Oxford English and Spanish Dictionary, Synonyms, and Spanish to English Translator

Home UK English lavender

Meaning of lavender in English:

lavender

Pronunciation /ˈlav(ə)ndə/

Translate lavender into Spanish

noun

mass noun

1A small aromatic evergreen shrub of the mint family, with narrow leaves and bluish-purple flowers, used in perfumery and medicine.
Genus Lavandula, family Labiatae
‘And be sure to include herbs: fennel, oregano, lavender, bee balm, and sage.’
- ‘A heady, often impenetrable mix of shrubs, herbs and wild flowers, such as lavender, myrtle, marjoram and thyme, its elusive scent permeates everything from the wine to the honey.’
- ‘We've got hawthorn, gingko, elder, mullein, lavender, sage, thyme, echinacea, borage, yarrow and plenty of pine trees.’
- ‘Compact herbs such as chives, dwarf basil, lavender, and oregano fit nicely into the openings of concrete blocks.’
- ‘Thyme, rosemary, marjoram and lavender will act as a magnet for bees and butterflies.’
- ‘We just stood there in the semidarkness of the back garden, with the smells of early blooming lavender, chamomile and mint filled the unusually warm air for late January.’
- ‘There are also some permanent plants in the beds - mostly aromatics like lavender and salvia.’
- ‘You also can plant lavender, oregano, thyme, rosemary and sage.’
- ‘The Shakespeare Garden is planted with herbs referred to by Shakespeare in his plays, including mint, camomile, marjoram and lavender.’
- ‘Prune grey-leaved shrubs such as artemisia, lavender, sage and senecio to new shoots within 10 cm of the base.’
- ‘But the vital feature of a garden is to have things you can touch and smell: rosemary, lavender and lemon-scented geraniums.’
- ‘Stepping off the ferry, I am overwhelmed by the perfumes of rosemary, sage and lavender.’
- ‘They can be trimmed almost like a topiary, if you want to use miniature box, lavender or germander.’
- ‘Climbing roses, jasmine and honeysuckle were trained up the walls and rosemary and lavender borders lined the flower beds.’
- ‘The sensory garden would include scented flowers, such as lavender and honeysuckle, and a water feature.’
- ‘Basil, marjoram and thyme grow well in small containers; bay, lavender and rosemary need larger ones.’
- ‘Shrub roses underplanted with catmint or lavender will seldom suffer from greenfly infestations.’
- ‘He used Mediterranean and dry-climate plants such as lavender, salvia, santolina, and other plants that conserve moisture.’
- ‘Plants were selected for their scent - rosemary, lavender, and sage, for instance.’
- ‘On the way the aroma of fields of lavender, rosemary and pine fill the car, and everywhere the stately march of the thousands of cropped vines in the fields.’
1. 1.1A scented oil distilled from lavender flowers.
  ‘lavender, like most essential oils, is kind to sore or infected skin’
  ‘a cake of lavender soap’
  ‘Insects are all repelled by potent essential oils, such as lavender oil.’
  ‘Pennyroyal oil or lavender oil brushed onto woodwork surrounding doorways and kitchen benches will also help to keep flies away.’
  ‘Or unwind after a hectic day by adding 3 drops each of lavender oil and rosewood oil to your evening bath.’
  ‘In summer days, if you attend outdoor parties, make sure to carry a small bottle of tea tree oil or lavender oil for insect bites.’
  ‘Six drops each of eucalyptus oil and lavender oil mixed together and massaged into the painful area will also help.’
  ‘Blend ten drops each of rose and chamomile oil, and five drops each of lemon and lavender oil with 30 ml of almond oil.’
  ‘Essential oils should almost never be used neat on skin - exceptions are lavender oil and tea tree oil in small amounts.’
  ‘After drying between toes wash the towel in hot water and soap, with a few drops of lavender oil added.’
  ‘Continual aching muscles can also be eased by mixing six drops each of eucalyptus and lavender oil together and then massaging the oil blend into the painful area.’
  ‘He mentioned that it took about a ton of lavender flowers to make a liter of lavender oil.’
  ‘Often I put lavender oil in my bath, because I love the fragrance; aromatherapists tell me it is supposed to be calming.’
  ‘A few drops of peppermint or lavender oil added to a handkerchief or tissue and inhaled will also ease the nausea associated with travel sickness.’
  ‘A few drops of lavender oil in a bowl of warm water, placed on a table away from windows, will also provide protection against bacteria.’
  ‘And to relieve insomnia, try putting a drop of basil, chamomile, clary sage or lavender onto your pillow at night.’
  ‘I remember a mixture of cedar, rosemary, lavender and thyme in an oil base, but no quantities.’
  ‘For skin soothing benefits, try Roman or German chamomile, lavender, patchouli or sandalwood.’
  ‘Essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, rosemary, geranium or sweet orange added to the foot bath will invigorate and help to soften skin.’
  ‘The hand-painted, hand-dyed silk-velvet pillow is filled with chamomile, lavender, rosemary and flaxseed.’
  ‘To make your body oil dissolve nine drops of either lavender or rosemary essential oil in 20 millilitres of almond oil.’
  ‘His rose oils come from the Valley of Roses in Bulgaria, the vanilla comes from Madagascar, the lavender from Provence.’
2. 1.2Used in names of plants similar to lavender, e.g. cotton lavender, sea lavender.
  ‘In another I'm going to plant Rocky Road French lavender.’
  ‘Soft gray leaves give it its name, cotton lavender, also known as gray santolina.’
  ‘The little purple dots on top of the white sepals in the green circle above are about all that will remain of the Sea Lavender flowers when dried.’
  ‘Notice below what a striking complement the Yellow Lavender, with its chartreuse foliage and its creamy beige flower petals, is to the French Lavender.’
3. 1.3informal Used in reference to effeminacy or homosexuality.
  ‘Rick is so hard-boiled that any touch of lavender is wiped away’
  ‘Like all their jewelry products it is in the finest aluminum and, as always, tinted lavender, the official lesbian color!’
  ‘In fact, he loathed the lavenders so much, he said he'd cross the street if he saw a homo approaching’
4. 1.4dated Used in reference to refinement or gentility.
  as modifier ‘she had a certain lavender charm’
  ‘In France they were known as chestnut gatherers; Brits called them lavender aunts.’
  ‘A faint air of lavendered family drama, hangs over proceedings, but the unusual context provides its own stimulus.’
2A pale blue colour with a trace of mauve.
‘romantic designs in old-fashioned tones of primrose, lavender, and rose’
- ‘she wore a lavender silk dress’
- ‘Walls, blinds and tablecloths were in misty shades of lavender blue and mauve.’
- ‘A bit of pale, lavender blue thread looped around the needle's eye.’
- ‘For example, in spring, the guests wear sky blue, grass green, pale rose, lavender, and buttercup yellow.’
- ‘She wore icy lavender eyeshadow that was pale compared to her lightly tanned skin and dark purple lipstick outlined her lips.’
- ‘She wears a dress of lavender and purples that blended so well together it stunned me.’
- ‘Structures have been strengthened, archways rebuilt, mosaic floors retiled and chapels repainted - lavender blue, daffodil yellow, sunset red.’
- ‘Some are white, many in hues of lavender and lilac, pale mauves and deep purples, and a host of other colors.’
- ‘Mama told me to wear my lavender morning dress and to plait my hair with the matching ribbons I had.’
- ‘Most flowers are lavender, purple, or fluorescent pink.’
- ‘The 20-30 light lavender, bell-shaped flowers are fertile and funnel shaped.’
- ‘Its gracefully arching branches are loaded with clusters of cool pink flowers hinting of lavender.’
- ‘Then suddenly they erupt with snapdragon-like flowers that range in color from white to pink, lavender and purple.’
- ‘The flowers fade to a shade of lavender, so it looks like lots of different flowers on one plant.’
- ‘Allison picked out a nice lavender and white flower printed summer dress with loose straps and a cut along the side only going up as far as the knee.’
- ‘She wore a lavender linen robe with a wide violet sash wrapped around her midsection.’
- ‘Her's were a soft lavender, the only time I'd ever see that color.’
- ‘The walls were a light lavender, the floor and ceiling were white.’
- ‘He then found a tight-fitting lavender halter-top that matched almost perfectly.’
- ‘The walls were painted a calm lavender, with my mom's most recent doodlings of clouds.’
- ‘The yellow and the lavender intermingled, one color coming in and out of the other.’