samara

noun sa·ma·ra \ ˈsa-mə-rə ; sə-ˈma-rə , -ˈmär-ə \

Definition of samara

: a dry indehiscent usually one-seeded winged fruit (as of an ash or elm tree) — called also key

samara was our Word of the Day on 05/24/2011. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of samara from the Web

Samaras served as prime minister from 2012 to 2015, in coalition with the Socialists.

— demetris nellas, Washington Post, "Constantine Mitsotakis, conservative Greek prime minister, dies at 98," 29 May 2017
Samaras served as prime minister from 2012 to 2015, in coalition with the Socialists.

— demetris nellas, Washington Post, "Constantine Mitsotakis, conservative Greek prime minister, dies at 98," 29 May 2017
Samaras served as prime minister from 2012 to 2015, in coalition with the Socialists.

— demetris nellas, Washington Post, "Constantine Mitsotakis, conservative Greek prime minister, dies at 98," 29 May 2017
Samaras served as prime minister from 2012 to 2015, in coalition with the Socialists.

— demetris nellas, Washington Post, "Constantine Mitsotakis, conservative Greek prime minister, dies at 98," 29 May 2017
Samaras served as prime minister from 2012 to 2015, in coalition with the Socialists.

— demetris nellas, Washington Post, "Constantine Mitsotakis, conservative Greek prime minister, dies at 98," 29 May 2017
Samaras served as prime minister from 2012 to 2015, in coalition with the Socialists.

— demetris nellas, Washington Post, "Constantine Mitsotakis, conservative Greek prime minister, dies at 98," 29 May 2017
Samaras served as prime minister from 2012 to 2015, in coalition with the Socialists.

— Washington Post, "Former Greek Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis dies," 28 May 2017
Samaras served as prime minister from 2012 to 2015, in coalition with the Socialists.

— demetris nellas, Washington Post, "Constantine Mitsotakis, conservative Greek prime minister, dies at 98," 29 May 2017

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

Did You Know?

Not familiar with the term samara referring to the winged fruit of the elm, ash, maple, and sycamore, among other trees? Then how about "key," "whirlybird," "helicopter," "whirligig," or "spinning jenny"? Those nicknames are all excellent descriptors of a samara. A samara resembles a key and when it falls its unique shape enables it to spin like a helicopter's rotor and drift away from its tree. Botanists began using the term "samara" in the late 16th century. In Latin, it means literally "seed of the elm."