wreath

[ reeth ]
See synonyms for: wreathwreathedwreathing on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural wreaths [reethz, reeths]. /riðz, riθs/.
  1. a circular band of flowers, foliage, or any ornamental work, for adorning the head or for any decorative purpose; a garland or chaplet.

  2. any ringlike, curving, or curling mass or formation: a wreath of clouds.

  1. (in stair building)

    • a curved section of a handrail.

    • Also called wreathpiece . a curved section of a string.

verb (used with or without object)
  1. to wreathe.

Origin of wreath

1
before 1000; Middle English wrethe,Old English writha something wound or coiled; akin to writhe

Other words from wreath

  • wreathlike, adjective

Words that may be confused with wreath

Words Nearby wreath

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

How to use wreath in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for wreath

wreath

/ (riːθ) /


nounplural wreaths (riːðz, riːθs)
  1. a band of flowers or foliage intertwined into a ring, usually placed on a grave as a memorial or worn on the head as a garland or a mark of honour

  2. any circular or spiral band or formation

  1. a spiral or circular defect appearing in porcelain and glassware

Origin of wreath

1
Old English wrǣth, wrǣd; related to Middle Low German wrēden to twist. See writhe

Derived forms of wreath

  • wreathless, adjective
  • wreathlike, adjective

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