frangipani

plural frangipanis · alternative frangipane

1. countableuncountableAny of several tropical American shrubs and trees of the genus Plumeria, having fragrant, showy, funnel-shaped flowers of a wide range of colours from creamy to red.

   Synonyms: plumeria

2. countableuncountableA flower of these plants.

   The aroma given off by flowers has an aphrodisiac effect, especially on women. This is so particularly in the case of lilies of the valley, gardenia, frangipani, and henna.

   1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 98

   1 more example

   I casually let this information drop as our concierge drives us through the resort in a buggy, a frangipani flower tucked behind his ear. He promises to fix the bug problem and drops us off at the lobby.

   2022 November 26, Virginia Feito, “Sweating Through a Honeymoon in Paradise”, in The New York Times

3. countableuncountableA perfume obtained from this plant or imitating the odour of its flowers.
4. alternativecountableuncountableAlternative form of frangipane (“cream made from ground almonds; pastry filled with this cream”).

   1 more example

   Lahlou baked a cardamom frangipani and cut it into pieces as a base for roasted chicken. (Well, I used chicken; he used squab. Use whatever bird you fancy.) Then he topped the frangipani and poultry with kale and leaf-thin sugar-and-cardamom-sprinkled phyllo rectangles — made by baking them between baking sheets — like a savory mille-feuille.

   2010 November 24, Amanda Hesser, “Recipe Redux: Fyrstekake (Royal Cake), 1963”, in The New York Times Magazine