rosette

noun

ro·​sette rō-ˈzet 

1

: an ornament usually made of material gathered or pleated so as to resemble a rose and worn as a badge of office, as evidence of having won a decoration (such as the Medal of Honor), or as trimming

2

: a disk of foliage or a floral design usually in relief used as a decorative motif

3

: a structure or color marking on an animal suggestive of a rosette

especially : one of the groups of spots on a leopard

4

: a cluster of leaves in crowded circles or spirals arising basally from a crown (as in the dandelion) or apically from an axis with greatly shortened internodes (as in many tropical palms)

5

: a food decoration or garnish in the shape of a rose

icing rosettes

carrot rosettes

Illustration of rosette

• rosette 2

Examples of rosette in a Sentence

a rosette of chocolate frosting

Rosettes are carved in the base of the statue.

Recent Examples on the Web

The silhouette of the dress was very traditional, but the embellishments were on the more playful side and included large rosettes and wax flowers. —Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025

Days earlier, Halsey revived Christian Louboutin’s mid-2000s Guitoune Flower slingbacks in sunshine satin for Venice, reintroducing the rosette pump in a modern register. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025

The spiky rosettes of hens and chicks are a great example. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2025

From the racks, Anna pulls a Christopher John Rogers red bustier top and army green handkerchief skirt, paired with pink Dior sunglasses, a rosette choker, and black mesh Norma Kamali gloves (all pictured in the poster). —Victoria Montalti, Refinery29, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Old French rosete, rosette "small rose, object shaped like a rose," from rose rose entry 2 + -ete, -ette -ette

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rosette

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• brevet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

rosette

noun

ro·​sette rō-ˈzet 

1

: a badge or ornament of ribbon gathered in the shape of a rose

2

: a design of leaves or flowers used as a decoration

3

: a circular cluster of leaves developed on a plant (as at the base of a dandelion)

Medical Definition

rosette

noun

ro·​sette rō-ˈzet 

: a rose-shaped cluster of cells