henna
n. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈhɛnə// UK //hˈɛnɐ// hen·na
n. a natural plant that people use to make a dark orange dye. You apply it to your skin or hair to create a temporary pattern or color.
n. a plant of the genus Lawsonia, whose leaves contain a natural dye used for body art and hair coloring.
She applied henna to her hands before the wedding.
The bride spent several hours applying henna to her arms and feet to create intricate patterns for the ceremony.
While synthetic dyes offer convenience, many traditionalists prefer henna for its natural pigmentation and the temporary nature of the stain, which fades over several weeks.
Borrowed from Arabic حِنَّاء (ḥinnāʔ), the name of the tree used to make the dye, probably from Middle Persian [script needed] (*hannāy-, “to smear, anoint”).