bouquet

bouquet — noun

1. a set of cut flowers tied together in an attractive shape, often meant for givin

1.nounB2
Definition

a set of cut flowers tied together in an attractive shape, often meant for giving to someone or for carrying in a wedding or another ceremony.

Example

Hana carried a white bouquet down the garden path at sunset.

carry a bouquet at a wedding

Theo bought his mother a bouquet of tulips after her concert.

bouquet of + flower type

Common collocations
  • bridal bouquet
  • bouquet of roses
  • hand someone a bouquet
  • put a bouquet in water
Synonyms
  • bunch

    more everyday and less focused on careful arrangement

  • arrangement

    stresses the design of the flowers, often in a vase or basket

  • posy

    usually a small bouquet; slightly old-fashioned

Grammar Patterns

a bouquet of + flowers

carry / give / receive a bouquet

Usage Note

Usually followed by 'of' plus a flower type, and strongly associated with gifts, weddings, and formal events. For flowers sold together without careful design, everyday English often uses 'bunch' instead.

Common Mistakes

I bought a bouquet flowers for my aunt.
I bought a bouquet of flowers for my aunt.
this sense normally uses 'bouquet of' before the flower type.
The shop sold ten bouquets bananas.
The shop sold ten bunches of bananas.
'bouquet' is for flowers, not ordinary groups of fruit.

2. the particular smell that a wine or similar drink gives off, especially one that

2.nounC1
Definition

the particular smell that a wine or similar drink gives off, especially one that seems rich or pleasant.

Example

The red wine had a deep bouquet of berries and warm wood.

wine has a + adjective + bouquet

During the tasting, Noa praised the bouquet before taking another sip.

common in tasting language

Common collocations
  • rich bouquet
  • fruity bouquet
  • judge the bouquet
  • bouquet of a wine
Synonyms
  • aroma

    broader and less tied to wine tasting

  • fragrance

    more often used for flowers, perfume, or pleasant general smells

  • scent

    more general and less technical

  • nose

    more technical tasting term, especially in wine writing

Grammar Patterns

the bouquet of + wine / drink

wine / drink has a + adjective + bouquet

Usage Note

Common in wine talk and menus, and much more formal and specialized than everyday 'smell' or 'aroma'. The subject is usually wine or another drink being judged for quality.

Common Mistakes

The soup had a strong bouquet of onions.
The soup had a strong aroma of onions.
this sense is mainly used for wine and similar drinks, not ordinary food descriptions.
I bought a bouquet for the dinner table wine.
I bought a bouquet of lilies for the dinner table.' / 'The wine had a soft bouquet.
this word can mean either flowers or a drink's smell, depending on the context.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Bouquet' is the normal word when flowers are tied and prepared to be given, carried, or shown in a formal setting. 'Bunch' is more everyday and often means flowers grouped together without much design, as in 'a bunch of tulips from the market.' 'Arrangement' focuses on the way flowers are organized, often in a vase, basket, or hotel display rather than in someone's hand. 'Posy' usually means a small bouquet and can sound slightly old-fashioned. 'Nosegay' is rare in modern everyday English and feels literary or historical. So a bride carries a bouquet, a shopper buys a bunch, and a lobby table may hold a flower arrangement.

bouquet ↗bunch ↗arrangement ↗posynosegay

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle FrenchEnglish

English borrowed 'bouquet' from French in the early 1700s. In French, the word first referred to a small grove or cluster, then to a bunch of flowers; English later extended it to the special smell of wine and similar drinks.