hebe

¹ American  

[hee-bee] / ˈhi bi /

noun

1. any of various shrubs and trees belonging to the genus Hebe, of the figwort family, native mostly to New Zealand, having evergreen leaves and clusters or spikes of white, pink, or purple flowers.

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Hebe ² American  

[heeb] / hib /

noun

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

1. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Jew.

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Hebe ³ American  

[hee-bee] / ˈhi bi /

noun

1. Classical Mythology. a goddess of youth and spring, the daughter of Zeus and Hera, and wife of Hercules.

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Hebe British  

/ ˈhiːbɪ /

noun

1. Greek myth the goddess of youth and spring, daughter of Zeus and Hera and wife of Hercules

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Etymology

Origin of hebe¹

< New Latin (1789), apparently after Hebe

Origin of Hebe²

First recorded in 1930–35; shortening of Hebrew

Example Sentences

You may need to replant that hebe or phormium every few years.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 8, 2024

They planted these with color: hebe shrubs of varying leaf colors, grasses, echinacea and elephant ear plants, which display oversize, arrow-shaped leaves.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 14, 2021

At the distance of two leagues we reached what was called a hebe, or fountain.

From Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, Vol. II. by Stephens, John L.