baby's breath

noun

: any of a large genus (Gypsophila) of Old World herbs of the pink family having loosely branching clusters of numerous small, delicate, usually white or pink flowers

especially : a perennial herb (Gypsophila paniculata) or an annual herb (G. elegans) commonly used in floral arrangements

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web These plants, also called snowflake, bloom profusely, lending a wispy, baby's breath-type effect to other nearby plantings.

Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 24 Aug. 2022 To create this airy spring wreath, tuck dried bundles of baby's breath, king protea and whitewashed sun palm leaves onto a grapevine wreath.

Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2022 Its wispy leaves and profuse airy white flowers offer a delicate baby's breath-like effect to mixed pots, says Glenn Kopp, horticulture information manager at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.

Terri Robertson, Country Living, 1 Aug. 2022 Look for blue cornflowers, white baby's breath, pink cosmos, blue love-in-a-mist, and lavender catchfly.

Charlotte Germane, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2022 This brings back a memory of Nurse Fiona, who has finger-print bruises on her arm, and a boyfriend who brings her a bouquet of carnations and baby's breath, which everyone knows is the worst bouquet.

Sara Netzley, EW.com, 15 Oct. 2021 The baby's breath is just an accent to the massive bouquet of sunflowers atop Chase's casket.

Dana Hunsinger Benbow, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Apr. 2021 The clubs created a bingo template for participants with a variety of invasive species to search for in their area, from baby's breath to garlic mustard.

Meredith Spelbring, Detroit Free Press, 7 Apr. 2020 Paper cones filled with dried baby's breath and gold ribbons hang on branches of one of the seven Christmas trees provided by Wyckoff's Christmas Tree Farm in New Jersey.

Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 3 Dec. 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'baby's breath.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of baby's breath was in 1866

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Baby's breath.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baby%27s%20breath. Accessed 1 Dec. 2022.

Copy Citation