daphne

noun (1)
daph·​ne | \ ˈdaf-nē How to pronounce daphne (audio) \

Definition of daphne

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: any of a genus (Daphne) of Eurasian shrubs of the mezereon family with apetalous flowers whose colored calyx resembles a corolla

Daphne

noun (2)
Daph·​ne | \ ˈdaf-nē How to pronounce Daphne (audio) \

Definition of Daphne (Entry 2 of 2)

: a nymph in Greek mythology who is transformed into a laurel tree to escape the pursuing Apollo

Examples of daphne in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

These include forsythias, silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana), white forsythia (Abeliophyllum distichum), winter daphnes, winter jasmine, and witch hazels. Thad Orr, Sunset, "Your Essential Gardening To-Do List for April," 22 Jan. 2018 Here, the space is enveloped by a small shade garden planted as a ring of hostas, ferns, daphne and a massive jasmine plant. Amy Pennington, The Seattle Times, "A couple’s Rainier Beach garden is a place of creativity, vision and function," 19 May 2019 Pieris, rosemary, lavender and Daphne odora and other winter daphne are also low-maintenance. OregonLive.com, "When to prune shrubs, and when to put down the clippers," 24 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'daphne.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of daphne

Noun (1)

circa 1841, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for daphne

Noun (1)

New Latin, genus name, from Latin, laurel, from Greek daphnē

Noun (2)

Latin, from Greek Daphnē

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More Definitions for daphne

daphne

noun
daph·​ne | \ ˈdaf-(ˌ)nē How to pronounce daphne (audio) \

Medical Definition of daphne

1 capitalized : a genus of Eurasian shrubs (family Thymelaeaceae) that have often fragrant flowers without petals and that include the mezereon
2 : a plant of the genus Daphne