A noticeable and usually pleasant smell, especially coming from food, drink, or plants.
The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the small bakery and made everyone's mouth water.
She lifted the cup of coffee to her nose, savoring the rich aroma before taking a sip.
✦ Early 19th century: from Spanish and Portuguese, from Latin aroma, from Greek arōma ‘seasoning, spice’.
A particular quality or feeling that seems to surround something and makes it interesting or distinctive.
The old library had an aroma of mystery that drew curious visitors inside.
The festival carried an aroma of joy and anticipation throughout the town.
✦ Transferred figurative sense developed mid-19th century from the literal meaning of ‘pleasant smell’.
