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• woodruff
  woodruff

  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.
• Woodruff
  Woodruff

  noun

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

woodruff

¹ American  

[wood-ruhf, -ruhf] / ˈwʊd rəf, -ˌrʌf /

noun

1. 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.

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Woodruff ² American  

[wood-ruhf] / ˈwʊd rəf /

noun

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

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woodruff British  

/ ˈwʊdrʌf /

noun

1. 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

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Etymology

Origin of woodruff

before 1000; Middle English woderove, Old English wudurofe, wudurife, equivalent to wudu wood ¹ + -rofe, -rife, element of uncertain meaning; compare German Rübe carrot

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

woodruff Woodruff

Pentire also makes botanical, non-alcoholic spirits which don‘t fall into traditional booze categories. Their Seaward boasts “bright, zesty and verdant” flavors, with ingredients like sea rosemary, woodruff, sea buckhorn and pink grapefruit.

From Washington Times ● Jun. 28, 2023

Sweet woodruff is easy to grow and adapts to a wide range of garden conditions, although afternoon sun in high summer can scorch the foliage.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 29, 2023

In the garden or when freshly picked, sweet woodruff has little to no scent.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 29, 2023

Bugleweed and sweet woodruff are two deep-shade lovers that do well in the Washington area.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 4, 2016

Before ever a Norman castle held a vantage- height the tansy grew dark and rank in cottage gardens and the children went gathering woodruff and speedwell and the elfin gold of "little socks and shoes."

From Masters of the Guild by L. Lamprey

“That guy could have made a lot of money somewhere else,” said pitcher Brandon Woodruff, the only current player who has been on the Brewers longer than Yelich.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

In all, the Interior Department denied 78 financial assistance requests from the Great Basin Institute totaling more than $12.7 million, according to a letter from Chief Executive Peter Woodruff appealing the denials.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

The Brewers are nearly guaranteed a first-round bye, giving Woodruff an extra week to build stamina.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

At Camp Golden Eagle, in Woodruff, Wis., all the usual activities were ours: baseball, archery, canoeing, swimming.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

She went to Mary A. Woodruff, and I knew she was home because I'd had this letter from her a couple of weeks ago.

From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger

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