ageratum

[ aj-uh-rey-tuhm, uh-jer-uh- ]

/ ˌædʒ əˈreɪ təm, əˈdʒɛr ə- /

Save This Word!

noun

any of several composite plants of the genus Ageratum, especially A. houstonianum, having heart-shaped leaves and small, dense, blue, lavender, or white flower heads, often grown in gardens.

any of various other composite plants, as the mistflower, having blue or white flowers.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of ageratum

1560–70; <New Latin; Latin agēraton<Greek agḗraton, neuter of agḗratos unaging, equivalent to a-a-⁶ + gērat- (stem of gêras) old age + -os adj. suffix

Words nearby ageratum

age of discretion, Age of Reason, age-old, age-proof, ager, ageratum, Agesilaus II, age spots, ageusia, Aggadah, agger

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ageratum in a sentence

It is easily grown, and makes a fine second-row plant for a border, contrasting well with Browallia or Ageratum.
The Practical Garden-Book|C. E. Hunn
The Ageratum is a lovely plant for a low bed, with its great masses of soft lavender flowers.
Amateur Gardencraft|Eben E. Rexford
Ageratum, with its delicate lavender-blue flowers, can be made extremely attractive in combination with yellow Coleus.
Amateur Gardencraft|Eben E. Rexford
Ageratum is lovely for edging beds of pink Geraniums, its soft lavender tones being in perfect harmony with their color.
Amateur Gardencraft|Eben E. Rexford

"We've decided on ageratum for the border and larkspur and monkshood for the back," said Ethel Brown.
Ethel Morton's Enterprise|Mabell S.C. Smith

British Dictionary definitions for ageratum

ageratum

/ (ˌædʒəˈreɪtəm) /

noun

any tropical American plant of the genus Ageratum, such as A. houstonianum and A. conyzoides, which have thick clusters of purplish-blue flowers

Word Origin for ageratum

C16: New Latin, via Latin from Greek agēraton that which does not age, from a- 1 + gērat-, stem of gēras old age; the flowers of the plant remain vivid for a long time

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