flavor
n. · v.-
1 a specific variety (n.) A2 Elementary American Englisha specific type of taste, like chocolate or vanilla.
a specific category of taste attributed to a food, beverage, or medication.
ExampleWhich flavor of ice cream would you like for dessert?
ExampleThe manufacturer expanded the product line to include a spicy lime flavor, targeting a younger demographic interested in bold snacks.
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2 characteristic quality (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate American Englishthe special feeling or quality that something has.
the distinctive or characteristic quality of a place, time, or activity.
ExampleThe street performers give the city a very international flavor.
ExampleThe director incorporated traditional folk instruments to give the film's soundtrack an authentic regional flavor.
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3 kind or type (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate American English Informala particular version or type of something, like a software program.
a specific variety or version of a concept, system, or object.
ExampleThe company offers several different flavors of its accounting software.
ExampleWhile the core engine remains the same, the operating system is available in several flavors tailored for different hardware architectures.
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4 particle physics (n.) C2 Proficiency American English Technical Sciencea way to describe different types of tiny particles in science.
a quantum number of elementary particles, relating to their weak interaction.
ExampleQuarks come in six different flavors, including 'up' and 'down'.
ExampleIn the Standard Model, flavor physics explores the interactions that allow quarks to change from one flavor to another via the weak force.
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5 to add taste (v.) B1 Intermediate American English Cookingto add herbs, spices, or other things to food to make it taste better.
to impart a particular taste to food or drink by adding ingredients.
ExampleYou can flavor the soup with a little bit of fresh basil.
ExampleThe chef chose to flavor the reduction with star anise, providing a subtle licorice note that complemented the roasted duck.
From Middle English flavour meaning “smell, odour”, usually pleasing, borrowed from Old French flaour (“smell, odour”) (cfr. Sicilian ciàguru, its etymology and semantic), from Vulgar Latin flātor (“odour, that which blows”), from Latin flātor (“blower”), from flō, flāre (“to blow, puff”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰleh₁- (“to blow”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to make a loud noise”). Doublet of blow and bleat.