noun
mimosa
mih-MOH-suh
Mimosa (noun) means a plant with delicate, prickly leaves that fold up when touched, and small fluffy pink or white flowers. Example: “The mimosa plant on the windowsill closes its leaves whenever the cat brushes past it.”
noun
1
A plant with delicate, prickly leaves that fold up when touched, and small fluffy pink or white flowers.
"The mimosa plant on the windowsill closes its leaves whenever the cat brushes past it."
2
A cocktail made from equal parts champagne and orange juice.
"They ordered mimosas to go with their Sunday brunch."
How to use mimosa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the touch-sensitive flowering plant, or the popular brunch cocktail of champagne and orange juice.
Common pairings
bottomless mimosas
mimosa tree
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Word forms
- Plural
- mimosas, mimosae
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ plant on the windowsill closes its leaves whenever the cat brushes past it.
Etymology
From New Latin mimosa, based on Latin mimus ("actor"), a nod to the plant's "performance" of shrinking away when touched. The cocktail takes its name from the bright yellow flowers of a related mimosa tree.
Synonyms
View more →
buck's fizz
silver wattle
Rhymes for mimosa
See all rhymes for mimosa →Frequently asked questions
What does “mimosa” mean?
The word “mimosa” means a plant with delicate, prickly leaves that fold up when touched, and small fluffy pink or white flowers. In plain terms, either the touch-sensitive flowering plant, or the popular brunch cocktail of champagne and orange juice.
How do you pronounce “mimosa”?
“Mimosa” is pronounced mih-MOH-suh (/mɪˈmoʊ.sə/ in IPA).
How do you use “mimosa” in a sentence?
Here is “mimosa” used in a sentence: “The mimosa plant on the windowsill closes its leaves whenever the cat brushes past it.”
What part of speech is “mimosa”?
“Mimosa” is a noun.
Where does the word “mimosa” come from?
The word “mimosa” comes from New Latin. From New Latin mimosa, based on Latin mimus ("actor"), a nod to the plant's "performance" of shrinking away when touched. The cocktail takes its name from the bright yellow flowers of a related mimosa tree.
How many meanings does “mimosa” have?
“Mimosa” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a plant with delicate, prickly leaves that fold up when touched, and small fluffy pink or white flowers.
