cologne
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a liquid with a pleasant smell that you put on your skin to smell good.
n.a scented liquid consisting of alcohol and various essential oils, typically with a lower concentration of fragrance than perfume.
Simple“He applied a little cologne to his neck before going out to dinner.”
In context“The department store features an extensive collection of designer colognes, ranging from traditional citrus blends to modern woody scents.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun.
Teacher's tipIn modern American English, 'cologne' is often used specifically for men's scents, while 'perfume' is used for women's.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a large, famous city in western Germany located on the Rhine River.
n.the largest city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, known for its Gothic cathedral and as the origin of the fragrance.
Simple“We spent three days in Cologne visiting the famous cathedral.”
In context“Cologne serves as a major cultural and economic hub in western Germany, attracting millions of tourists to its annual carnival celebrations.”
UsageAlways capitalized as a proper noun.
Teacher's tipLearners should note that the German name for the city is 'Köln'.
Synonymsköln - 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to put cologne on yourself or something else so it smells nice.
v.to apply cologne to a person or object for the purpose of scenting.
Simple“The barber cologned the customer's face after the shave.”
In context“The air in the dressing room was heavily cologned, thick with the competing scents of several different floral extracts.”
UsageThis verb is transitive and requires an object.
Teacher's tipThis verbal use is quite rare in modern conversation; 'put on' or 'apply' is much more common.
From Middle English Coloyne, from Old French Cologne, from Latin Colōnia Agrippīna (“Agrippine Colony”), a settlement named after Agrippina, the mother of Roman Emperor Nero; colōnia (“colony”) comes from colōnus (“farmer; colonist”), from verb colo, colere (“till, cultivate, worship”). Doublet of Colonia, colony, and Köln, from German.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.