woodruff

[ wood-ruhf, -ruhf ]

/ ˈwʊd rəf, -ˌrʌf /

Save This Word!

noun

any of several plants belonging to the genus Asperula or Galium, of the madder family, as G. odoratum(sweet woodruff ), a fragrant plant with small white flowers.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of woodruff

before 1000; Middle English woderove,Old English wudurofe, wudurife, equivalent to wuduwood¹ + -rofe, -rife, element of uncertain meaning; compare German Rübe carrot

Words nearby woodruff

wood ray, Woodridge, Wood River, wood rose, Woodrow, woodruff, Woodruff key, woodrush, Woods, wood sage, wood screw

Other definitions for woodruff (2 of 2)

Woodruff

[ wood-ruhf ]

/ ˈwʊd rəf /

noun

Hiram, 1817–67, Canadian driver, trainer, and breeder of harness-racing horses.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use woodruff in a sentence

Woodruff’s donation drew attention in 2015, amid criticism that ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos had donated $75,000 to the foundation over the three previous years.
Youngkin to skip marquee debate over moderator’s donation to Clinton Bush Haiti Fund|Laura Vozzella|July 12, 2021|Washington Post
You’ve got to match it, especially when you’re going up against Woodruff.
The Nationals’ bats remain absent, and one Max Scherzer miscue yields a fourth straight loss|Gene Wang|May 30, 2021|Washington Post
Woodruff, who has quietly become one of the best pitchers in the league, has increased his average fastball velocity to nearly 97 mph.
Lucas Giolito Changed His Delivery, And Pitchers Around MLB Are Following His Lead|Brian Menéndez|May 13, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
If Williams does eventually bounce back to his 2020 form, Hader keeps throwing smoke and Burnes and Woodruff continue to be ace-level hurlers, the Brewers’ pitching could really be something to reckon with in the postseason.
Corbin Burnes Went From Bad To Elite, And He’s Taking The Brewers’ Rotation With Him|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|April 26, 2021|FiveThirtyEight

Woodruff also cautions that the sample size from which both efficacy numbers are derived is relatively small.
Is one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine enough?|Kat Eschner|January 12, 2021|Popular-Science
Bob and Lee Woodruff, the co-founders of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, will be on hand to accept the PepsiCo Foundation donation.
PepsiCo Foundation Kicks Off Super Bowl Weekend with $1 Million Donation to Support Returning Service Members||February 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The web stream will include a click-to-donate button for those who wish to donate to the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
PepsiCo Foundation Kicks Off Super Bowl Weekend with $1 Million Donation to Support Returning Service Members||February 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dallas Buyers Club is based on the real-life story of Ron Woodruff, who is HIV positive but not gay.
Matthew McConaughey on ‘Magic Mike,’ Thongs & Losing Weight|Ramin Setoodeh|November 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Betsy Woodruff at the National Review Institute cataloged multiple examples of Reid's investment strategy.
How Did Harry Reid Get Rich?|Justin Green|August 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST
ABC correspondent Bob Woodruff begins the segment by asking, “Did you have an affair with Miss Hunter?”
The Prosecution Rests: Trial Now in Edwards Defense Team's Hands|Diane Dimond|May 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Mrs. Woodruff, the landlady, was nice and motherly enough, but she was not young and did not fit into his fancies.
The "Genius"|Theodore Dreiser
As No. 2, but add, instead of fruit, some sprigs of woodruff.
Cups and their Customs|George Edwin Roberts
Elders Kimball and Woodruff pointed out the road this forenoon.
William Clayton's Journal|William Clayton
About this time a badger was brought to the wagons which Brother Woodruff had killed.
William Clayton's Journal|William Clayton
Elders Taylor and Woodruff were the first of their quorum to start on their mission.
The Life of John Taylor|B. H. Roberts

British Dictionary definitions for woodruff

woodruff

/ (ˈwʊdrʌf) /

noun

any of several rubiaceous plants of the genus Galium, esp G. odoratum (sweet woodruff), of Eurasia, which has small sweet-scented white flowers and whorls of narrow fragrant leaves used to flavour wine and liqueurs and in perfumery

Word Origin for woodruff

Old English wudurofe, from wood 1 + rōfe, related to Old High German ruoba, Middle Low German rōve (beet)root, Latin rēpere to creep

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