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honeysuckle

noun
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hon·​ey·​suck·​le | \ ˈhə-nē-ˌsə-kəl How to pronounce honeysuckle (audio) \

Definition of honeysuckle

: any of a genus (Lonicera of the family Caprifoliaceae, the honeysuckle family) of shrubs with opposite leaves and fragrant tubular flowers rich in nectar broadly : any of various plants (such as a columbine or azalea) with tubular flowers rich in nectar

Illustration of honeysuckle

Illustration of honeysuckle

Examples of honeysuckle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In another part of the woods, 17-year-old Emily Newman had her hands around something big: the root of a Bush honeysuckle, one of the invasive shrubs that have been crowding out native plants in the park. — Jessica Contrera, Washington Post, "“We need nature therapy.” National Public Lands Day came at just the right time for Washingtonians," 28 Sep. 2019 Buckthorn, black locust and honeysuckle are among the invasive species cleared. — Caitlin Anderson, Twin Cities, "Stillwater mill ruins uncovered; cleanup part of initiative to preserve historical resources," 26 Sep. 2019 Exotic wisterias and honeysuckles have also gone rogue, and their garden use is frowned upon. — Washington Post, "Vines are a romantic addition to the garden — until they go rogue," 9 July 2019 Expect aromas of honeysuckle, jasmine, and apple blossom along with wispy notes of vanilla and lemon balm. — Rachel King, Fortune, "Seven Ways to Enjoy White (Wine) After Labor Day," 31 Aug. 2019 While a less traditional option to pair with oysters, a Viognier offers grapefruit and honeysuckle notes to complement the brininess of an oyster. — Natalie Parker, Marie Claire, "The Best Food and Drink Pairings for Your Next Summer Party," 21 June 2019 Invite some friends, set up a few chairs, uncork the honeysuckle wine and dig out some oversize vases. — Chris Erskinecolumnist, Los Angeles Times, "Postcards From L.A.: That’s not a flower vase. That’s my margarita glass," 23 May 2019 The result is an easy-drinking brew with Champagne-like mouthfeel, a tropical nose and honeysuckle and honeydew flavors. — Jay Brooks, The Mercury News, "California’s latest beer news — plus Oktoberfest fun," 21 Aug. 2019 Add cape honeysuckle and firebush to attract the hummingbirds. — Calvin Finch, ExpressNews.com, "Fall tomato season is almost here," 12 July 2019

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

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First Known Use of honeysuckle

1548, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for honeysuckle

Middle English honysoukel clover, alteration of honysouke, from Old English hunisūce, from hunig honey + sūcan to suck

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Time Traveler for honeysuckle

Time Traveler

The first known use of honeysuckle was in 1548

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Statistics for honeysuckle

Last Updated

27 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Honeysuckle.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honeysuckle. Accessed 6 December 2019.

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More Definitions for honeysuckle

honeysuckle

noun
How to pronounce honeysuckle (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of honeysuckle

: a type of shrub that has bright, colorful flowers

See the full definition for honeysuckle in the English Language Learners Dictionary

honeysuckle

noun
hon·​ey·​suck·​le | \ ˈhə-nē-ˌsə-kəl How to pronounce honeysuckle (audio) \

Kids Definition of honeysuckle

: a climbing vine or a bush with fragrant white, yellow, or red flowers

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More from Merriam-Webster on honeysuckle

Spanish Central: Translation of honeysuckle

Nglish: Translation of honeysuckle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about honeysuckle

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