1. 1. Any of several vines or shrubs of the genus Jasminum, native chiefly to Asia and having usually compound leaves and white or yellow flowers. Some of the fragrant species are used in making perfume.
   2. The perfume obtained from these plants.
2. See Carolina jasmine.
3. Any of several plants or shrubs having fragrant flowers.
4. A light to brilliant yellow.

[French jasmin, from Old French jassemin, from Arabic yasmīn, from Persian yasmīn, yāsman, from Middle Persian yāsman.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.