love affair; romantic rumor
Refers to a romantic involvement or a rumor about someone's love life. The word is somewhat literary or old-fashioned; in modern casual speech, 恋愛話 or 恋の噂 are more common.
A rumor about her love affair appeared in the newspaper.
That actor is constantly the subject of romantic rumors.
The word combines 艶 (つや, 'gloss, charm, love') and 種 (たね, 'seed, kind, material'), suggesting 'material of love' or 'love story'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used in literary contexts to mean a love affair or romantic rumor.