musk


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musk

 (mŭsk)
n.
1.
a. A greasy secretion with a powerful odor, produced in a glandular sac in the abdomen of a male musk deer and used in traditional medicines and formerly in the manufacture of perfumes.
b. A similar secretion produced by certain other animals, such as an otter or civet.
c. A synthetic chemical resembling natural musk in odor or use.
2.
a. The odor of musk.
b. An odor similar to musk.

[Middle English, from Old French musc, from Late Latin muscus, from Greek moskhos, from Persian mušk, probably from Sanskrit muṣkaḥ, testicle; see mūs- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

musk

(mʌsk)
n
1. (Elements & Compounds) a strong-smelling glandular secretion of the male musk deer, used in perfumery
2. (Elements & Compounds) a similar substance produced by certain other animals, such as the civet and otter, or manufactured synthetically
3. (Plants) any of several scrophulariaceous plants of the genus Mimulus, esp the North American M. moschatus, which has yellow flowers and was formerly cultivated for its musky scent. See also monkey flower
4. the smell of musk or a similar heady smell
5. (modifier) containing or resembling musk: musk oil; a musk flavour.
[C14: from Late Latin muscus, from Greek moskhos, from Persian mushk, probably from Sanskrit mushká scrotum (from the appearance of the musk deer's musk bag), diminutive of mūsh mouse]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

musk

(mʌsk)

n.
1. a pungent glandular secretion of the male musk deer: used in perfumery.
2. an artificial imitation of the substance.
3. a similar secretion of other animals, as the muskrat.
4. the odor of musk, or some similar odor.
5. any of several plants, as the monkey flower, having a musky fragrance.
[1350–1400; Middle English (< Middle French musc) < Late Latin muscus < Late Greek móskos < Middle Persian; compare Persian mushk]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.musk - an odorous glandular secretion from the male musk deer; used as a perfume fixative
secretion - a functionally specialized substance (especially one that is not a waste) released from a gland or cell
2.musk - the scent of a greasy glandular secretion from the male musk deer
scent - an odor left in passing by which a person or animal can be traced
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

musk

[mʌsk]
A. N (= substance) → almizcle m; (= scent) → perfume m de almizcle (Bot) → almizcleña f
B. CPD musk ox Nbuey m almizclado
musk rose N (Bot) → rosa f almizcleña
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

musk

[ˈmʌsk] nmusc m
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

musk

n
(= secretion, smell)Moschus m
(Bot) → Moschuskraut nt

musk

:
musk deer
nMoschustier nt, → Moschushirsch m
musk duck
nMoschusente f

musk

:
muskmelon
nZucker- or Gartenmelone f
musk ox
nMoschusochse m
muskrat
nBisamratte f
musk rose
nMoschusrose f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

musk

[mʌsk] nmuschio
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
In May and June come pinks of all sorts, specially the blushpink; roses of all kinds, except the musk, which comes later; honeysuckles; strawberries; bugloss; columbine; the French marigold, flos Africanus; cherry-tree in fruit; ribes; figs in fruit; rasps; vineflowers; lavender in flowers; the sweet satyrian, with the white flower; herba muscaria; lilium convallium; the apple-tree in blossom.
One morning, while I was sitting before my completed portrait, inwardly shuddering over the ugliness of it, a suffocating smell of musk was wafted into the studio; it was followed by a sound of rustling garments; and that again was succeeded by the personal appearance of my affectionate sister, with her husband at her heels.
I felt a similar antipathy to the smell of musk, and had not the slightest intention of kissing her; but I was too gallant a man to say so; and I only begged her to favor me by looking at her husband's portrait.
And likewise call to mind that saying of paracelsus about what it is that maketh the best musk. Also forget not the strange fact that of all things of ill-savor, Cologne-water, in its rudimental manufacturing stages, is the worst.
Their clothes and their letters reek with the foetid secretion of the musk deer.
She resented it by drawing her own conclusion from what he had said of the ladies and the musk deer.
Elsewhere match that bloom of theirs, ye cannot, save in Salem, where they tell me the young girls breathe such musk, their sailor sweethearts smell them miles off shore, as though they were drawing nigh the odorous Moluccas instead of the Puritanic sands.
He became a trifle less dreary; and he looked much as he had looked when he noticed the white musk rose in the flower-garden.
Through counter currents of the heavy stench of meat eaters he traced the trail of Bara; the sweet and cloying stink of Horta, the boar, could not drown his quarry's scent--the permeating, mellow musk of the deer's foot.
Add to that a pair of black eyes with yellowish whites, a proud glance, gleaming teeth, and lips which were perennially pomaded and redolent of musk. As for her dress, it was invariably rich, effective, and chic, yet in good taste.
The Canadian, Conseil, and I buried our weapons in the fleshy masses; a strong smell of musk penetrated the atmosphere.
Every little girl can easily imagine what an extra good time she had diving into a sea of treasures and fishing up one pretty thing after another, till the air was full of the mingled odours of musk and sandalwood, the room gay with bright colours, and Rose in a rapture of delight.