attar

[ at-er, -ahr ]

noun

1. Also at·ar [] ath·ar [] ot·tar [] ot·to []. a perfume or essential oil obtained from flowers or petals.
2. Also called attar of roses,. rose oil.

attar

/ ˈɒtə; ˈɒtəʊ; ˈætə /

noun

1. an essential oil from flowers, esp the damask rose, used pure or as a base for perfume

   attar of roses

Word History and Origins

Origin of attar¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; short for Persian 'atar-gūl “attar of roses,” akin to ʿatara “to smell sweet,” ʿiṭr “fragrance” (from Arabic )

Word History and Origins

Origin of attar¹

C18: from Persian `atir perfumed, from `itr perfume, from Arabic

Example Sentences

Ten-year-old Yasmine al Attar stares at me from under her dark curled bangs.

From The Daily Beast

But Ghazipoor is most remarkable for its enormous rose-fields, and the rose-water and attar prepared here.

From Project Gutenberg

Not more than an ounce and a half of attar, at the utmost, is obtained from eighty pounds of roses.

From Project Gutenberg

We were offered sweetmeats and fruits, sprinkled with rosewater, and some attar of roses was put upon our handkerchiefs.

From Project Gutenberg

A small quantity of pure attar passes with the water into the receiver.

From Project Gutenberg

The Persian attar of roses is said to be obtained from this species.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aroma
• bouquet
• incense
• odor
• oil
• smell
• spice