flavor

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   The particular taste of a food or drink, which comes from its ingredients and is sensed by taste and smell together.

   Grammar: Can be countable when referring to a specific type (a flavor) or uncountable when referring to the quality in general (full of flavor).

   Patterns

   • a flavor of something
   • the flavor of something
   • add flavor to something

   This ice cream has a rich chocolate flavor.

   The soup needs more flavor; add some herbs.

   I love the flavor of fresh strawberries.

2. 2verbtransitive

   To give a food or drink a particular taste by adding an ingredient.

   Grammar: Takes an object: flavor the sauce with herbs.

   Patterns

   • flavor something with something

   She flavored the cake with vanilla extract.

   You can flavor the water with lemon slices.

   The chef flavored the dish using fresh basil.

Word forms

Common combinations

full of flavor

The ripe tomatoes are full of flavor.

a hint of flavor

This tea has a hint of lemon flavor.

flavor enhancer

Some cooks use a flavor enhancer to make dishes tastier.

natural flavor

The label says the drink contains natural flavors.

flavor profile

The wine has a complex flavor profile.

Synonyms and how they differ

taste

Taste is the sensation in the mouth, while flavor also includes smell and is often more specific about the type of food.

savor

Savor is a literary or formal word for a pleasant taste or smell; flavor is the everyday term.

Word family

flavoring noun

A substance added to give a particular taste.

flavorless adjective

Having no taste or a very weak taste.

flavorful adjective

Full of flavor; tasty.

Commonly confused: flavor or flavour?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “flavor”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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