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  • erica
    erica
    noun
    any of numerous low-growing evergreen shrubs or small trees belonging to the genus Erica, of the heath family, including several species of heather.
  • Erica
    Erica
    noun
    a female given name: derived from Eric.

erica

1 American  
[er-i-kuh] / ˈɛr ɪ kə /

noun

  • ericas
    plural
  1. any of numerous low-growing evergreen shrubs or small trees belonging to the genus Erica, of the heath family, including several species of heather.


Erica 2 American  
[er-i-kuh] / ˈɛr ɪ kə /

noun

  1. a female given name: derived from Eric.


erica British  
/ ˈɛrɪkə /

noun

  1. any shrub of the ericaceous genus Erica, including the heaths and some heathers

"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 erica

1820–30; < New Latin Erica, Latin < Greek ereíkē heath (plant), akin to Old Irish froech, Russian véres ( k )


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:

Two or three varieties of blue erica, tiny heaths, and epacris were also very pretty.

From The Last Voyage to India and Australia, in the 'Sunbeam' by R. T. (Robert Taylor) Pritchett

Isis, arrayed in mourning robes like the wandering Demeter, sought Osiris everywhere lamenting, and found the chest at last in an erica tree that entirely covered it.

From Myth, Ritual And Religion, Vol. 2 (of 2) by Andrew Lang

The enclosed twig of erica I picked from her sewing-table, and send it to keep you from being jealous.

From The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 10 Prince Otto Von Bismarck, Count Helmuth Von Moltke, Ferdinand Lassalle by Kuno Francke

We at length enjoyed the refreshing breeze in the beautiful region of the arborescent erica and fern; and we were enveloped in a thick bed of clouds stationary at six hundred toises above the plain.

From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 1 by Thomasina Ross

In this view, Freemasonry is to us now in the place of the ancient initiations, and the acacia is substituted for the lotus, the erica, the ivy, the mistletoe, and the myrtle.

From The Symbolism of Freemasonry by Albert G. Mackey

Late last week, Bogen sent a letter to CDC Director Erica Schwartz requesting that the state’s deaths be counted and demanding answers on how the agency is tracking measles fatalities.

From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2026

With victory secure, Wiegman was able to hand a debut to 18-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson, as well as Liverpool captain Grace Fisk.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

"Colorectal cancer is, unfortunately, becoming more common in adolescents and young adults and represents a different disease than colorectal cancer diagnosed in older adults," said study author and pediatric surgery research fellow Erica Arnold, MD.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

Los Angeles entered the season with playoff expectations after bringing Ogwumike back, signing Erica Wheeler and trading for Ariel Atkins.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

The rest of the group moves on to writing poems of their own, but Erica gives me permission to research Emily Dickinson instead.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

I entreat you to have her grave carefully attended to, and to keep it strewn with her favorite flowers, ericas and pinks.

From Villa Eden: The Country-House on the Rhine by Berthold Auerbach

Forests of laurel, rhamnus, and arbutus, divide the ericas from the rising grounds planted with vines and fruit trees.

From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 1 by Thomasina Ross

He tore up a whole bunch of ericas, and gave them into the hand of the dying man, who gazed at him with eyes almost starting out of his head.

From Villa Eden: The Country-House on the Rhine by Berthold Auerbach

Our route lay over a sort of moorland, sprinkled with rare ericas such as we carefully preserve in greenhouses at home.

From The Last Voyage to India and Australia, in the 'Sunbeam' by R. T. (Robert Taylor) Pritchett

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