any of the wild or cultivated, usually prickly-stemmed, pinnate-leaved, showy-flowered shrubs of the genus Rosa.
any of various related or similar plants.
the flower of any such shrub, of a red, pink, white, or yellow color.
the traditional reddish color of this flower, variously a purplish red, pinkish red, or light crimson.
an ornament shaped like or suggesting this flower.
a pink or pinkish-red color in the cheek.
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.
any of various diagrams showing directions radiating from a common center, as a compass card or wind rose.
Jewelry.
an obsolete gem style or cut, flat on the bottom and having an upper side with from 12, or fewer, to 32 triangular facets.
a gem with this cut.
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.
an ornamental plate or socket surrounding the shaft of a doorknob at the face of a door.
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 ).
of the color rose.
for, containing, or growing roses.
a rose garden.
scented like a rose.
to make rose-colored.
to flush (the face, cheeks, etc.).
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.
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.
Billy, 1899–1966, U.S. theatrical producer.
Peter Edward PeteCharlie Hustle, born 1941, U.S. baseball player.
Mount, a mountain in W Nevada, the highest in the Carson Range. 10,778 feet (3,285 meters).
a female given name.
any shrub or climbing plant of the rosaceous genus Rosa , typically having prickly stems, compound leaves, and fragrant flowers
( in combination )
rosebush
rosetree
the flower of any of these plants
any of various similar plants, such as the rockrose and Christmas rose
a moderate purplish-red colour; purplish pink
( as adjective )
rose paint
a rose, or a representation of one, as the national emblem of England
jewellery
a cut for a diamond or other gemstone, having a hemispherical faceted crown and a flat base
a gem so cut
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
a design or decoration shaped like a rose; rosette
Also called: ceiling rose. electrical engineering a circular boss attached to a ceiling through which the flexible lead of an electric-light fitting passes
history See red rose white rose
a situation of comfort or ease
in secret; privately; sub rosa
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.
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”
First recorded in 1425–75; from French: literally, “pink”; the variant blush wine first recorded in 1980–85
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.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Shares of paint maker Sherwin-Williams and Coca-Cola, both Dow components, rose about 8% and 5%, respectively, on strong earnings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Sales of traditionally powered vehicles rose 1% as Ford’s pickups continued to shine in the U.S. — the company said that some of its off-road-vehicle trims accounted for nearly a quarter of its U.S. sales.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1%, or 537 points, while the S&P 500 rose 0.2%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
In the quarter, payments volume and processed transactions both rose 10% from the year-ago period, while cross-border volumes increased 13%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
But when she rose from her bed, she looked so old and tired, so pale and stooped.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
"I love a chilled red and have done for quite a while," she says, calling it "rosé for grown-ups".
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
And when panelist Geoffrey Chen, a British luxury investor, dismissed rosé as often-inferior, my neighbor hid his freshly ordered glass of pink wine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 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
I especially enjoy a 4 or 5 o’clock dinner on Sunday, when you can meet a friend and have a glass of rosé and something light to eat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2025
His widow Rose took his place, at first temporarily.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
The ceremony took place in the Rose Garden, with manager Dave Roberts giving a speech on behalf of the team.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Stars Mookie Betts and Enrique Hernandez notably skipped the ceremony in the Rose Garden, nearly nine months on from their stunning 2025 game-seven victory against the Toronto Blue Jays.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
At 4:30 p.m., he will host the Los Angeles Dodgers, the 2025 World Series Champions, in the Rose Garden.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
A window with a view of the Rose Garden.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Before kick-off, Iranian players presented white roses to their American counterparts as a gesture of peace, in a moment widely seen as transcending politics.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
One hundred roses and a cake will be placed at the site, a symbol of Hollywood's golden age and a popular tourist hotspot.
From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026
Open she adorned her ponytail with red roses and attached a Labubu to her tennis bag that she named Billie Jean Bling.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
While touring the garden at Zhongnanhai, where China’s top officials live and work, Trump admired the roses and said they were the most beautiful he had ever seen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
“The one with the cabbage roses in the wallpaper. Mrs. Cranston’s room.”
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
Note: Different rosés will taste different, so adjust the lime juice and simple syrup to your liking.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 22, 2023
Some of my favorite rosés each year hail from Virginia, where Stinson, Early Mountain and Boxwood shine.
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
If you think you don’t like rosé, explore different types, especially if you’ve only had the very pale rosés that are in vogue or tasted ones that seemed insipid or too sweet.
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
He softly went nearer to her, and observed that a warm flush now rosed her hitherto blue cheeks, and felt that her hanging hand was no longer cold.
From Jude the Obscure by Hardy, Thomas
It is a beautiful little type, "rosed from top to toe in flush of youth."
From Fragments of an Autobiography by Moscheles, Felix
She sank; she snatched at colours; they were peel Of fruit past savour, in derision rosed.
From Poems — Volume 3 by Meredith, George
Picotee’s face was rosed over with the brilliance of some excitement.
From The Hand of Ethelberta by Hardy, Thomas
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 Meredith, George
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 Merritt, Abraham
Roses in a royal throng, Surging, rosing from the east!
From The poetical works of George MacDonald in two volumes — Volume 2 by MacDonald, George
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.
