Definition

A reddish-brown dye made from the leaves of a plant, often used for coloring hair, skin, and fabrics.

Example

She decorated her hands with beautiful henna designs for the wedding.

Conversation

Have you ever tried using henna for your hair?

I haven't, but I've heard it can give a nice reddish tint.

Yeah, I used it last summer and loved the color.

That sounds amazing! I might give henna a try for my next hairstyle.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

To color or dye something, especially hair or skin, using a natural dye made from the leaves of the henna plant.

Example

She decided to henna her hair for the summer festival.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Have you ever tried to henna your hair?

No, I haven't, but I've heard it's really fun!

It is! I love how natural it looks when you henna it.

Root Explanation

Henna originates from Arabic 'حِنَّاء' (ḥinnāʼ), meaning a flowering plant used for dyeing. The word refers specifically to the dye derived from the leaves of the henna plant, which is used for coloring hair and skin.

Memory Tip

Think of the Arabic word for the plant used to create a dye — henna is the name of the plant that gives its color.

Visually Confused Words