smilax

[ smahy-laks ]

noun

1. any plant belonging to the genus Smilax, of the lily family, growing in tropical and temperate zones, consisting mostly of vines having woody stems.
2. a delicate, twining plant, Asparagus asparagoides, of the lily family, having glossy, bright-green, egg-shaped leaves, cultivated by florists.

smilax

/ ˈsmaɪlæks /

noun

1. any typically climbing shrub of the smilacaceous genus Smilax, of warm and tropical regions, having slightly lobed leaves, small greenish or yellow flowers, and berry-like fruits: includes the sarsaparilla plant and greenbrier
2. a fragile, much branched liliaceous vine, Asparagus asparagoides, of southern Africa: cultivated by florists for its glossy bright green foliage

Word History and Origins

Origin of smilax¹

1595–1605; < Latin smīlax bindweed < Greek smîlax bindweed, yew

Word History and Origins

Origin of smilax¹

C17: via Latin from Greek: bindweed

Example Sentences

This insect is larger than P. smilax, but resembles it extremely in its upper side.

From Project Gutenberg

One was made of smilax and pink roses; the other a small wreath of evergreens with a silver bell fastened to it.

From Project Gutenberg

Their hats were adorned with trailing wreaths of smilax, and about their shoulders were garlands of carnations.

From Project Gutenberg

The altar was a mass of bridal roses under an immense trellis of trailing smilax.

From Project Gutenberg

Off in one of the corners, have a cut-glass bowl filled with punch and around it a ring of smilax.

From Project Gutenberg