noun
Common
heather
HEH-thuh
Heather (noun) means a low evergreen shrub with small purple, pink, or white flowers, common on moorland. Example: “The hills were covered in purple heather.”
noun
1
A low evergreen shrub with small purple, pink, or white flowers, common on moorland.
"The cutting sides were gay with heather in bloom, and masses of dainty Scots bluebells, while patches of clear sky overhead were bringing life and colour to the sea."
— , The Aberdonian (1947)
"The hills were covered in purple heather."
"Bees hummed over the heather on the windswept moor."
"Walkers crossed a hillside thick with heather in late summer."
2
A muted purple-pink color, or a fabric made from mixed-colored yarns.
"She wore a heather gray sweater."
"The scarf came in a soft heather shade that matched her coat."
"He chose a heather jumper because the mixed yarn looked warm."
How to use heather
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe purple-flowered moorland shrub, or the soft mixed color/fabric named after it.
Common pairings
heather gray
purple heather
a field of heather
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Word forms
- Plural
- heathers
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The hills were covered in purple _____.
Etymology
From Old English hǣþ (related to "heath"), the plant that grows wild on heathland.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for heather
See all rhymes for heather →Frequently asked questions
What does “heather” mean?
The word “heather” means a low evergreen shrub with small purple, pink, or white flowers, common on moorland. In plain terms, the purple-flowered moorland shrub, or the soft mixed color/fabric named after it.
How do you pronounce “heather”?
“Heather” is pronounced HEH-thuh (/ˈhɛðɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “heather” in a sentence?
Here is “heather” used in a sentence: “The hills were covered in purple heather.”
What part of speech is “heather”?
“Heather” is a noun.
Where does the word “heather” come from?
The word “heather” comes from Old English. From Old English hǣþ (related to "heath"), the plant that grows wild on heathland.
Is “heather” a common word?
“Heather” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “heather” have?
“Heather” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a low evergreen shrub with small purple, pink, or white flowers, common on moorland.
What is the difference between heather and heath?
Heather is the low evergreen flowering shrub itself, while a heath is the open, uncultivated landscape, often moorland, where heather and similar plants grow. Confusingly, "heath" can also name certain related plants, but in everyday use heather is the plant and heath is the habitat.
What is the difference between heather and gorse?
Both are shrubs common on moorland, but heather has small purple, pink, or white flowers on low, wiry stems, whereas gorse is a spiny shrub with bright yellow flowers. They often grow in the same open landscapes but look quite different.
Is heather a shade of purple or pink?
Heather is a muted, blended purple-pink shade rather than a pure purple or pink, named after the flowers of the heather plant. In textiles the term also describes fabric made from mixed-colored yarns, which gives a soft, flecked appearance.
What is heather grey fabric?
Heather grey is a fabric made by blending different-colored fibers so the finished cloth looks flecked rather than a single flat tone. It takes its name from the way heather describes yarn or fabric woven from mixed-colored yarns.
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