wreath

American  

[reeth] / riθ /

noun

• wreaths
  plural

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.

3. (in stair building)

   1. a curved section of a handrail.

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

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to wreathe.

wreath British  

/ riːθ /

noun

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

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• wreathless
  adjective
• wreathlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• wreaths
  plural

Etymology

Origin of wreath

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

Explanation

Got a wreath on your front door? That's one of those ring-shaped bands of flowers or foliage that people use for decoration. Wreaths go back to ancient times and maybe the circular shape symbolizes the eternal. You can also wear a wreath. If you feel like dancing around the maypole or celebrating your Olympic victory, you might wear a wreath of spring flowers or laurels on your head. You might also want to remember someone who's passed away by placing a wreath on their grave. Wreaths don’t have to be green — you can carve gold or wood into a wreath or you can even have a mountain peak with a wreath of clouds around it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wreath wreaths

Laying a wreath at Dartmoor National Park, close to Widdecombe's home, Farage told reporters that she was a "remarkable individual" and "the fiercest defender of free speech".

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

He condemned "indifference" towards migrants and cast a wreath into the sea at the port of Arguineguin to honour the thousands who have died trying to reach the Canaries.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

Charles will lay a wreath late Thursday morning at Arlington National Cemetery just outside Washington, then attend a "block party" to mark 250 years since American independence from Britain.

From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026

President Tinubu and Mrs Tinubu will lay a wreath of flowers on the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II, in St George's Chapel.

From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2026

Miss Love made a big black satin wreath for the door and I went down there and hung it.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

Her family can still live on her husband’s income as a traffic engineer, and Bigalk earns some money selling homemade wreaths at farmers markets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

The high commissioners for New Zealand and Australia, Hamish Cooper and Jay Weatherill, walked in tandem to lay their own wreaths.

From BBC ● Apr. 25, 2026

The event was attended by about 100 people, with funeral wreaths of white flowers decorating the area.

From Barron's ● Mar. 17, 2026

And the extras that people load up on when they are feeling flush, such as wreaths and garlands and baskets, haven’t been selling well at all.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025

Judge Tate had died of pneumonia the past November; wreaths, brown roses, and rain-faded ribbons still lay upon the raw earth.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

Related Words

• bouquet
• garland