lavender
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a plant with small, pale purple flowers that has a very pleasant, relaxing smell.
n.any of various aromatic shrubs of the genus Lavandula, widely cultivated for its flowers and essential oils.
Simple“She planted lavender along the garden path to enjoy its scent in the summer.”
In context“The hills of Provence are famous for their vast fields of lavender, which are harvested for the perfume and cosmetics industries.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a pale, soft purple colour.
n.a pale bluish-purple colour, resembling the flowers of the lavender plant.
Simple“The walls of the bedroom were painted a soft lavender.”
In context“The sunset turned the sky a beautiful shade of lavender just before the stars appeared.”
Synonymslilacpale purple - 03 B1 Intermediate
- 04 C1 Advanced
adj.related to the LGBT community or their history.
adj.pertaining to LGBT people, rights, or culture; often used in historical or political contexts.
Simple“The city has a rich lavender history with many famous activists living there.”
In context“The term 'lavender linguistics' refers to the study of language as used by LGBT speakers in various social settings.”
Synonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
n.a special type of film used to make copies of movies.
n.a specific type of film stock used to create positive prints from negatives during the duplication process.
Simple“The studio used a lavender to preserve the original quality of the film.”
In context“Before digital restoration, technicians relied on the lavender print to ensure the contrast remained consistent during the duplication of classic cinema.”
- 06 C2 Proficiency
v.to make something smell like lavender.
v.to perfume or scent an object or area with lavender.
Simple“She liked to lavender her linens before putting them in the cupboard.”
In context“The air in the boutique was gently lavendered, creating a calm atmosphere for the high-end clientele.”
From Middle English lavendre, from Anglo-Norman lavendre (French lavande), from Medieval Latin lavendula, possibly from Latin lividus (“bluish”), but influenced by lavō (“to wash”) due to the use of lavender in washing clothes.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.