# musk

/ˈməsk/ (US) · /mˈʌsk/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/musk
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a strong-smelling substance used to make perfumes. It originally comes from a gland in a male deer, but it is now usually made in a lab.

For teachers: a strong-smelling substance secreted by the glandular sac of the male musk deer, or a synthetic substitute, used as a fixative in perfumery.

## Examples

- The perfume has a heavy scent of musk.
- The air in the old library was thick with the smell of dust, aged paper, and a faint hint of musk.
- While the original extraction of musk required the sacrifice of the animal, modern chemistry allows perfumers to replicate its warm, earthy base notes using entirely synthetic compounds.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the scent or the substance in general; countable when referring to specific varieties or chemical types.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.