wreath

American  

[reeth] / riθ /

noun

• wreaths
  plural

1. a circular band of flowers, foliage, or any ornamental work, for adorning the head or for any decorative purpose; a garland or chaplet.

2. any ringlike, curving, or curling mass or formation.

   a wreath of clouds.

3. (in stair building)

   1. a curved section of a handrail.

   2. Also called wreathpiece. a curved section of a string.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to wreathe.

wreath British  

/ riːθ /

noun

1. a band of flowers or foliage intertwined into a ring, usually placed on a grave as a memorial or worn on the head as a garland or a mark of honour

2. any circular or spiral band or formation

3. a spiral or circular defect appearing in porcelain and glassware

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• wreathless
  adjective
• wreathlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• wreaths
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of wreath

before 1000; Middle English wrethe, Old English writha something wound or coiled; akin to writhe

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Explanation

Got a wreath on your front door? That's one of those ring-shaped bands of flowers or foliage that people use for decoration. Wreaths go back to ancient times and maybe the circular shape symbolizes the eternal. You can also wear a wreath. If you feel like dancing around the maypole or celebrating your Olympic victory, you might wear a wreath of spring flowers or laurels on your head. You might also want to remember someone who's passed away by placing a wreath on their grave. Wreaths don’t have to be green — you can carve gold or wood into a wreath or you can even have a mountain peak with a wreath of clouds around it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wreath wreaths

Laying a wreath at Dartmoor National Park, close to Widdecombe's home, Farage told reporters that she was a "remarkable individual" and "the fiercest defender of free speech".

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

Opposition leaders led by Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua and Eugene Wamalwa joined families of the victims to lay wreath at parliament in honour of those who died during the 2024 demonstations.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

He condemned "indifference" towards migrants and cast a wreath into the sea at the port of Arguineguin to honour the thousands who have died trying to reach the Canaries.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

His mother Helen passed away last month, with Anderson laying a wreath on the pitch before Forest's victory against Burnley in April.

From BBC ● May 10, 2026

Kathleen waited breathlessly all day for night to fall, and when darkness came she plucked the leaves from the wreath and set them afire in a small dish at the foot of her bed.

From "Ash" by Malinda Lo

A short prayer and a moment of silence will be held in the memorial garden, and King Charles and Prince William will lay wreaths.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Branches were draped with colourful ribbons and ritual wreaths, while bonfires blazed high, ready for the military brotherhood to gather around them.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

Originally designed to evoke a classic Greek column, the structure's limestone, brick and terra-cotta exterior features ornamentation including lion heads, wreaths, eagles, and faces.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Her family can still live on her husband’s income as a traffic engineer, and Bigalk earns some money selling homemade wreaths at farmers markets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

When he asked where they sold funeral wreaths they took him from house to house so that he could choose the best ones.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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Related Words

• bouquet
• garland

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