Aromatic compound (Chem.), one of a large class of organic substances, as the oils of bitter almonds, wintergreen, and turpentine, the balsams, camphors, etc., many of which have an aromatic odor. They include many of the most important of the carbon compounds and may all be derived from the benzene group, C6H6. The term is extended also to many of their derivatives. -- Aromatic vinegar. See under Vinegar.

aromatic, n.

A plant, drug, or medicine, characterized by a fragrant smell, and usually by a warm, pungent taste, as ginger, cinnamon, spices. [1913 Webster]

top

OXFORD DICTIONARY

aromatic, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 fragrant, spicy; (of a smell) pleasantly pungent.
2 Chem. of organic compounds having an unsaturated ring, esp. containing a benzene ring.
--n. an aromatic substance.

Derivative

aromatically adv. aromaticity n.

Etymology

ME f. OF aromatique f. LL aromaticus f. Gk aromatikos (as AROMA, -IC)

top

THESAURUS

aromatic

ambrosial, balmy, effluvious, essenced, flowery, fragrant, fruity, incense-breathing, malodorous, musky, odorant, odorate, odored, odoriferous, odorous, perfumed, perfumy, pungent, redolent, savory, scented, smellful, smelling, smellsome, smelly, spicy, sweet, sweet-scented, sweet-smelling, thuriferous

top

ROGET THESAURUS

aromatic

Fragrance

N fragrance, aroma, redolence, perfume, bouquet, essence, scent, sweet smell, aromatic perfume, agalloch, agallochium, aloes wood, bay rum, calambac, calambour, champak, horehound, lign-aloes, marrubium, mint, muskrat, napha water, olibanum, spirit of myrcia, essential oil, incense, musk, frankincense, pastil, pastille, myrrh, perfumes of Arabia, otto, ottar, attar, bergamot, balm, civet, potpourri, pulvil, nosegay, scentbag, sachet, smelling bottle, vinaigrette, eau de Cologne, toilet water, lotion, after-shave lotion, thurification, perfumer, eucalyptus oil, pinene, fragrant, aromatic, redolent, spicy, savory, balmy, scented, sweet-smelling, sweet-scented, perfumed, perfumatory, thuriferous, fragrant as a rose, muscadine, ambrosial.

For further exploring for "aromatic" in Webster Dictionary Online