Nerd Word of the Day archive

PET-ri-kor · noun

petrichor

The distinctive, earthy smell that often follows rain on dry ground.

Where the word comes from

The name combines Greek petra (“stone”) and ichor, the fluid said to flow in the veins of the gods.

In a sentence

“The first drops released petrichor from the sun-baked garden path.”

Check the word history

Merriam-Webster dictionary entry for petrichor