What does aromatic mean?
Word: Aromatic
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Aromatic means having a strong smell that most people find pleasant, like fresh herbs or spices.
How do you spell aromatic?
Syllables: ar - o - mat - ic
Tricky part: The stress falls on mat, and that strong beat tempts students to double the t, as in attic. The word has a single t.
Watch out for: aromattic, aromatik
Memory tip: Try this saying: a dramatic smell is aromatic. Both words lean on a single t.
Aromatic in a sentence
Example 1: Grandma roasts aromatic cumin seeds, and the whole house smells of them.
Example 2: Basmati is an aromatic rice, and you can tell as soon as the pot is opened.
Example 3: We planted aromatic herbs such as mint and basil beside the back door.
Fun Fact
The parent word aroma reached English through Latin from a Greek word for spice. Long ago it meant the spice itself, and only later the pleasant smell.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the option in which the following letters will fit in the given order:
o, a
a) m_g_c
b) ar_m_tic
c) c_m_t
d) b_t_n
Show answer
b) ar_m_tic. A comet takes o and e, a baton a and o, and magic a and i, which leaves only one fit.
Spell Probe
Find the misspelt word in the sentence and choose its meaning:
The arromatic steam from the cinnamon tea drifted through the hostel kitchen and woke the sleepy students.
a) a building where students live and eat
b) giving off a sweet or spicy scent
c) a brown spice from the bark of a tree
d) hot vapour that rises from boiling water
Show answer
b) giving off a sweet or spicy scent. The misspelt word has one r too many, and it describes how the tea smelt.
Word Champ
In which option are the given words arranged in alphabetical order?
1. around 2. aromatic 3. arouse 4. aroma
a) 2431
b) 2413
c) 4213
d) 4231
Show answer
c) 4213. All four begin aro. The shortest comes first, its longer relation next, and then n comes before s after arou.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its synonym:
1. aromatic 2. drowsy 3. ample a. plentiful b. sleepy c. fragrant
a) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
b) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
c) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
d) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
Show answer
b) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a. Aromatic pairs with fragrant, drowsy with sleepy and ample with plentiful.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A cook wants to add something aromatic to a pot of rice. What should she reach for?
a) a cup of boiled rice
b) a pod of green cardamom
c) a spoon of white sugar
d) a slice of plain bread
Show answer
b) a pod of green cardamom
2. Which of these garden plants is the most aromatic?
a) fern
b) bamboo
c) lavender
d) cactus
Show answer
c) lavender
