mimosa

American  

[mi-moh-suh, -zuh] / mɪˈmoʊ sə, -zə /

noun

1. any of numerous plants, shrubs, or trees belonging to the genus Mimosa, of the legume family, native to tropical or warm regions, having small flowers in globular heads or cylindrical spikes and often sensitive leaves.

2. any of various similar or related plants, especially of the genus Acacia, as the silver wattle, or Albizzia, as the silk tree.

3. a cocktail of orange juice and champagne, usually in equal parts.

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mimosa British  

/ mɪˈməʊsə, -zə /

noun

1. any tropical shrub or tree of the leguminous genus Mimosa, having ball-like clusters of yellow or pink flowers and compound leaves that are often sensitive to touch or light See also sensitive plant

2. any similar or related tree

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Etymology

Origin of mimosa

1695–1705; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin mīm ( us ) mime + -ōsa, feminine of -ōsus -ose ¹

Example Sentences

I was 21, barely old enough to buy the champagne for mimosas, but somehow old enough to think I could pull off homemade biscuits, jam, cinnamon rolls and quiche for twelve.

From Salon

Vaughn says he could be “sipping mimosas on my porch,” rather than editing film and writing scripts.

From The Wall Street Journal

The best brunches in L.A. include seafood towers at a Virgil Village clam shack, live jazz and bottomless mimosas in Sherman Oaks and tableside cinnamon rolls and Bloody Marys in Brentwood, plus much more.

From Los Angeles Times

The stand overhangs the River Thames and this is where the pre-match hospitality takes place with champagne or mimosas served on arrival.

From BBC

Humility and practicality are rarely top of mind in shows like this although, with the right mold, anyone could pull off the frozen orange juice roses Meghan makes for brunch mimosas with her friends.

From Salon