate.

More examples

In context

  • I think it would incense him to learn the truth.

  • Twelve Trojan princes wait on thee, and labour to incense / Thy glorious heap of funeral.

  • Neither, for the future, shall any man or woman, self-styled noble, be incensed,—foolishly fumigated with incense, in Church; as the wont has been.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

During the temple ceremony, they burned sweet blank to create a pleasant smell.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English encens, from Old French encens (“sweet-smelling substance”) from Late Latin incensum (“burnt incense”, literally “something burnt”), neuter past participle of incendō (“to set on fire”). Compare incendiary. Doublet of incienso. Displaced native Old English rēcels.