rose
rohz
Rose (noun) means a shrub or climbing plant, or its flower, prized for its fragrance and often thorny stems. Example: “The rose by the back door smells wonderful on warm evenings.”
noun
1
A shrub or climbing plant, or its flower, prized for its fragrance and often thorny stems.
"The rose by the back door smells wonderful on warm evenings."
"She planted a row of roses along the garden fence."
"He gave her a single red rose on their anniversary."
2
A deep pink or pinkish-red colour, named after the flower.
"She painted the bedroom walls a warm shade of rose."
"The sky turned rose and gold as the sun went down."
"The bridesmaids wore dresses in a soft rose shade."
3
A circular, many-pointed design or fitting, such as a compass rose or a shower rose.
"The plumber fitted a new rose to the end of the watering can."
"A rose in the centre of the map shows north, south, east and west."
"The old compass rose was engraved on the ship's map."
How to use rose
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly the flower, but also used for the pinkish colour and for round, flower-shaped shapes or fittings.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the past tense of the verb "rise" (also spelled "rose") with this unrelated noun — context makes it obvious, but they are two completely different words that happen to be spelled alike.
Common pairings
a bunch of roses
rose-tinted
a rose garden
rose gold
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Word forms
- Plural
- roses
- Third person singular
- roses
- Past tense
- rosed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ by the back door smells wonderful on warm evenings.
Etymology
From Old English rose, reinforced by Old French rose, both ultimately from Latin rosa — a word that may trace back through Greek to a very old Persian root for "flower."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for rose
See all rhymes for rose →Frequently asked questions
What does “rose” mean?
The word “rose” means a shrub or climbing plant, or its flower, prized for its fragrance and often thorny stems. In plain terms, most commonly the flower, but also used for the pinkish colour and for round, flower-shaped shapes or fittings.
How do you pronounce “rose”?
“Rose” is pronounced rohz (/ɹoʊz/ in IPA).
How do you use “rose” in a sentence?
Here is “rose” used in a sentence: “She planted a row of roses along the garden fence.”
What part of speech is “rose”?
“Rose” is a noun.
Where does the word “rose” come from?
The word “rose” comes from Latin. From Old English rose, reinforced by Old French rose, both ultimately from Latin rosa — a word that may trace back through Greek to a very old Persian root for "flower.".
Is “rose” a common word?
“Rose” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “rose” have?
“Rose” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a shrub or climbing plant, or its flower, prized for its fragrance and often thorny stems.
What are the main types of roses?
Roses are grouped into several classes. Hybrid teas produce large single blooms on long stems; floribundas bloom in clusters; grandifloras combine both traits. Climbing roses scale supports, shrub roses form bushy plants, and wild or species roses grow naturally. Miniatures and old garden roses are also popular categories.
What does a rose symbolize?
The rose is a classic symbol of love and beauty, but colour changes its meaning. Red roses signal romantic love, white suggests purity or remembrance, yellow stands for friendship, and pink conveys gratitude or admiration. This rich symbolism makes roses the most popular flower for weddings, anniversaries, and Valentine's Day.
Why do roses have thorns?
What we call thorns on a rose are technically prickles — sharp outgrowths of the stem's outer layer. They evolved as a defence, deterring animals from eating the plant and helping climbing varieties hook onto supports as they grow. Many cultivated roses are now bred to have fewer prickles.
Does 'rose' have other meanings?
Yes. Besides the flower and plant, rose is the past tense of the verb 'rise' — the sun rose, prices rose. It can also describe a pinkish-red colour, and 'rosé' names a pink wine. In this entry, though, rose refers specifically to the flowering shrub and its bloom.
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