attar

1 of 2

noun (1)

variants or less commonly
Synonyms of attarnext
: a fragrant essential oil (as from rose petals)
also : fragrance

otto

2 of 2

noun (2)

ot·​to ˈä-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce otto (audio)

less common variant of

: a fragrant essential oil (as from rose petals)
also : fragrance

Examples of attar in a Sentence

Noun (1) exuding the attar of jasmine, the beautifully bejeweled woman set off for the ball
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Their flowers in pale pink or white are an afterthought to the plethora of scents – peppermint, lemon, chocolate, nutmeg, apple, ginger, apricot, attar of roses, and cinnamon, among others – that their leaves transmit upon being rubbed or crushed. Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 6 Mar. 2025 Take the attar trail in the town of Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, famous for the distilling of scents. Condé Nast Traveller, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Mar. 2025 Also known as attars or absolutes, essential oils are made from fruits and plants. Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025 Queen Charlotte had an entire room at Windsor Castle dedicated to her snuff collection, her favorite of which was named Violet Strasbourg, a blend mixed with bitter almonds, ambergris, and attar. Lauren Puckett-Pope, Harper's BAZAAR, 5 May 2023 Costa Brazil’s Aroma mimics Amazonian resin with clearwood, myrrh and patchouli; Régime des Fleurs Tears is a woody incense undercut by the freshness of green cognac oil; and subscription-only brand Ffern’s latest takes a lush rose attar in a new and spicier direction via ho wood. Fiorella Valdesolo, WSJ, 23 June 2022 Try the Künefe dessert, made with spun pastry called kataifi, soaked in attar syrup, and layered with melted, unsalted cheese. Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 12 June 2022 He’s also got pomegranate molasses, which is the red juice cooked down to a syrup; Aleppo pepper, an aromatic chile powder; tahini, homemade from sesame seeds and olive oil; and attar, a sugar syrup made with rose water or orange blossom water. BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2021
Noun
There are precious patterns to snag like light gray gingham and otto geometric in light blue, as well as solid colors like white, blue, and mint. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 6 Jan. 2024 But the crop made its return in the last two decades, and now ISCO is looking to use otto file to create a new bourbon. Alexa Gagosz, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Oct. 2022 In terms of popularity, design, and overall aesthetics, the Ottomanson otto home collection runner rug is a great choice for any home. Tim Kohut, BGR, 29 June 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Persian ʽaṭir perfumed, from Arabic, from ʽiṭr perfume

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1790, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of attar was in 1790

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Attar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attar. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

attar

noun
at·​tar ˈat-ər How to pronounce attar (audio)
ˈa-ˌtär
: a fragrant oil that comes from a plant (as the rose) and is used in perfumes or flavorings
also : fragrance

Medical Definition

attar

noun
: a fragrant essential oil
especially : attar of roses
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