English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

woodruff

WUUD-ruhf

Woodruff (noun) means a small, sweet-smelling herb with star-shaped leaves, traditionally used to flavor drinks and desserts. Example: “The German recipe called for a few sprigs of woodruff to flavor the punch.”

noun
1
A small, sweet-smelling herb with star-shaped leaves, traditionally used to flavor drinks and desserts.
"The German recipe called for a few sprigs of woodruff to flavor the punch."

How to use woodruff

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA fragrant woodland herb used mainly for flavoring, most famous in German May wine.

Word forms

woodruffs plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “woodruff” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The German recipe called for a few sprigs of _____ to flavor the punch.

Etymology

From Old English wudurofe, "wood" plus an element of uncertain meaning.

Origin: Old English

waldmeister sweet woodruff fragrant bedstraw

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “woodruff” mean?

The word “woodruff” means a small, sweet-smelling herb with star-shaped leaves, traditionally used to flavor drinks and desserts. In plain terms, a fragrant woodland herb used mainly for flavoring, most famous in German May wine.

How do you pronounce “woodruff”?

“Woodruff” is pronounced WUUD-ruhf (/ˈwʊdɹʌf/ in IPA).

How do you use “woodruff” in a sentence?

Here is “woodruff” used in a sentence: “The German recipe called for a few sprigs of woodruff to flavor the punch.”

What part of speech is “woodruff”?

“Woodruff” is a noun.

Where does the word “woodruff” come from?

The word “woodruff” comes from Old English. From Old English wudurofe, "wood" plus an element of uncertain meaning.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial