Wordalso written incense meaning, what does incense mean, incensed, incensing, incense stick, incense burner

incense

Meaning

As a noun, incense is a substance burned to make a sweet smell, often in religious ceremonies. As a verb (different stress), to incense someone is to make them extremely angry.

Meanings of “incense”

  1. A substance burned for its sweet or fragrant smell, especially as part of a religious ceremony (Cambridge, Collins, Oxford, Merriam-Webster).1234

    Tone
    Neutral; common in religion, scent, and product English.
    Where you’ll see it
    Searches for incense meaning often start with incense sticks, burners, and temple or home rituals. Merriam-Webster also lists the perfume from burned spices or gums, and a broader 'pleasing scent'.

    Examples

    • Incense burned in a corner of the room.
    • She lit an incense stick before the altar.
    • The shop sold charcoal and loose incense by the gram.

    Examples are written for this site to show typical use. They are not quotes.

  2. To make someone extremely angry (Cambridge, Collins, Oxford). Merriam-Webster: to arouse the extreme anger or indignation of.1534

    Tone
    Somewhat formal or journalistic; synonym of infuriate / enrage.
    Where you’ll see it
    What does incense mean in news or dialogue is often this verb: readers are incensed by a remark or a policy. Pronunciation differs from the noun (verb stress on the second syllable in Cambridge/Oxford).

    Examples

    • The editor said a lot of readers would be incensed by my article on class.
    • The decision incensed the workforce.
    • This proposal will incense conservation campaigners.

  3. Less common verb sense in Merriam-Webster: to apply or offer incense to, or to perfume with incense.4

    Tone
    Literary / uncommon in casual speech.
    Where you’ll see it
    Incense meaning as 'to scent with incense' appears in older or literary descriptions of rooms and rites. Everyday searches more often want the noun or the 'make angry' verb.

    Examples

    • The gift shop was heavily incensed with a cloying mixture of herbal essences.
    • They incense the shrine before dawn prayers.

Usage notes

  • Incense meaning in search usually splits noun (香 / burnt fragrance) vs verb (激怒).
  • Cambridge and Collins mark different pronunciations for noun vs verb; do not stress them the same way in careful speech.
  • Incensed is the common adjective/past form for the anger sense ('Mum was incensed at his lack of compassion' — Collins).
  • Merriam-Webster also lists a figurative noun sense of pleasing attention or flattery; that sense is rarer in modern web search.

Origin

Oxford (noun): Middle English encense from Old French encens, from ecclesiastical Latin incensum 'something burnt', from Latin incendere 'set fire to'. Oxford (verb anger): late Middle English from Old French incenser, from Latin incendere. Merriam-Webster: noun from Middle English via Anglo-French and Late Latin; anger verb from Middle English encensen 'to heat, arouse, provoke', tied to Latin incendere.254

Sources

  1. incense — Cambridge Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.orgAccessed Back to text

    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/incense

  2. incense — Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (noun)

    oxfordlearnersdictionaries.comAccessed Back to text

    https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/incense_1

  3. incense — Collins English Dictionary

    collinsdictionary.comAccessed Back to text

    https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/incense

  4. incense — Merriam-Webster

    merriam-webster.comAccessed Back to text

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incense

  5. incense — Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (verb)

    oxfordlearnersdictionaries.comAccessed Back to text

    https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/incense_2