rose

1 of 4

past tense of rise

rose

2 of 4

noun (1)

ˈrōz 

1

a

: any of a genus (Rosa of the family Rosaceae, the rose family) of usually prickly shrubs with pinnate leaves and showy flowers having five petals in the wild state but being often double or partly double under cultivation

b

: the flower of a rose

2

: something resembling a rose in form: such as

a(1)

: compass card

(2)

: a circular card with radiating lines used in other instruments

b

: a rosette especially on a shoe

c

: rose cut

3

roses plural : an easy or pleasant situation or task

it was not all sunshine and roses

—Anthony Lewis

4

: a moderate purplish red

5

: a plane curve which consists of three or more loops meeting at the origin and whose equation in polar coordinates is of the form ρ = a sin nθ or ρ = a cos nθ where n is an integer greater than zero

roselike

ˈrōz-ˌlīk 

adjective

rose

3 of 4

adjective

1

a

: containing or used for roses

b

: of or relating to a rose

c

: flavored, scented, or colored with or like roses

2

: of the color rose

rosé

4 of 4

noun (2)

ro·​sé rō-ˈzā 

: a light pink table wine made from red grapes by removing the skins after fermentation has begun

Phrases

under the rose

: sub rosa

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• breeze
• cake
• cakewalk
• child's play
• cinch
• cream puff
• duck soup
• kid stuff
• picnic
• pushover
• snap

Examples of rose in a Sentence

Noun (1)

He sent a dozen red roses to his girlfriend on Valentine's Day.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ernie Isley, master guitarist and member of legendary group The Isley Brothers, received much-deserved roses from The Guitar Center Music Foundation this week. —Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 6 Apr. 2024

The wedding altar could be seen adorned with large white roses and other flowers in large glass vases. —Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

As with her beautiful garden, Spencer’s memory requires tending, and Spencer-Hester does so tirelessly, ensuring her grandmother’s legacy endures along with her roses. —Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2024

During the dramatic season finale Monday, Joey Graziadei gave his final rose to Kelsey Anderson. —David Wysong, The Enquirer, 26 Mar. 2024

Rows of fragrant roses encircle the 18th-century castle of Château d’Estoublon, an architectural wonder in the heart of Provence surrounded by fields of lavender and a sprawling vegetable garden. —David Graver, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2024

Tiffany, who grows more than 800 roses, will discuss why roses have fragrances and why some do not. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024

As spring days lengthen and summer approaches, however, Bruni-Sarkozy will be occupied once again with those roses in Provence. —David Graver, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2024

The shouting continued, until whoever it was getting yelled at rose and left the car. —Michael Wilson, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024

Adjective

Now’s your chance to brush up on rose fungal diseases, and here is your pop quiz. —Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024

Others criticized Nance for questioning Georgas’ intentions in pulling Graziadei aside prior to the rose ceremony. —Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024

The video opened with the newlyweds exiting the church while their guests showered them with rose petals. —Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

The steel time-only version will be limited to 280 pieces, while the rose gold model will be limited to 70. —Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024

The three-dimensional-appearing watch spotlights a lacquered blue dial with the continents of the earth crafted in rose gold. —Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024

Eva Longoria’s rose gold dress featured silver embellishments, and Daphne Guinness opted for silver and gold stripes. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024

The Rhode founder wore the minimalist look with her hair parted down the middle and a glossy rose lip color. —Stacy Lambe, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024

Infused with rose wax and almond oil to give your skin a soft and supple feel, the microfine powder nanoparticles add a blurring effect to leave your base looking smoother. —Clare Holden, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, in part going back to Old English rōse, borrowed from Latin rosa "rose, rosebush"; in part borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin rosa, perhaps borrowed from an unattested derivative of Greek rhódon "rose" — more at rhodo-

Note: Latin rosa is similar enough to Greek rhódon that a relationship seems likely, but its nature is unclear. An outcome of rhodéā "rosebush" with a sibilant transmitted to Latin through Etruscan might explain the failure of -s- to rhotacize (unless rhotacism was nullified by the dissimilatory effect of the initial r). Both the Greek and Latin words have been attributed to a Mediterranean substratum, but this does not jibe with the presumed Iranian origin of rhódon.

Adjective

from attributive use of rose entry 2

Noun (2)

borrowed from French (short for vin rosé), from rosé "tinted with rose color, reddish, pink," from rose rose entry 2 + -é -ate entry 3

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1865, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rose

• Cherokee rose
• come out/up smelling like a rose
• famille rose
• damask rose
• hybrid tea rose
• old rose
• moss rose
• rose cut
• rose window
• tea rose
• compass rose
• China rose
• multiflora rose
• guelder rose
• rose geranium
• rose fever
• rose slug
• Christmas rose
• rose hip
• rose of Sharon
• musk rose
• rose water
• rose-breasted grosbeak
• dog rose
• rose of Jericho
• cabbage rose
• rose pink
• rose mallow
• rose-tinted
• rose-colored glasses
• rugosa rose
• rose oil
• wind rose
• rose chafer
• rose-colored
• under the rose

Kids Definition

rose

1 of 3

past of rise

rose

2 of 3 noun

ˈrōz 

1

a

: any of a genus of usually prickly sometimes climbing shrubs that have compound leaves and showy often fragrant white, yellow, red, pink, or orange flowers

b

: the flower of a rose

2

: a medium purplish red

roselike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

rose

3 of 3 adjective

1

: of, relating to, resembling, or used for the rose or roses

2

: of the color rose

Medical Definition

rose

noun

ˈrōz 

1

a

: any of a genus (Rosa of the family Rosaceae, the rose family) of usually prickly shrubs with pinnate leaves and showy flowers of which some are sources of rose oil

b

: the flower of a rose

2

: erysipelas

Biographical Definition

Rose

biographical name

ˈrōz 

Irwin A. 1926–2015 American biologist