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

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

They also visited the nearby Battle of Britain Bunker, where they laid a commemorative wreath.

From BBC ● May 27, 2026

His mother Helen passed away last month, with Anderson laying a wreath on the pitch before Forest's victory against Burnley in April.

From BBC ● May 10, 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

He was wearing a wreath of lavender that Mama had woven through his collar.

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles

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

Demand has doubled in recent years, with customers buying his moss for hanging baskets in spring and Christmas wreaths in winter, as well as vivariums to keep geckos and iguanas happy all year round.

From BBC ● Mar. 8, 2026

During the final years of retired top leader Jiang Zemin, who died in 2022, some Pekingologists scrutinized wreaths at other funerals for Jiang’s name.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 15, 2026

She drew a few thoughtful puffs, sending up wreaths of blue smoke, then began.

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

Related Words

• bouquet
• garland