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rowan

American  
[roh-uhn, rou-] / ˈroʊ ən, ˈraʊ- /

noun

rowans plural
  1. the European mountain ash, Sorbus aucuparia, having pinnate leaves and clusters of bright red berries.

  2. either of two American mountain ashes, Sorbus americana or S. sambucifolia.

  3. the berry of any of these trees.


rowan British  
/ ˈraʊ-, ˈrəʊən /

noun

  1. another name for the (European) mountain ash

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of rowan

1795–1805; < Old Norse *raun- in reynir, Norwegian raun

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While hiking through Morocco's Dadès Valley, Dr. Rowan Martindale spotted something so unusual that it immediately caught her attention.

From Science Daily • Jun. 26, 2026

After more than 100 visits to North Korea, Rowan Beard had come to expect long waits for a taxi under the Kim Jong Un regime.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

Apollo CEO Marc Rowan defended the embattled industry on an earnings call last week, telling investors not to heed negative headlines about the private-credit market.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

“New buyers particularly want more transparency around private assets,” Rowan said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

Rowan drew breath, struggled to regain his feet.

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda

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