chamomile

American  

[kam-uh-mahyl, -meel] / ˈkæm əˌmaɪl, -ˌmil /

Or camomile

noun

1. a composite plant, Chamaemelium nobile (orAnthemis nobilis ), native to the Old World, having strongly scented foliage and white ray flowers with yellow centers used medicinally and as a tea.

2. any of several allied plants of the genera Matricaria and Tripleurospermum.

---

chamomile British  

/ ˈkæməˌmaɪl /

noun

1. a variant spelling of camomile

---

Etymology

Origin of chamomile

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English camamyll, camomille, from Middle French, Old French camomille or Medieval Latin camomilla, for Latin chamaemēlon, from Greek chamaímēlon, equivalent to chamaí “on the ground” + mêlon “apple”; allegedly so called from the applelike odor of the flowers

Explanation

Chamomile is a plant with pretty little white flowers and a sweet smell. Dried chamomile is often used to make herbal tea. You might grow chamomile in your garden for its blossoms, which look like tiny daisies, or for its smell, which is a little bit like apples. Chamomile tea is well-known for helping you sleep well at night, and most people like the way it tastes, too. You can also spell it camomile, and its root goes back to the Greek word khamaimēlon, "earth apple," from khamai, "on the ground," and mēlon, "apple."

Example Sentences

Chamomile is the equivalent of a glass of warm milk, which means he wants to pass out as soon as the episode is over.

From New York Times • Apr. 13, 2022

Anyone with a bottle of BHG Lavender & Chamomile Aromatherapy Spray with Gemstones and other scents from the same product line bought from Walmart between February and Oct.

From Washington Times • Oct. 26, 2021

An investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered they were exposed to the bacteria by the Better Homes & Gardens Lavender & Chamomile Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 22, 2021

Chamomile tea, for example, is reliably soothing, and, prepared correctly, does not involve mass casualties.

From New York Times • Jul. 31, 2020

Then: “You’ll be needing greens. Chamomile can give you that. Water it good. But take just the leaves for your green color. Save the blossoms for tea.”

From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry