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# incense

noun (incense; uncountable); verb (incense, incenses, incensed, incensing)

«incense» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (church) A substance, often made from tree gum, that gives off a sweet-smelling smoke when it is burned, used in worship. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incense/#m1)
2. The smoke itself. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incense/#m2)
3. (verb, stress on -CENSE) To make someone extremely angry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incense/#m3)

### In the lessons

In church life incense is burned in many Catholic and Orthodox services; the smoke rising is a sign of prayers going up to God. In the Bible the wise men brought frankincense to baby Jesus. As a verb it shows strong anger in stories: «he was incensed». Phrases: burn incense, incense sticks, be incensed by.

### Examples

- The priest swung the incense burner during the service. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incense/#x1)
- The church smelled of incense. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incense/#x2)
- The wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incense/#x3)
- Incense smoke rose slowly towards the ceiling. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incense/#x4)
- She was incensed when someone kicked over her sandcastle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incense/#x5)
- The unfair rule incensed the whole class. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incense/#x6)
- The incense rises in clouds, and the monks chant the funeral hymn. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incense/#x7)

### Note

Two pronunciations: noun IN-sense, verb in-SENSE. The verb is strong: incensed means furious. Frankincense is a special kind of incense from trees in Arabia and Africa.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it is a sweet-smelling mix of spices burned on the golden altar in the Tabernacle and Temple, as an offering to God.

**Interpretation.** Tradition says the incense (ketoret) had eleven spices and was offered every morning and evening. Its smoke is a symbol of prayer rising to God.

### Examples

- one golden pan of ten shekels, full of incense; (Torah NUM.7.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/incense/#x1)
- and he burnt thereon incense of sweet spices; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Torah EXO.40.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/incense/#x2)
- oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense; (Torah EXO.25.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/incense/#x3)
- A people that provoke Me to My face continually, that sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense upon bricks; (Prophets ISA.65.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/incense/#x4)
- Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Writings PSA.141.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/incense/#x5)
- and thou didst take thy richly woven garments and cover them, and didst set Mine oil and Mine incense before them. (Prophets EZK.16.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/incense/#x6)

### Note

Two pronunciations: noun IN-sense, verb in-SENSE. The verb is strong: incensed means furious. Frankincense is a special kind of incense from trees in Arabia and Africa.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «incense» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/incense/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«incense» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/incense.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «incense» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/incense/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«incense» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/incense.html) on Mova free.