noun
asphodel
AS-fuh-del
Asphodel (noun) means a flowering plant of the lily-like family Asphodelaceae, or its flower. Example: “Tall spikes of asphodel grew along the dry hillside.”
noun
1
A flowering plant of the lily-like family Asphodelaceae, or its flower.
"Tall spikes of asphodel grew along the dry hillside."
"The botanist pressed a sprig of asphodel between two sheets of paper."
"Pale asphodels bloomed beside the old stone wall."
2
In Greek mythology, the flower said to cover the fields of Hades.
"In the myth, the dead wander through meadows of asphodel."
"The poem pictures a gray plain filled with asphodel."
"Her essay explains why asphodel is linked to the underworld."
How to use asphodel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA flowering plant, and the flower of the underworld in Greek myth.
When to use it
Mostly literary or mythological, also used for the plant in botany and gardening.
Memory tip
Daffodil and asphodel share an origin, but they are different plants.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
field of asphodel
asphodel meadow
asphodel flower
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Tall spikes of _____ grew along the dry hillside.
Etymology
English borrowed the word from Latin asphodelus, which came from the Ancient Greek ἀσφόδελος (asphódelos). It is a doublet of daffodil, meaning the two words share the same origin.
Rhymes for asphodel
See all rhymes for asphodel →Frequently asked questions
What is an asphodel?
An asphodel is a flowering plant of the family Asphodelaceae. The word also names the flower of Greek myth said to cover Hades.
What does asphodel mean in Greek mythology?
In myth it is the flower that covered the fields of the underworld and was eaten by the dead.
How do you pronounce asphodel?
It is pronounced AS-fuh-del, with the stress on the first syllable.
What is the meaning of asphodel?
"asphodel" (noun) means a flowering plant of the lily-like family Asphodelaceae, or its flower.
