A wreath is an arrangement of flowers and leaves, usually in the shape of a circle, which you put on a grave or by a statue to show that you remember a person who has died or people who have died.
The coffin lying before the altar was bare, except for a single wreath of white roses. [+ of]
The British, Australian and Turkish Prime Ministers laid wreaths at the war memorial.
2. countable noun
A wreath is a circle of leaves or flowers which someone wears around their head.
3. countable noun
A wreath is a circle of leaves which some people hang on the front door of their house at Christmas.
More Synonyms of wreath
wreath in British English
(riːθ)
nounWord forms: pluralwreaths (riːðz, riːθs)
1.
a band of flowers or foliage intertwined into a ring, usually placed on a grave as a memorial or worn on the head as a garland or a mark of honour
2.
any circular or spiral band or formation
3.
a spiral or circular defect appearing in porcelain and glassware
Derived forms
wreathless (ˈwreathless)
adjective
wreathlike (ˈwreathˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English wrǣth, wrǣd; related to Middle Low German wrēden to twist. See writhe
wreath in American English
(riθ)
nounWord forms: pluralwreaths (riðz; riθs)
1.
a twisted band or ring of leaves, flowers, etc.
; esp.,
a.
a chaplet worn as a mark of honor or victory
b.
a garland laid upon a grave or hung on a door, window, etc.
2.
something suggesting this in shape; twisted or circular band
wreaths of smoke
Word origin
ME wrethe < OE writha, a ring, a twisted band < writhan, to twist: see writhe
Examples of 'wreath' in a sentence
wreath
Yesterday his widow solemnly placed a wreath at the spot where he was attacked.
The Sun (2007)
This one was of lilac silk with a wreath of white flowers for a headdress.
Paula Byrne PERDITA: The Life of Mary Robinson (2004)
Crowds of youths also turned up to lay wreaths in honour of their pal.
The Sun (2008)
Consider hanging a wreath indoors for a festive focal point.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I put a wreath at the war memorial.
The Sun (2015)
NO time to make your own wreath?
The Sun (2015)
A green pine wreath was hanging on the door.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
A statue to youth and vitality was garlanded with wreaths in memory of residents who had been cut down by the army.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
How to make the wreath I like to make my base from hazel or birch cuttings.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
If you would like to go all the way you could make a circular wreath, wrapped in eucalyptus or moss, to hang over the table.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Word lists with
wreath
heraldry
In other languages
wreath
British English: wreath NOUN
A wreath is an arrangement of flowers and leaves, usually in the shape of a circle, which you put on a grave or by a statue to show that you remember a person who has died or people who have died.
...a single wreath of white roses.
American English: wreath
Brazilian Portuguese: grinalda
Chinese: 花圈
European Spanish: corona
French: couronne
German: Kranz
Italian: corona
Japanese: 花輪
Korean: 화환
European Portuguese: grinalda
Latin American Spanish: corona
Chinese translation of 'wreath'
wreath
(riːθ)
Word forms:plwreaths (riːðz)
n(c)
(= funeral wreath) 花圈 (huāquān) (个(個), gè)
(= garland) 花环(環) (huāhuán) (个(個), gè)
(noun)
Definition
anything circular or spiral
She wore a wreath of jasmine flowers in her hair.
Synonyms
garland
They wore garlands of summer flowers in their hair.
band
ring
a ring of blue smoke
crown
He won the middleweight crown in 1947.
loop
She reached for a loop of garden hose.
festoon
festoons of laurel and magnolia
coronet
chaplet
Additional synonyms
in the sense of chaplet
Definition
a garland worn on the head
Synonyms
garland,
bouquet,
wreath,
coronal
in the sense of crown
Definition
a wreath for the head, given as an honour
He won the middleweight crown in 1947.
Synonyms
laurel wreath,
trophy,
distinction,
prize,
bays,
honour,
garland,
laurels,
wreath,
kudos
in the sense of festoon
Definition
a decorative chain of flowers or ribbons suspended in loops
festoons of laurel and magnolia
Synonyms
decoration,
garland,
swathe,
wreath,
swag,
lei,
chaplet
Nearby words of
wreath
wrath
wrathful
wreak
wreath
wreathe
wreck
wreckage
Synonyms of 'wreath'
wreath
Explore 'wreath' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of loop
Definition
any round or oval-shaped thing that is closed or nearly closed
She reached for a loop of garden hose.
Synonyms
curve,
ring,
circle,
bend,
twist,
curl,
spiral,
hoop,
coil,
loophole,
twirl,
kink,
noose,
whorl,
eyelet,
convolution
in the sense of ring
Definition
a group of people or things standing or arranged in a circle