nectar

[ nek-ter ]

/ ˈnɛk tər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nectar ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the saccharine secretion of a plant, which attracts the insects or birds that pollinate the flower.

the juice of a fruit, especially when not diluted, or a blend of fruit juices: pear nectar; tropical nectar.

Classical Mythology. the life-giving drink of the gods.Compare ambrosia(def 1).

any delicious drink.

Nearby words

necrotizing fasciitis, necrotizing sialometaplasia, necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, necrotomy, necrotroph, nectar, nectareous, nectariferous, nectarine, nectarivorous, nectarize

Origin of nectar

1545–55; < Latin < Greek néktar

Related forms

nec·tar·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nectar

Legend has it that Alexander the Great enjoyed ancient sno-cones as well; his were flavored with honey and nectar.
An Investigation Into the Delicious Origins of Ice Cream|Andrew Romano|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, as if succumbing to the charms of its nectar, the novel becomes more extravagant as it progresses.
3 Must-Read Novels|The Daily Beast|April 11, 2011|DAILY BEAST
This, above all nectar and ambrosia, was the favourite dish of Penrod Schofield.
Penrod|Booth Tarkington
Size and beauty do much in their way, but flavor is the nectar of the gods.
Seventy Years on the Frontier|Alexander Majors

I always wondered what it meant when I read that the gods lived on ambrosia and nectar.
Peter Cotterell's Treasure|Rupert Sargent Holland
The ambrosia and nectar of the feasts of the deities of fable are overshadowed by the fragrance and sweetness of your worshippers.
Trees, Fruits and Flowers of Minnesota, 1916|Various
I'd like to press its nectar into a single draught and have done with it for ever.
Valeria|William Henry Withrow

British Dictionary definitions for nectar

nectar

/ (ˈnɛktə) /

noun

a sugary fluid produced in the nectaries of plants and collected by bees and other animals

classical myth the drink of the godsCompare ambrosia (def. 1)

any delicious drink, esp a sweet one

something very pleasant or welcomeyour words are nectar to me

mainly US

the undiluted juice of a fruit
a mixture of fruit juices

Derived Forms

nectareous (nɛkˈtɛərɪəs) or nectarous, adjective

Word Origin for nectar

C16: via Latin from Greek néktar, perhaps nek- death (related to nekros corpse) + -tar, related to Sanskrit tarati he overcomes; compare Latin nex death and trans across

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

Science definitions for nectar

nectar

[ nĕk′tər ]

A sweet liquid secreted by plants as food to attract animals that will benefit them. Many flowers produce nectar to attract pollinating insects, birds, and bats. Bees collect nectar to make into honey. Nectar is produced in structures called nectaries. Some plants have nectaries located elsewhere, outside the flower. These provide a food source for animals such as ants which in turn defend the plant from harmful insects. Nectar consists primarily of water and varying concentrations of many different sugars, including fructose, glucose, and sucrose.