noun
Uncommon
Daphne
DAF-nee
Daphne (noun) means any of several ornamental shrubs in the genus Daphne, many prized for their fragrant flowers. Example: “She planted a daphne by the front door for its winter scent.”
noun
1
Any of several ornamental shrubs in the genus Daphne, many prized for their fragrant flowers.
"She planted a daphne by the front door for its winter scent."
name
1
A female given name, from the Greek myth of a nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree to escape Apollo.
"My wife. Daphne. Yes, that was, is, her name. For some reason people have always found it faintly comic. I think it matches very well her damp, dark, myopic beauty."
— John Banville, The Book of Evidence (1989)
"Daphne is a fairly common name in English-speaking countries."
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Word forms
- Plural
- daphnes
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She planted a _____ by the front door for its winter scent.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek δάφνη (dáphnē, "laurel, bay tree"), tied to the myth of the nymph Daphne.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Daphne” mean?
The word “Daphne” means a female given name, from the Greek myth of a nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree to escape Apollo.
How do you pronounce “Daphne”?
“Daphne” is pronounced DAF-nee (/ˈdæfni/ in IPA).
How do you use “Daphne” in a sentence?
Here is “Daphne” used in a sentence: “Daphne is a fairly common name in English-speaking countries.”
What part of speech is “Daphne”?
Depending on how it is used, “Daphne” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Daphne” come from?
The word “Daphne” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek δάφνη (dáphnē, "laurel, bay tree"), tied to the myth of the nymph Daphne.
Is “Daphne” a common word?
“Daphne” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Daphne” have?
“Daphne” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a female given name, from the Greek myth of a nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree to escape Apollo.
