lavender
lavender — noun
1. a plant of the mint family, grown in gardens for its slender grey-green leaves a
a plant of the mint family, grown in gardens for its slender grey-green leaves and light purple flower spikes that give off a powerful sweet perfume; its dried flowers are used to scent stored fabrics, soaps, and other household articles
Élise planted lavender along the garden path to enjoy its sweet smell.
countable noun for the plant
The dried lavender in Hoa's wardrobe kept her clothes smelling fresh all season.
uncountable noun for the dried flowers used as a fragrance
Putri bought lavender-scented hand soap from the market near her house.
Asher hung a bag of dried lavender in his room to help him sleep.
- lavender plant
- lavender oil
- dried lavender
- lavender soap
- lavender scent
- lavender fields
2. a light purple colour, similar to the shade of the lavender plant's flowers
a light purple colour, similar to the shade of the lavender plant's flowers
Gita painted her bedroom walls in a soft lavender that felt calm and restful.
uncountable noun for the colour as a concept
The bridesmaids wore dresses of pale lavender and carried white roses.
colour described with 'pale' as modifier
Benjamin chose a lavender scarf to match his grey winter coat.
The walls were painted a delicate lavender that brightened the whole room.
- pale lavender
- soft lavender
- delicate lavender
- lavender dress
lavender — adjective
1. of a light purple colour, like the shade of the lavender plant's flowers
of a light purple colour, like the shade of the lavender plant's flowers
Aoi wore a lavender sweater that brought out the warmth in her skin.
colour adjective describing clothing
The lavender curtains in the living room gave the space a soft, airy feel.
Hamza found a lavender notebook with gold-edged pages at the stationery shop.
colour adjective describing a small object
Ilan chose a lavender rug to bring a splash of colour to the hallway.
- lavender dress
- lavender walls
- lavender flowers
- lavender sky
Common Mistakes
lavender — verb
1. to add the smell of lavender to something, typically by sprinkling dried flowers
to add the smell of lavender to something, typically by sprinkling dried flowers or applying lavender oil
The housekeeper lavendered the guest towels with a light spray before the visitors arrived.
transitive verb used in a domestic context
Baraka lavendered his wool suits by placing dried flowers between the layers in the closet.
We lavendered the wedding invitations by tucking a tiny dried sprig into each envelope.
transitive verb with a creative application
Joaquín lavendered the bathwater with a few drops of essential oil before getting in.
- scent
a more common verb; 'scent with lavender' is preferred over 'lavender' in everyday language
Usage Note
Rare in everyday speech; most English speakers would use the phrase 'scent with lavender' or 'add lavender to' instead of the verb form 'lavender'.