meadowsweet

[ med-oh-sweet ]

noun

1. any plant belonging to the genus Spiraea, of the rose family, especially S. latifolia, having white or pink flowers.
2. any plant of the closely related genus Filipendula (or Ulmaria ).

meadowsweet

/ ˈmɛdəʊˌswiːt /

noun

1. a Eurasian rosaceous plant, Filipendula ulmaria, with dense heads of small fragrant cream-coloured flowers See also dropwort
2. any of several North American rosaceous plants of the genus Spiraea, having pyramid-shaped sprays of small flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of meadowsweet¹

First recorded in 1520–30; meadow + sweet

Example Sentences

There is a moist, rich fragrance of meadowsweet and bog myrtle in the air; and how fresh and wild and verdant it is!

From Project Gutenberg

The yawning fairy slept meanwhile under the swaying meadowsweet, and the butterflies fanned him with their soft wings; but, alas!

From Project Gutenberg

Every hedgerow was a blaze of blossom, roses, honeysuckle, elder; every brook was fringed with meadowsweet and loosestrife.

From Project Gutenberg

There the Princess Orchid made her home, among the honeysuckles and the meadowsweet.

From Project Gutenberg

Lilies come up out of fern beds, columbine swings over meadowsweet, white rein-orchids quake in the leaning grass.

From Project Gutenberg