Word.ws English Dictionary

savour

Syllables: sav·our/ˈseɪvə/US/ˈseɪvəɹ/

savour noun: an aroma or smell.

Noun

savour (countable and uncountable, plural savours)

  1. (UK, countable) An aroma or smell.
    • And Noe [Noah] made an aulter vnto the LORDE⸝ and toke of all maner of clene beaſtes and all maner of clene foules⸝ and offred ſacrifyce vppon the aulter. And the LORDE ſmellyd a ſwete ſavoure and ſayd in his hert: I wyll henceforth no more curſe the erth for mannes ſake⸝ […]1530 January 27 (Gregorian calendar), W[illiam] T[yndale], transl., [The Pentateuch] (Tyndale Bible), Malborow [Marburg], Hesse: […] Hans Luft [actually Antwerp: Johan Hoochstraten], →OCLC, Genesis...
    • Matr[euis]. Gurney, I vvonder the king dies not, / Being in a vault vp to the knees in vvater, / To vvhich the channels of the caſtell runne, / […] / Gurn[ey]. And ſo do I, Matreuis: yeſternight / I opened but the doore to throvv him meate, / And I vvas almoſt ſtifeled vvith the ſauor.1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act...
  2. (UK, uncountable) The quality which the sense of taste detects; also (countable), a specific flavour or taste, especially one different from the predominant one.
    • [B]y our Sences which conceiue al Colours, Sounds, Sents, Sauors, and Féelings; wée may ſee, heare, ſmell, taſt, and feele, that one ſelfſame workman made both the Sences, and the things that are ſubiect to the Sences.1587, Philip of Mornay [i.e., Philippe de Mornay], “That there is a God, and that All Men Agree in the Godhead”, in Philip Sidney, Arthur Golding, transl., A Woorke Concerning the Trewnesse of the...
    • Cyders differ one from another eſpecially in colour and ſauour or reliſh.1606, Charles Steuens [i.e., Charles Estienne]; John Liebault [i.e., Jean Liébault], “A Brief Discourse of Making of Drinkes of the Iuices of Fruits”, in Richard Surflet, transl., Maison Rustique, or...
    1. (UK, countable) An appealing or appetizing flavour, especially one which is savoury or strong.
      • Ye are the ſalte of the earth: but if the ſalte haue loſt his ſauour, vvherevvith ſhal it be ſalted? It is thenceforthe good for nothing, but to be caſt out, & to be troden vnder fote of men.1560, [William Whittingham et al., transl.], The Bible and Holy Scriptures Conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. […] (the Geneva Bible), Geneva: […] Rouland Hall, →OCLC, S. Matthewe V:13, folio...
      • His houſe is as empty of Religion, as the vvhite of an Egg is of ſavour.1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, page 106
  3. (UK, countable, figuratively) A distinctive sensation like a flavour or taste, or an aroma or smell.
    • [W]hy is not my life a continual Joy? and the ſavor of Heaven perpetually upon my ſpirit?1649, Richard Baxter, “What Affections Must be Acted, and by what Considerations and Obje[c]ts, and in what Order”, in The Saints Everlasting Rest: Or, A Treatise of the Blessed State of the Saints...
  4. (UK, countable, figuratively) A particular quality, especially a small amount of it; a hint or trace of something.
    • Come ſir, this admiration is much of the ſauour of other your nevv prankes, I doe beſeech you vnderſtand my purpoſes aright, […]c. 1603–1606 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] His True Chronicle Historie of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Nathaniel Butter, […]...
    Synonyms:
    tinge
  5. (UK, countable, figuratively) A quality which is appealing or enjoyable; merit, value.
  6. (UK, archaic, countable, figuratively) A reputation.
    • The LORDE loke vpon you, ⁊ iudge it, for ye haue made the ſauoure of vs to ſtynke before Pharao and his ſeruauntes, and haue geuen them a ſwerde in their handes, to ſlaye vs.1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Exodus v:[19]...
    • VVe left Arnulphus [i.e., Arnulf of Chocques] the laſt Patriarch of Jeruſalem; ſince vvhich time the bad ſavour of his life came to the Popes noſe, vvho ſent a Legate to depoſe him.1639, Thomas Fuller, “The Ecclesiasticall Affairs in this Kings Reigne”, in The Historie of the Holy Warre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck, one of the printers to the Universitie of...
  7. (UK, figuratively, uncountable) Enjoyment or taste for something; appreciation; pleasure; relish; (countable) an instance of this.
    • Gerald shook his head in the savour of triumph.2004, Alan Hollinghurst, chapter 5, in The Line of Beauty […], 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 105
  8. (UK, figuratively, obsolete, uncountable) Knowledge; understanding.
    • [M]any of them were wery of theyr life, beyng very deſyrous of him [Jesus], of whom they had a certeyne ſauour and vnderſtandyng (ſimple though it wer:) who ſodenly ſhould renewe all kynde of men, and theyr ſynnes clerely abolyſhed, bryng them vnto the kyngdõ of righteouſneſſe.1549 February 10 (Gregorian calendar; indicated as 1548), Erasmus, “The Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Gospell of Saincte Matthew. The .iii. Chapter.”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall]...
    • But as I can ſee no merit, / Leading to this favour: / So the vvay to fit me for it, / Is beyond my ſavour.[1633], George Herbert, “Dialogue”, in [Nicholas Ferrar], editor, The Temple. Sacred Poems, and Private Ejaculations, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck and Roger Daniel; and are to be sold...

Verb

savour (third-person singular simple present savours, present participle savouring, simple past and past participle savoured)

  1. (UK, transitive) To detect (a flavour or taste, or food or drink); to taste; specifically, to enjoy or linger on (a flavour or taste, or food and drink); to relish.
    • He closed his eyes so he could really savour his dessert.
  2. (UK, transitive) To give (food or drink) flavour; to flavour, to season.
    • What Flesh is fitting for Man to Eat, / Until our Herbs do savour the Meat?1719, Samuel Wilde, “[The Gard’ners Song.] The Second Part.”, in Thomas d’Urfey, compiler, Songs Compleat, Pleasant and Divertive; […], volume IV, London: […] W. Pearson, for J[acob] Tonson, […]...
    • [S]alt they had none; the ashes of a species of palm was their substitute, and this could only be used for savouring food, not for curing it.1810, Robert Southey, chapter XVIII, in History of Brazil, 1st part, London: […] [William Pople] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […], →OCLC, pages 616–617
  3. (UK, archaic, transitive) To detect (an aroma or smell, especially an appealing one); to smell.
    • VViſedome and goodnes, to the vild ſeeme vild, / Filths ſauor but themſelues, vvhat haue you done?c. 1603–1606 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] His True Chronicle Historie of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Nathaniel Butter, […]...
  4. (UK, figuratively, transitive) To enjoy (something) deeply or in a lingering manner; to appreciate, to delight in, to relish.
    • VVhẽ vvickednes vvas ſvvete in his mouthe, & he hid it vnder his tongue, / And ſauoured it, and vvolde not forſake it, but kept it cloſe in his mouth, / Then his meat in his bovvels vvas turned: the gall of aſpes vvas in the middes of hĩ [him].1560, [William Whittingham et al., transl.], The Bible and Holy Scriptures Conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. […] (the Geneva Bible), Geneva: […] Rouland Hall, →OCLC, Iob XX:12–14, folio 228...
    • [L]et me savor the sweetness of the name of Jesus as Thou [the Virgin Mary] savoredst it in thy heart, for it is just and meet, right and for our salvation, Queen of Heaven, thrice-blessed . . .1959, Günter Grass, “No Wonder”, in Ralph Manheim, transl., The Tin Drum, New York, N.Y.: Pantheon Books, →OCLC, page 138
  5. (UK, figuratively, transitive) To find (something) appealing; to appreciate, to like.
    • The man that coueteth gold, conceiueth not goodneſſe, his appetite is of the earth, and thoſe that are earthly minded, ſauour not the things that are of God.1584, Thomas Lodge, An Alarum against Usurers. […], London: […] T[homas] Este, for Sampson Clarke, […], →OCLC, folio 19, recto
    • Here, ſtalkes me by a proud, and ſpangled ſir, / That lookes three hand-fuls higher then his fore-top; / Sauours himſelfe alone, is onely kind / And louing to himſelfe: […]1600 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby...
    Synonyms:
    care for
  6. (UK, archaic, figuratively, transitive) To possess (a particular, often negative, quality), especially a small amount of it; to be redolent or suggestive of (something).
    • No more be mention'd then of violence / Againſt our ſelves, and vvilful barrenneſs, / That cuts us off from hope, and ſavours onely / Rancor and pride, impatience and deſpite, / Reluctance againſt God and his juſt yoke / Laid on our Necks.1674, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], 2nd edition, London: […] S[amuel] Simmons […], →OCLC, page 282
  7. (UK, figuratively, obsolete, transitive) To be appealing to (a person, the senses, etc.).
  8. (UK, figuratively, obsolete, transitive) To experience, perceive, or understand (something).
    • BY novv, perhaps, thou ſauoreſts^([sic – meaning savorest]) ſome Godhead: yeat, is ods. / VVith paſte and preſent times doeſt dreame Pluralitie of Gods. / So did in deed the Monarchies, ſo Miſcreants novv not fevv: / But liſten here vvhat Gods they vvere, and learne them to eſchevv.1602, William Warner, “The Thirteenth Booke. Chapter LXXVII.”, in Albions England. A Continued Historie of the Same Kingdome, from the Originals of the First Inhabitants thereof: […], 5th edition...
    • [H]e [Jesus] turned, and ſaid vnto Peter, Get thee behind mee, Satan, thou sart an offence vnto me: for thou ſauoureſt not the things that be of God, but thoſe that be of men.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 16:23, column 1
  9. (UK, figuratively, obsolete, transitive) To give (something) a particular quality; to imbue with.
    • So theſe olde huddles hauing ouercharged their gorges with fancie, accompte all honeſt recreation méere follly,^([sic]) and hauinge taken a ſurfet of delyght, ſéeme now to ſauor it with deſpight.[1578], Iohn Lylly [i.e., John Lyly], “Euphues”, in Euphues. The Anatomy of Wyt. […], London: […] [Thomas East] for Gabriell Cawood, […], →OCLC, folio 7, recto
  10. (UK, figuratively, obsolete, rare, transitive) To give (something) an aroma or smell.
  11. (UK, figuratively, obsolete, rare, transitive) Followed by out: to detect or find (something).
  12. (UK, figuratively, obsolete, transitive, uncertain) To have a suspicion of (something).
    • Siſter, I ſee you ſauour of my vviles, / Be it as you vvill haue for this once, […]1594, Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Nash[e], The Tragedie of Dido Queene of Carthage: […], London: […] Widdowe Orwin, for Thomas Woodcocke, […], →OCLC, Act III, signature D2, verso
Show 6 more meaningsShow fewer meanings
  1. (UK, archaic, intransitive) Of a thing: to give off a (specified) aroma or smell.
    • [T]he ſaffrone bagge that hath bene full of ſaffron, or hath had ſaffron in it, doth euer after ſauoure and ſmel of the ſwete ſaffron that it conteyned: […]1548 January 28 (date delivered), Hughe Latemer [i.e., Hugh Latimer], A Notable Sermõ of yͤ Reuerende Father Maister Hughe Latemer, whiche He Preached in yͤ Shrouds at Paules Churche in Londõ, on the...
    • [I]t [Parthenium] bringeth forth a vvhite floure, ſavouring like an apple, and having a bitter taſt.1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book XXI.] Of Parthenium, and the Medicinable Vertues that It hath.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly...
  2. (UK, archaic, intransitive, obsolete) Of food or drink: to have a specified (especially appealing) flavour or taste.
    • And I purpoſed to try, vvhether thoſe [meats] that pleaſed my taſte brought me commoditie or diſcommoditie; and vvhether that Proverb,[…], That vvhich ſavours, is good and nouriſheth, be conſonant to truth. This upon triall I found moſt falſe: […]a. 1634 (date written), Lud[ovicus] Cornarus [i.e., Luigi Cornaro], “A Treatise of Temperance and Sobrietie”, in George Herbert, transl., Hygiasticon: Or, The Right Course of Preserving Life and...
    • We will go to the hall, and partake of the food which I ween steameth up and savoreth well of marjoram and thyme.1856, Catius Junior [pseudonym; Elizabeth R. Torrey], “Discourse Interrupted by Phelim, a Jester”, in Theognis: A Lamp in the Cavern of Evil, Boston, Mass.: Wentworth and Company, →OCLC, page 48
  3. (UK, figuratively, intransitive) To possess a particular (often negative) quality, especially a small amount of it; to be redolent or suggestive of.
    • Ol[ivia]. […] Fetch Maluolio hither, / And yet alas, novv I remember me, / They ſay poore Gentleman, he's much diſtract. […] Did he vvrite this? / Clo[wn]. I [aye] Madame. / Du[ke Orsino]. This ſauours not much of diſtraction.c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
    • In ſuch a ſeaſon, vvhen the Idle Humerous vvorld muſt heare of nothing, that either ſauors of Antiquity, or may avvake it to ſeeke after more, then dull and ſlothfull ignorance may eaſily reach vnto: […]1612, Michael Drayton, “To the Generall Reader”, in [John Selden], editor, Poly-Olbion. Or A Chorographicall Description of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Forests, and Other Parts of this Renowned Isle...
  4. (UK, archaic, figuratively, intransitive) Chiefly followed by a descriptive word like ill or well: to have a specified quality.
    • What is loathsome to the young / Savours well to thee and me.1842, Alfred Tennyson, “The Vision of Sin”, in Poems. […], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 222
    • Leaping from the tower of Beaurevoir into the ditch and preferring death to falling into the hands of the English, after the Voices had forbidden it.—This was pusillanimity, tending to desperation and suicide; and in saying that God had forgiven it, "thou savorest ill as to human free-will."1888, Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages. […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, pages 368–369
  5. (UK, intransitive, obsolete) To give off a foul smell; to stink.
  6. (UK, figuratively, intransitive, obsolete) Chiefly followed by to, unto, with, etc.: to be appealing.

savour meaning in Hindi, Tamil, Marathi and Urdu

savour in Hindi

savour, taste
रस ras

savour in Tamil

to enjoy or linger on (a flavour or taste, or food and drink)
ருசி ruci

savour in Marathi

savour, taste
रस ras

savour in Urdu

لذت, مزہ, نمک, طنز و مزاح, ذائقہ
More languagesFewer languages
savour in Malayalam
ആസ്വദിക്കുക, രുചിപകരുക, വാസന കൊള്ളുക, മണക്കുക
savour in Kannada
ರುಚಿ, ಸವಿ, ವಾಸನೆ, ಗಂಧ
savour in Gujarati
રસ ras
savour in Indonesian
menikmati
savour in Vietnamese
ăn ngon miệng

Examples of savour in a sentence

  • Then Melfoil beat, and Honey-ſuckles pound, / VVith theſe alluring Savours ſtrevv the Ground; […]1697, Virgil, “The Fourth Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and...
  • [M]ethought I smelled the agreeable savour of roast beef; […]1710 March 31 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele et al.], “Monday, March 21, 1709–10”, in The...
  • A Table richly ſpred, in regal mode, / VVith diſhes pill'd, and meats of nobleſt ſort / And ſavour, […]1671, John Milton, “The Second Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn]...
  • Viands of various kinds allure the taſte / Of choiceſt ſort and ſavour; rich repaſt!1726, Homer, “Book XV”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume IV, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page 19...

Synonyms of savour

Forms of savour

Noun
pluralsavours
alternative formsavor
Verb
third-person singular presentsavours
present participlesavouring
past participlesavoured
pastsavoured
second-person singular present (archaic)savourest
second-person singular present (archaic)savorest
second-person singular past (archaic)savouredst
second-person singular past (archaic)savoredst
third-person singular present (archaic)savoureth
third-person singular present (archaic)savoreth

Origin of savour

From Middle English savour, from Anglo-Norman saveur, savor, savour, and Old French saveur, savor, savour (modern French saveur), from Latin sapor, from sapiō (“to taste of (something); to have a flavour”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *seh₁p-, *sep- (“to taste; to try out”)) + -or (suffix forming third-declension masculine abstract nouns). Doublet of sapor.

From Middle English savouren, savour, from Anglo-Norman savorer, savourer, Middle French savorer, savourer, and Old French savorer, savourer (modern French savourer), from Late Latin sapōrāre, the present active infinitive of sapōrō (“to give flavour, make tasty; to give pleasure”), from Latin sapor (see etymology 1) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs).

Words formed from savour

Words that rhyme with savour

5 more rhymesFewer rhymes

Questions about savour

What does savour mean?
Savour means an aroma or smell.
What is savour in Hindi?
Savour in Hindi is रस (ras). See Savour meaning in Hindi.
How do you use savour in a sentence?
Then Melfoil beat, and Honey-ſuckles pound, / VVith theſe alluring Savours ſtrevv the Ground; […]
What part of speech is savour?
Savour can be a noun or a verb.
How do you pronounce savour?
Savour is pronounced /ˈseɪvə/ (UK).
What is the plural of savour?
The plural of savour is savours.

Words near savour in the dictionary

  1. savors
  2. savorsome
  3. savory
  4. Savorys
  5. Savos
  6. savour
  7. savour of
  8. savoured
  9. savourer
  10. savourers
  11. savourest

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: savour (page history and authors); रस (Hindi) (page history and authors); रस (Marathi) (page history and authors); savour (Urdu Wiktionary) (page history and authors); savour (Malayalam Wiktionary) (page history and authors); savour (Kannada Wiktionary) (page history and authors); રસ (Gujarati) (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-savour.wav, En-au-saver.ogg.

Cite this entry: “savour.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/savour. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.