jasmine

IPA/ˈdʒæzmɪn/
KK[dʒˈæzmən]IPA/ˈdʒæzmɪn/

jasmine — noun

  • jasminesingular
  • jasminesplural

1. a climbing plant whose small white or yellow blossoms have a very strong sweet s

1.nounB1
Definition

a climbing plant whose small white or yellow blossoms have a very strong sweet smell. People often use the flowers to make perfume or add them to tea.

Example

Jasmine climbed the courtyard wall and filled the evening air with a sweet scent.

noun subject describing the plant's growth habit

Lin planted jasmine by the kitchen window so the breeze carried the fragrance inside.

collocation: planted jasmine / carried the fragrance

Common collocations
  • jasmine climbs / grows / blooms
  • jasmine flower / blossom / vine
  • jasmine scent / fragrance / aroma
  • jasmine tea / oil / perfume
  • white jasmine / yellow jasmine
Synonyms
  • gardenia

    a different plant with similarly strong white flowers; gardenia has a heavier, creamier scent while jasmine is lighter and more floral

  • honeysuckle

    another climbing plant with sweet-smelling flowers; honeysuckle has trumpet-shaped blooms and a honey-like fragrance

  • jessamine

    an older spelling of jasmine used mainly in botanical writing

Usage Note

Jasmine can be countable (referring to a plant or flower) or uncountable (referring to the scent or as a flavouring).

Common Mistakes

The gardenia has a sweeter smell than the jasmine.
The gardenia has a sweeter smell than jasmine.
When speaking of the flower type in general, omit the article.
I like jasmin tea.
I like jasmine tea.
The plant name is spelled 'jasmine', not 'jasmin'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to fragrant plants whose flowers are used in perfumes, but each has a distinct character. Jasmine is a climbing vine with small white or yellow blossoms and a sweet, floral scent that is widely used in tea and perfume. Gardenia is a shrub with large white or cream flowers that have a heavier, creamier fragrance often described as intoxicating. Honeysuckle is also a climbing plant, but its trumpet-shaped flowers produce a honey-like scent and are often found in hedges and wild gardens. Lavender is a bush with purple flower spikes and a clean, herbal fragrance used in soaps, sachets, and aromatherapy. Jessamine is simply an older spelling of jasmine still encountered in botanical names. For example: 'The jasmine vine next to the porch bloomed in early summer,' but 'She tucked a sprig of lavender into her pillowcase.'

gardenia ↗honeysuckle ↗jessamine ↗lavender ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • jasmine flower
  • jasmine blossom
  • jasmine vine
  • jasmine tea
  • jasmine oil
  • jasmine scent
  • jasmine fragrance
  • jasmine perfume

Phrases

  • jasmine green tea
  • jasmine rice

Prepositions

  • scent of jasmine
  • vines of jasmine

Etymology

PersianArabicFrenchEnglish

The word jasmine came into English from French 'jasmin', which traces back through Arabic 'yas(a)min' to Persian 'yasmin'. In Persian the name means 'gift from God', reflecting the high value placed on the flower's fragrance. The plant reached Europe through trade routes from Asia, and the word spread alongside the flower itself.