: a widely cultivated ornamental climbing or prostrate or sometimes shrubby chiefly Eurasian vine (Hedera helix) of the ginseng family with evergreen leaves, small yellowish flowers, and black berries
2
: any of several climbing plants (such as Virginia creeper) resembling ivy
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Noun
This grower’s choice pack features a surprise variety of live plants, which may include Hawaiian pothos plants, snake plants, English ivy, aralia plants, and more.—Maggie Horton, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025 Take English ivy, a popular choice for stabilizing soil as an ornamental plant.—Kylie Mohr, Vox, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The actress, who's known for being something of an amateur equestrian, appears to be bending over to give her horse Ivy water through a tiny straw.—Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, 21 June 2017 See all Example Sentences for ivy
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English īfig; akin to Old High German ebah ivy
Adjective
from the prevalence of ivy-covered buildings on the campuses of older U.S. colleges
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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