Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun The distinctive
scent which accompanies the firstrain after a long warmdry spell . - noun The yellow
organic oil that yields this scent.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word petrichor.
Examples
-
The scientific name for the earthy smell after rain is petrichor from the Greek petra, stone + ichor, the liquid that flows in the veins of the Greek gods.
Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph Telegraph Staff 2011
-
The word "petrichor" refers to the scent of rain on dry earth, and it derives from the Greek name for what flows through the veins of gods.
In Mark Morris Dance Group's anniversary tour, girlpower enchants with grace Sarah Kaufman 2011
-
The word "petrichor" means: "the pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell."
2 favourite words hanya27 2004
-
"Heritage media," meaning media such as newspapers and TV thought to be losing sway in the face of changing communication, and "petrichor," which is released by eucalypts into rivers and encourages fish and invertebrates to breed, also won honorable mentions.
-
"Heritage media," meaning media such as newspapers and TV thought to be losing sway in the face of changing communication, and "petrichor," which is released by eucalypts into rivers and encourages fish and invertebrates to breed, also won honorable mentions.
Reuters: Top News 2010
-
"Heritage media", meaning media such as newspapers and TV thought to be losing sway in the face of changing communication, and "petrichor", which is released by eucalypts into rivers and encourages fish and invertebrates to breed, also won honourable mentions.
-
Over the past 13 years, Garg has shared thousands of words with fellow linguaphiles, including illeist (someone who refers to himself in the third person, a la Bo Jackson), and petrichor (the pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell), and origin trivia like the fact that “shampoo” comes from the Hindi word “chumpee,” meaning “head massage.”
A Word From the Wordsmith - Freakonomics Blog - NYTimes.com 2007
-
Over the past 13 years, Garg has shared thousands of words with fellow linguaphiles, including illeist (someone who refers to himself in the third person, a la Bo Jackson), and petrichor (the pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell), and origin trivia like the fact that “shampoo” comes from the Hindi word “chumpee,” meaning “head massage.”
A Word From the Wordsmith - Freakonomics Blog - NYTimes.com 2007
-
And as they drove out of the desert, it began to rain, and the petrichor improved Bob's mood, making him confident that all would be right in the world.
The Happy List: Words, + Brooklyn Arden Contest! Cheryl 2005
-
Bob kvetched yet again, my pants smell of petrichor, yet my funk punk booty has some major mojo.
The Happy List: Words, + Brooklyn Arden Contest! Cheryl 2005
karnage commented on the word petrichor
the scent of rain on dry earth. thanks girlkate for this word!!
December 1, 2006
dbmag9 commented on the word petrichor
It seems ironic that we venerate petrichor, that essence of the earth and the rain, on the most unnatural of media (or is it?), the internet.
December 7, 2006
joannasephine commented on the word petrichor
The common rain smell is a gas called petrichor. Volatiles evaporate from plants and are absorbed by rocks, concrete etc. When the rain hits the rock, the volatiles are released into the atmosphere and you smell it.
April 3, 2008
milosrdenstvi commented on the word petrichor
Probably from the greek petros, rock; and ichor, the essence of the gods.
August 14, 2008
Rhaomi commented on the word petrichor
The pleasant smell of rain falling on dry earth.
June 24, 2009
dawnatnyt commented on the word petrichor
the odor of the earth accompanying the first rain after a long period of warm dry weather
August 8, 2009
wildrose commented on the word petrichor
I feel much cleaner after it rains.
June 13, 2011
bilby commented on the word petrichor
You need a new umbrella.
June 13, 2011
glasspetalsmoke commented on the word petrichor
Adam Scott Neal wrote a score titled "Petrichor". It is an auditory interpretation of an olfactory experience. Downloadable sheet music as well. http://adamscottneal.com/petrichor.htm
June 23, 2011
Tyanna commented on the word petrichor
I had no idea there was a word for this...awesome :-)
November 26, 2011
qms commented on the word petrichor
The sun bakes the rock of the Nullarbor
And has since the day of the dinosaur.
The heat is relentless,
The air dry and scentless
Unless blessed by the bleed of the petrichor.
September 12, 2014
oroboros commented on the word petrichor
Words within words: pet + rich + or
September 12, 2014