rosemary

noun

rose·​mary ˈrōz-ˌmer-ē 

plural rosemaries

: a fragrant shrubby Mediterranean mint (Salvia rosmarinus synonym Rosmarinus officinalis) having grayish-green needlelike leaves used as a seasoning

also : the leaves of rosemary

Example Sentences

The recipe calls for a tablespoon of rosemary.

Recent Examples on the Web

A little bit of barbecue sauce, a little bit of rosemary [and cilantro]. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Mar. 2023

For all her efforts on the house, the backyard is Ms. Miroglio’s favorite place, with its beds of rosemary and lavender, late-blooming Japanese anemones, and hydrangea. —Ruth Bloomfield, WSJ, 26 Oct. 2022

This one, which is made with fresh, delicious-smelling rosemary, is one of our favorites. —Caroline Picard, House Beautiful, 9 Feb. 2023

Garnish with the rosemary, and serve with pickled apples and jalapeños alongside. —Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Dec. 2022

If lambs grazed on the outfield at Fenway Park, would the sight of them leave you licking your lips at the thought of lamb chops, roasted with rosemary and lemon? —Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2022

Formulated with rosemary, this helps to replenish moisture to leave the scalp and hair feeling soft and smooth. —Katie Becker, Allure, 14 Oct. 2022

It was recorded in the Blue Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace next to a posy of sweet peas and mixed with rosemary which represents Remembrance. —Victoria Murphy, Town & Country, 10 Sep. 2022

For these homemade lemon-drop cocktails, infuse lemonade with fresh rosemary and ginger and mix with citron vodka for a sweet-and-tart warm weather drink. —Sunset Magazine, 1 July 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English rosemarye, rosemary, folk-etymological alteration of rosmaryn, rosmarine, borrowed from Anglo-French rosemaryn, borrowed from Latin rōsmarīnum, rōs marīnus, literally "sea dew," from rōr-, rōs "dew" + marīnus "of the sea, marine entry 1"; rōr-, rōs going back to Indo-European *h₁rōs-, *h₁ros- "dew, juice" (whence also Old Church Slavic rosa "dew," Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian ròsa, accusative rȍsu, Lithuanian rasà, Sanskrit rásaḥ "juice, liquid"), probably derivative from the verbal base *h₁ers- "stream, flow," whence Sanskrit árṣati "(it) flows," Hittite ārašzi, aršanzi

Note: The element rōs in the Latin compound may represent Greek rhoûs "sumac," conformed to rōr-, rōs "dew" by folk etymology.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

rosemary

noun

rose·​mary ˈrōz-ˌmer-ē 

: a fragrant shrubby mint with grayish green needlelike leaves used as a seasoning

also : the leaves of rosemary

Etymology

an altered form of Middle English rosmarine "rosemary," from Latin rosmarinus, literally, "dew of the sea," from ros "dew" and marinus "of the sea"

Medical Definition

rosemary

noun

rose·​mary ˈrōz-ˌmer-ē 

plural rosemaries

: a fragrant shrubby mint (Salvia rosmarinus synonym Rosmarinus officinalis) of southern Europe and Asia Minor that is the source of rosemary oil and was formerly used medicinally as a stimulant and carminative