wreath
Americannoun
plural
wreaths-
a circular band of flowers, foliage, or any ornamental work, for adorning the head or for any decorative purpose; a garland or chaplet.
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any ringlike, curving, or curling mass or formation.
a wreath of clouds.
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(in stair building)
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a curved section of a handrail.
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Also called wreathpiece. a curved section of a string.
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verb (used with or without object)
noun
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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
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any circular or spiral band or formation
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a spiral or circular defect appearing in porcelain and glassware
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing wreath
Joy To The Word: Christmas Terms
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Memorial Day Words
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"O Captain! My Captain!" by Walt Whitman
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Justice Minister Naomi Long unveiled a commemorative ceramic Poppy Wreath at the the Northern Ireland Prison Service annual remembrance ceremony on Friday.
From BBC • Nov. 10, 2024
Mr. Emhoff’s appearance at the Flight 93 National Memorial Observance Wreath Laying Ceremony means four principal figures from the White House will mark the 22nd anniversary of the attacks in separate places.
From Washington Times • Sep. 8, 2023
Here’s how Morrill Worcester, founder of Worcester Wreath, tells it: “We want to bring Americans together, remind them of the centuries of sacrifice made to protect our freedom, and unite a divided America.”
From Seattle Times • Jun. 29, 2023
Here’s how you can make Morgan’s trusty "Pigs in a Blanket Wreath" recipe at home.
From Fox News • Dec. 20, 2021
“I wonder what kind of cereal I should get for Becca,” Terry muses as they drape the Irish Wreath quilt on the girl’s bed, across the hall from her grandparents’ suite.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
