oleander

[ oh-lee-an-der, oh-lee-an- ]

noun

1. a poisonous shrub, Nerium oleander, of the dogbane family, native to southern Eurasia, having evergreen leaves and showy clusters of pink, red, or white flowers, and widely cultivated as an ornamental.

oleander

/ ˌəʊlɪˈændə /

noun

1. a poisonous evergreen Mediterranean apocynaceous shrub or tree, Nerium oleander, with fragrant white, pink, or purple flowers Also calledrosebay

Word History and Origins

Origin of oleander¹

1540–50; < Medieval Latin oleander, oliandrum, obscurely akin to Late Latin laurandrum, perhaps a conflation of Latin laurus laurel and rhododendron rhododendron

Word History and Origins

Origin of oleander¹

C16: from Medieval Latin, variant of arodandrum, perhaps from Latin rhododendron

Example Sentences

White Oleander (2002) may be the most underrated movie about maternal malevolence.

From The Daily Beast

The moment I will never forget came one day at school behind a pink oleander bush during recess.

From The Daily Beast

Over all swayed a few aged cypresses, an oleander thicket, ferns, and the twining wild vine.

From Project Gutenberg

All your little Rose asks is the right to an occasional Wednesday matinée when business droops like a sick oleander.

From Project Gutenberg

Whatever it was, poor Oleander was certainly hard at work now.

From Project Gutenberg

Cyrène passed down her favourite oleander path at sunset to the great vinery in the Noailles garden.

From Project Gutenberg

The loveliness of the oleander blossoms and the sunset over the garden made a harmony with her dream.

From Project Gutenberg