trailing arbutus

noun

Also called arbutus, mayflower. a creeping eastern North American plant, Epigaea repens, of the heath family, having leathery, oval leaves and terminal clusters of fragrant pink or white flowers.

Origin of trailing arbutus

First recorded in 1775–85

Words Nearby trailing arbutus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use trailing arbutus in a sentence

She lifted a small cluster of trailing arbutus and gave it to David.
Patchwork | Anna Balmer Myers
Little girls were not allowed to invade the grove except in early spring for trailing arbutus.
Still Jim | Honor Willsie Morrow
The trailing arbutus or may-flower of N. America, a plant with fragrant and beautiful blossoms, is Epiga repens, of the same nat.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 2 | Various
She was literally a bower of trailing arbutus, as sprays of that spring flower were fastened all over her gown.
Blue Robin, the Girl Pioneer | Rena I. Halsey
The trailing arbutus gave out delicate pink blossoms, and the south wind blew apart the petals of the anemone.
A Cumberland Vendetta | John Fox, Jr.

British Dictionary definitions for trailing arbutus

trailing arbutus

noun

a creeping evergreen ericaceous plant, Epigaea repens, of E North America, having clusters of fragrant pink or white flowers: Also called: mayflower

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

Browse