hydrangea

[ hahy-dreyn-juh, -jee-uh, -dran- ]

noun

1. any shrub belonging to the genus Hydrangea, of the saxifrage family, several species of which are cultivated for their large, showy flower clusters of white, pink, or blue.

hydrangea

/ haɪˈdreɪndʒə /

noun

1. any shrub or tree of the Asian and American genus Hydrangea, cultivated for their large clusters of white, pink, or blue flowers: family Hydrangeaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of hydrangea¹

< New Latin (Linnaeus) < Greek hydr- hydr- ¹ + New Latin angea, feminine noun based on Greek angeîon vessel; so called from cup-shaped seed capsule

Word History and Origins

Origin of hydrangea¹

C18: from New Latin, from Greek hudōr water + angeion vessel: probably from the cup-shaped fruit

Example Sentences

It’s now draped in roses, lilies and hydrangeas, with photos, signs and prayers in English, Spanish and Hebrew, and flags from victims’ home countries.

From Time

If you want to get me flowers for Valentine’s Day, I like irises and hydrangeas.

From Washington Post

In the gardens we found a large blue hydrangea very common: the fuschia is the usual hedge.

From Project Gutenberg

A hydrangea has no scent; that is why we get tired of it, for all its loveliness.

From Project Gutenberg

The rose of the hydrangea inclines to blue, while that of the rose tends rather toward yellow.

From Project Gutenberg

A great healthy hydrangea dying just for lack of the right kind of soil!

From Project Gutenberg

Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora makes a beautiful low-growing hedge; good plants can be bought for six dollars a hundred.

From Project Gutenberg