English Explanatory Dictionary

incense

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt, often used in religious rites or for aesthetic reasons.
  2. The fragrant smoke released by burning incense (sense 1).
  3. Homage; adulation.
verb
  1. To set on fire; to inflame; to kindle; to burn.
  2. To anger or infuriate.
  3. To incite, stimulate.
  4. To offer incense to.
  5. To perfume with, or as with, incense.

Pronunciation

ĭn'sĕns /ˈɪnsɛns/ en-us-incense-noun.ogg ĭnsĕns' /ɪnˈsɛns/ en-us-incense-verb.ogg

Word forms

incense incenses incensing incensed

Etymology

From Middle English encens, from Old French encens (“sweet-smelling substance”) from Late Latin incensum (“burnt incense”, literally “something burnt”), neuter past participle of incendō (“to set on fire”). Compare incendiary. Doublet of incienso.

Synonyms

inflame aflame alight conflagrate fire fire up ignite kindle light light up set ablaze set afire set aflame set alight set fire set on fire torch affront aggravate anger antagonize awrath burn up cheese off cross embitter envenom gall get get to honk off incense infuriate madden make angry nark offend outrage provoke put out rankle rile piss off roil set off steam tick off get one's back up get someone's dander up get someone's goat get someone's Irish up make someone see red make someone's blood boil put someone's back up raise someone's hackles raise someone's shag rattle someone's cage rub the wrong way ruffle some feathers set up someone's birse

Related words

frankincense

Derived words

incensation incense boat incense burner incense cedar incenseless incensement incenser incense stick incense tree incensive incensole incensy incensor incensory reincense
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on I Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary