- past tense form of rise.
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rose
rosenounany of the wild or cultivated, usually prickly-stemmed, pinnate-leaved, showy-flowered shrubs of the genus Rosa.
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rosé
rosénouna pale pink wine resembling white wine in taste, made from red grapes by removing the skins from the must before fermentation is completed.
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Rose
RosenounBilly, 1899–1966, U.S. theatrical producer.
rose
1 Americannoun
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roses
plural
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any of the wild or cultivated, usually prickly-stemmed, pinnate-leaved, showy-flowered shrubs of the genus Rosa.
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any of various related or similar plants.
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the flower of any such shrub, of a red, pink, white, or yellow color.
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the traditional reddish color of this flower, variously a purplish red, pinkish red, or light crimson.
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an ornament shaped like or suggesting this flower.
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a pink or pinkish-red color in the cheek.
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Heraldry. a representation of a wild rose with five petals, usually seeded and barbed in a symmetrical design and used especially as the cadency mark of a seventh son.
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any of various diagrams showing directions radiating from a common center, as a compass card or wind rose.
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Jewelry.
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an obsolete gem style or cut, flat on the bottom and having an upper side with from 12, or fewer, to 32 triangular facets.
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a gem with this cut.
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a perforated cap or plate, as at the end of a pipe or the spout of a watering pot, to break a flow of water into a spray.
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an ornamental plate or socket surrounding the shaft of a doorknob at the face of a door.
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Mathematics. a plane polar curve consisting of three or more equal loops that meet at the origin. Equation: r = a sin(nθ ) or r = a cos(nθ ).
adjective
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of the color rose.
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for, containing, or growing roses.
a rose garden.
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scented like a rose.
verb (used with object)
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to make rose-colored.
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to flush (the face, cheeks, etc.).
idioms
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come up roses, to turn out all right; result in success, glory, or profit.
Despite setbacks, things should come up roses in the long run.
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come out smelling like a rose, to escape negative consequences, especially to find one’s good reputation unaffected by a bad situation or scandalous association.
noun
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rosés
plural
noun
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Billy, 1899–1966, U.S. theatrical producer.
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Peter Edward PeteCharlie Hustle, born 1941, U.S. baseball player.
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Mount, a mountain in W Nevada, the highest in the Carson Range. 10,778 feet (3,285 meters).
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a female given name.
noun
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any shrub or climbing plant of the rosaceous genus Rosa , typically having prickly stems, compound leaves, and fragrant flowers
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( in combination )
rosebush
rosetree
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the flower of any of these plants
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any of various similar plants, such as the rockrose and Christmas rose
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a moderate purplish-red colour; purplish pink
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( as adjective )
rose paint
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a rose, or a representation of one, as the national emblem of England
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jewellery
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a cut for a diamond or other gemstone, having a hemispherical faceted crown and a flat base
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a gem so cut
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a perforated cap fitted to the spout of a watering can or the end of a hose, causing the water to issue in a spray
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a design or decoration shaped like a rose; rosette
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Also called: ceiling rose. electrical engineering a circular boss attached to a ceiling through which the flexible lead of an electric-light fitting passes
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history See red rose white rose
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a situation of comfort or ease
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in secret; privately; sub rosa
verb
verb
noun
Usage
What does rose mean? The rose is a bulbous, fragrant flower that comes in many different varieties and colors, including red, white, pink, and yellow. They are among the world’s most popular and best-known flowers. The word rose can also refer to the plant on which roses grow, a shrub that’s commonly called a rosebush. Most rose plants are perennial shrubs. Roses are known for having sharp thorns on their stems. Roses belong to the genus Rosa, which includes many different species and cultivated varieties. Roses are popular in gardens, especially formal ones. The kind of roses most commonly given as gifts are called hybrid tea roses. These are especially given as a symbol of romantic love, such as on special occasions like anniversaries or Valentine’s Day. Different colors of roses are said to symbolize different things, especially when given as gifts. While all roses are associated with romantic love, red roses have an especially strong association. White roses can be used to represent innocence, while yellow roses can be used to represent friendship. The rose is one of the June birth flowers (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone). The word rose is also used to refer to a color—variously a pinkish red, a purplish red, or a dark crimson (all of which can be colors of roses). The related adjective rosy is used to describe a reddish or pinkish tinge, often of skin, as in rosy cheeks. Unrelatedly, the word rose is also the past tense of the verb rise. Example: I know that sending a dozen red roses is a cliché, but my wife loves them.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of rose1
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English rōse, from Latin rosa; possibly via Etruscan ruze, rusi, a noun of uncertain meaning, from Greek rhodéa “rosebush,” from rhódon “rose”
Origin of rosé3
First recorded in 1425–75; from French: literally, “pink”; the variant blush wine first recorded in 1980–85
Explanation
A rose is a flower that people in love give each other. Even though Juliet says to Romeo, “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” don’t go calling it a dandelion. Roses have multi-layered petals and smell wonderfully sweet. They come in a wide variety of colors that can convey various meanings: a single red rose, for example, sometimes means, "I love you." Rose is also the past tense of rise, as in “Yesterday, the water rose to the top.” As an adjective, rose means "pink," and when the word is pronounced row-SAY, it means a rose-colored wine. The Latin source of rose is rosa, which probably comes from an Iranian root.
Vocabulary lists containing rose
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Exports rose 36.3% from a year earlier in September, accelerating from August’s 25.0% increase, according to data released Wednesday by the General Administration of Customs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
The Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.3% on possible position adjustments as investors are waiting to see U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
Many rose varieties have a fragrance but Wong also suggests choosing plants with scented leaves for when flowers are not in bloom.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Exploring the dunes at night, Raul saw many scorpions searching for prey but as temperatures rose after sunrise, the scorpion dug into the sand to escape the intense heat.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
The Dannenbergs rose to the top of the list by sheer proximity to the Dannemans in the telephone directory.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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"Activated charcoal can remove the smoky taste from rosé and white wine," he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
As ever, best known for its jam, sells products including rosé wine, teas, shortbread cookies and flower sprinkles.
From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2026
She also lends her expertise to the family winery, Casa Locé in Ojai, which produces rosé and sparkling Chardonnay under her Lucky Girl label.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2026
‘Valentine’s Day is no longer all about roses and rosé … the stereotypical cliché gifts of the past are shifting to those that actually make everyday sense.’
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 13, 2026
ATLANTA—Angela Mund popped into the Delta Sky Club near Gate B18 at Hartsfield-Jackson airport last week for a glass of rosé and ran into an old friend.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 10, 2025
“They have 30 seniors. That’s a huge help,” Rose said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026
The ensemble cast includes, top from left, Rose Abdoo as Phyllis and Parker Young as Jesse, and, bottom from left, Helen J. Chen as Emma and Jaren Lewison as Max.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
I feel like the Cherries have been a bit unlucky with their results under Rose so far, because they have conceded some costly late goals, but Scott's absence is a huge blow for them.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Bournemouth have not won yet under Marco Rose, and they are also without key midfielder Alex Scott for a while as a result of his injury on international duty.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
On July 22, 1942, the White Rose group held a small farewell party, and the next day Hans, Willi Graf, Christoph Probst, and Alexander Schmorell were dispatched as student medics to the Russian front.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
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The situation escalates as the mariachi music begins playing and the couple approach a display of white roses and candles laid out on the grass.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
One day, at a job selling novelty wood roses to supermarkets and convenience stores, his boss walked in and threw a sticky octopus on the wall.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
A bunch of roses was also left nearby, in tribute to the little girl.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
The markers were engraved with butterflies, with pairs of butterfly-shaped flower arrangements next to the graves along with bouquets containing a mix of white and purple roses, daisies and carnations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
The whole situation with the roses was really bothering me.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
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Note: Different rosés will taste different, so adjust the lime juice and simple syrup to your liking.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 22, 2023
But intentional rosés tend to be more vibrant and expressive.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 28, 2022
Chillable reds: White wines and rosés aren’t the only options when it’s hot.
From New York Times ● Jun. 25, 2022
And here are Eric’s picks of 12 exceptional rosés from $13 to $35.
From New York Times ● Jun. 20, 2022
As spring weather finally takes over from old man winter, pandemic-related supply chain woes may delay the arrival of the 2021 rosés.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 21, 2022
She sank; she snatched at colours; they were peel Of fruit past savour, in derision rosed.
From Poems — Volume 3 by George Meredith
And does a cheek, like any sea-shell rosed, Or clear as widowed sky, seem most divine?
From Poems — Volume 1 by George Meredith
Picotee’s face was rosed over with the brilliance of some excitement.
From The Hand of Ethelberta by Thomas Hardy
Succourful daughters of men are the rosed and starred Revolving Twelves in their fluent germinal rings, Despite the burden to chasten, abase, depose.
From Poems — Volume 3 by George Meredith
It is a beautiful little type, "rosed from top to toe in flush of youth."
From Fragments of an Autobiography by Felix Moscheles
Roses in a royal throng, Surging, rosing from the east!
From The poetical works of George MacDonald in two volumes — Volume 2 by George MacDonald
I found a thicket and slept; slept it must have been for many hours, for when I again awakened the dawn was rosing the east.
From The Moon Pool by Abraham Merritt
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.