1820–30; < New Latin Erica, Latin < Greek ereíkē heath (plant), akin to Old Irish froech, Russian véres ( k )
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pinkish-lavender erica, or heath, borders the steps leading from Festival Hall to the Avenue of Palms.
From Palaces and Courts of the Exposition by James, Juliet Helena Lumbard
Between its leaves also there is an erica, but it is only a faded one.
From Immensee by Storm, Theodor
Thus the ivy was used in the Mysteries of Dionysus, the myrtle in those of Ceres, the erica in the Osirian, and the lettuce in the Adonisian.
From The Symbolism of Freemasonry by Mackey, Albert G.
But to avoid conflict with Spain they sailed henceforth more to the northern shores of erica, and endeavoured to found colonies there.
From This Country of Ours by Marshall, H. E. (Henrietta Elizabeth)
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 Ross, Thomasina
Nneka Ogwumike, the Sparks’ other All-Star, posted 25 points and 12 rebounds, Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell both scored 17, and Erica Wheeler had 15 points and eight assists.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026
Erica Sandberg, a consumer advocate for Cardrates, said she can already see this sort of thing brewing in her own family.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
Grief is as persistent and oppressive as the rain that seems to fall continuously in “The Loved Ones,” a quietly moving drama by Erica Murray at the Irish Repertory Theatre.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
As per his wishes, his partner Jean-Pierre Goncalves de Lima and his great-nephew Richard Hockney were the only two mourners to attend his funeral, Hockney's publicist Erica Bolton said.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
This time, when Erica asks for volunteers to share their thoughts, I raise my hand, fast and high, and redeem myself a little.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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 Auerbach, Berthold
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 Pritchett, R. T. (Robert Taylor)
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 Ross, Thomasina
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 Auerbach, Berthold
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.
