any plant of the genus Myrtus, especially M. communis, a shrub of southern Europe having evergreen leaves, fragrant white flowers, and aromatic berries: anciently held sacred to Venus and used as an emblem of love.
any of certain unrelated plants, as the periwinkle, Vinca minor, and California laurel, Umbellularia californica.
Also called myrtlewood. the hard, golden-brown wood of the California laurel.
Also called myrtle green. dark green with bluish tinge.
any evergreen shrub or tree of the myrtaceous genus Myrtus, esp M. communis, a S European shrub with pink or white flowers and aromatic blue-black berries
short for crape myrtle
bog myrtle another name for sweet gale
another name for periwinkle 2
1350–1400; Middle English mirtile < Medieval Latin myrtillus, equivalent to Latin myrt ( us ) (< Greek mýrtos ) + New Latin -illus diminutive suffix
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Instead the RHS is considering trees that enjoy hotter and wetter weather, like the American river birch or crepe myrtle, or plants with deeper roots to tolerate drought like yarrow or bird’s foot.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Served alongside native beach succulent, these Asian-style dumplings come topped with sesame seeds and a gochujang anise myrtle dressing.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
Her bridal bouquet included sweet peas, myrtle – a tradition in Ms Sperling's family and for the Royal Family – and lily of the valley.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
The fungal disease responsible for the damage, myrtle rust, was first detected in Australia in 2010.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 13, 2026
The air on the way to Madame Ruelles bakery smells of myrtle and magnolia and verbena; wisteria vines erupt in blossom; everywhere hang arcades and curtains and pendants of flowers.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
In Horry County, of which Myrtle Beach is the largest city, the population has skyrocketed in recent decades.
From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026
And in Myrtle Beach, S.C., officials instituted an “umbrellas-only rule” from Memorial Day through Labor Day citing safety.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
He also founded the Myrtle Peach Trust Charity for the prevention and treatment of cervical and ovarian cancer.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
Half of the U.S. population can get to Myrtle Beach within a 12-hour drive, he said, and they’ve seen increased interest from Northeastern states.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026
Moaning Myrtle was crying noisily in her stall, but they were ignoring her, and she them.
From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling
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.
