Daphne
noun
a nymph who, when pursued by Apollo, was saved by being changed into a laurel tree.
Daphne
American
[daf-nee]
/ ˈdæf ni /
noun
-
Classical Mythology. a nymph who, when pursued by Apollo, was saved by being changed into a laurel tree.
-
(lowercase) any Eurasian shrub belonging to the genus Daphne, certain species of which, as D. mezereum, are cultivated for their fragrant flowers.
-
a female given name.
Daphne
1
British
/ ˈdæfnɪ /
noun
daphne
2
British
/ ˈdæfnɪ /
noun
Etymology
Origin of Daphne
< Latin Daphnē < Greek dáphnē laurel
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.
See Examples For:
The verdict means that almost nine years since the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the Maltese authorities have failed to identify and convict the mastermind.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
A Maltese businessman on trial over the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has been acquitted.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
Rosemary and Peter Grant, a married pair of evolutionary biologists who studied songbirds on Daphne Major, a small volcanic island in the Galápagos archipelago, are the subjects of Jonathan Weiner’s “The Beak of the Finch.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
The lawsuit was filed by Daphne Hawkins on behalf of two of her children who attended Mariposa Elementary School.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
Her sister was just as problematic as Luke was, and I was not only younger than Daphne, but I had better grades.
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Aromatic lilies, lavender and bee balm fill the air with sweet scent in summer, while witch hazel, daphne and other flowering shrubs provide fragrance in quieter seasons.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 30, 2022
A: Your daphne was likely damaged last year during the Pacific Northwest’s heat spells, with the most severe damage probably occurring in late June and early July when a heat dome stressed everyone and everything.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 8, 2022
At that time, the daphne hadn’t yet extended its roots into the surrounding soil, so it was unable to remain fully hydrated.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 8, 2022
No garden should be without hellebores or a daphne or two, winterberry hollies and witch hazels.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 19, 2019
When my mother came across an unusual one, she would give an “Oh” of joy and tell me its name: daphne, wild heliotrope, pink orchid.
From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
