musk

C2 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /mɐsk/ UK /mʌsk/ See IPA manual

Freq #21962

Meanings

1

noun
A greasy secretion with a powerful odour, produced in a glandular sac of the male musk deer and used in the manufacture of perfumes.

The word musk appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.
2

noun
the scent of a greasy glandular secretion from the male musk deer

The word musk appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.
3

noun
an odorous glandular secretion from the male musk deer

The word musk appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.

Thesaurus

Word family

Derived forms musconemuskballmuskishmusklessmusklikemuskmelonmuskrootmuskwoodmuskynitromusk

Related forms muckmuscatnutmeg

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

musk turtle
a small freshwater turtle known for releasing a strong musky odor

Noun + noun
musk thistle
a spiny thistle with nodding reddish-purple flower heads that attract nectar-feeding insects

Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English muske, borrowed from Old French musc, from Late Latin muscus, from Ancient Greek μόσχος (móskhos), from Middle Persian [script needed] (mwšk' /⁠muʃk⁠/) whence Persian مشک (mošk). Ultimately from Sanskrit मुष्क (muṣka, “testicle”), the shape of the gland of animals secreting the substance being compared to human testicles, a diminutive of मूष् (mūṣ, “mouse”), the shape of human testicles being compared to mice, from Proto-Indo-European *muh₂s (“mouse”). Cognate with mouse.

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# musk

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /mɐsk/
**IPA (UK):** /mʌsk/
**Frequency rank:** 21962

## Meanings
1. A greasy secretion with a powerful odour, produced in a glandular sac of the male musk deer and used in the manufacture of perfumes.
2. the scent of a greasy glandular secretion from the male musk deer
3. an odorous glandular secretion from the male musk deer

## Examples
- The word musk appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.
- The word musk appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.
- The word musk appears in scientific writing with a precise technical sense.

## Derived Forms
- muscone
- muskball
- muskish
- muskless
- musklike
- muskmelon
- muskroot
- muskwood
- musky
- nitromusk

## Related Forms
- muck
- muscat
- nutmeg

## Etymology
From Middle English muske, borrowed from Old French musc, from Late Latin muscus, from Ancient Greek μόσχος (móskhos), from Middle Persian [script needed] (mwšk' /⁠muʃk⁠/) whence Persian مشک (mošk). Ultimately from Sanskrit मुष्क (muṣka, “testicle”), the shape of the gland of animals secreting the substance being compared to human testicles, a diminutive of मूष् (mūṣ, “mouse”), the shape of human testicles being compared to mice, from Proto-Indo-European *muh₂s (“mouse”). Cognate with mouse.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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