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a
: any of a genus (Rosa of the family Rosaceae, the rose family) of usually prickly shrubs with pinnate leaves and showy flowers having five petals in the wild state but being often double or partly double under cultivation
b
: the flower of a rose
2
3
roses plural
: an easy or pleasant situation or task
it was not all sunshine and roses—
Anthony Lewis
Anthony Lewis4
: a moderate purplish red
5
: a plane curve which consists of three or more loops meeting at the origin and whose equation in polar coordinates is of the form ρ = a sin nθ or ρ = a cos nθ where n is an integer greater than zero
1
a
: containing or used for roses
b
: of or relating to a rose
c
: flavored, scented, or colored with or like roses
2
: of the color rose
: a light pink table wine made from red grapes by removing the skins after fermentation has begun
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Noun (1)
He sent a dozen red roses to his girlfriend on Valentine's Day.
Recent Examples on the WebLos Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2023
Get acquainted with a sparkling rose and peach Bellini margarita or a jalapeno pineapple rita (rocks only).
—Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Feb. 2023
The prop looks like a Russell Stover box with a rose on the lid and pictures of assorted candies on the bottom, including a pecan cluster and buttercream caramel.
—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2023
Scotland became associated with the thistle, England with the rose, and Ireland with the clover.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 10 Feb. 2023
Cara Ammon, Holland Parsons, Lekha Ravi, Olivia Lewis, Olivia Miller, Becca Serrano, Sonia Sharma, Vanessa Dinh, and Viktoria Eichner all get eliminated during the first rose ceremony.
—Madison Johnson, Women's Health, 23 Jan. 2023
In Papo's photograph, they are taped to a white tile wall above a vase with a rose.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 13 Dec. 2022
The most luxurious milk teas that will be on offer are covered in an edible 24k gold foil and topped with a red rose.
—Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 8 July 2022
Laila Gohar sometimes sees herself in her dishes — like a champagne jelly of a koi fish stuffed with a rose.
—New York Times, 13 May 2022
Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 9 Mar. 2023
Cosgrove wrote alongside a backseat selfie with the bride, their rose bouquets on display.
—Alex Apatoff, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2023
The rose group was established in 2000 and is open to the general public.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2023
And then, the taste hit me: sweet and nutty with a subtle earthy, flowery undertone from rose water.
—Rachel Gurjar, Bon Appétit, 3 Mar. 2023
Her rose eyeshadow was accented with gold shadow and dewy skin and a pinkish-nude lip brought the whole look together.
—Danielle James, ELLE, 27 Feb. 2023
Garnish with rose petals. —Adapted from Sean McClure of the Ivory Peacock, New York City Click here to view this recipe in our recipes section.
—Aleksandra Crapanzano, WSJ, 24 Feb. 2023
Two big things happen at the pre-rose ceremony cocktail party.
—Lia Beck, refinery29.com, 22 Sep. 2021
There isn't much time left in the episode when the men arrive for the pre-rose ceremony cocktail party.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 13 July 2021
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Noun
Her ending point, in her own brilliantly literary libretto set to her brilliantly head-spinning mix of musical elements, is a flabbergasting commentary about a protagonist who falls head-over-heels in love with a rose.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2023
Get acquainted with a sparkling rose and peach Bellini margarita or a jalapeno pineapple rita (rocks only).
—Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Feb. 2023
The prop looks like a Russell Stover box with a rose on the lid and pictures of assorted candies on the bottom, including a pecan cluster and buttercream caramel.
—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2023
Scotland became associated with the thistle, England with the rose, and Ireland with the clover.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 10 Feb. 2023
Cara Ammon, Holland Parsons, Lekha Ravi, Olivia Lewis, Olivia Miller, Becca Serrano, Sonia Sharma, Vanessa Dinh, and Viktoria Eichner all get eliminated during the first rose ceremony.
—Madison Johnson, Women's Health, 23 Jan. 2023
In Papo's photograph, they are taped to a white tile wall above a vase with a rose.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 13 Dec. 2022
The most luxurious milk teas that will be on offer are covered in an edible 24k gold foil and topped with a red rose.
—Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 8 July 2022
Laila Gohar sometimes sees herself in her dishes — like a champagne jelly of a koi fish stuffed with a rose.
—New York Times, 13 May 2022
Adjective
For more information about the i4's efficiency ratings, visit the EPA website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo Inside, the i4's cabin is richly appointed, including the availability of rose gold trim, white leather upholstery, and light wood trim.
—Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 9 Mar. 2023
Cosgrove wrote alongside a backseat selfie with the bride, their rose bouquets on display.
—Alex Apatoff, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2023
The rose group was established in 2000 and is open to the general public.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2023
And then, the taste hit me: sweet and nutty with a subtle earthy, flowery undertone from rose water.
—Rachel Gurjar, Bon Appétit, 3 Mar. 2023
Her rose eyeshadow was accented with gold shadow and dewy skin and a pinkish-nude lip brought the whole look together.
—Danielle James, ELLE, 27 Feb. 2023
Garnish with rose petals. —Adapted from Sean McClure of the Ivory Peacock, New York City Click here to view this recipe in our recipes section.
—Aleksandra Crapanzano, WSJ, 24 Feb. 2023
Two big things happen at the pre-rose ceremony cocktail party.
—Lia Beck, refinery29.com, 22 Sep. 2021
There isn't much time left in the episode when the men arrive for the pre-rose ceremony cocktail party.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 13 July 2021
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rose.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, in part going back to Old English rōse, borrowed from Latin rosa "rose, rosebush"; in part borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin rosa, perhaps borrowed from an unattested derivative of Greek rhódon "rose" — more at rhodo-
Note: Latin rosa is similar enough to Greek rhódon that a relationship seems likely, but its nature is unclear. An outcome of rhodéā "rosebush" with a sibilant transmitted to Latin through Etruscan might explain the failure of -s- to rhotacize (unless rhotacism was nullified by the dissimilatory effect of the initial r). Both the Greek and Latin words have been attributed to a Mediterranean substratum, but this does not jibe with the presumed Iranian origin of rhódon.
Adjective
from attributive use of rose entry 2
Noun (2)
borrowed from French (short for vin rosé), from rosé "tinted with rose color, reddish, pink," from rose rose entry 2 + -é -ate entry 3
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun (2)
1865, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of rose was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing rose
Articles Related to rose
Dictionary Entries Near rose
Cite this Entry
“Rose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rose. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
rose
1 of 3past of rise
rose
3 of 3 adjective1
: of, relating to, resembling, or used for the rose or roses
2
: of the color rose
Medical Definition
rose
noun1
a
: any of a genus (Rosa of the family Rosaceae, the rose family) of usually prickly shrubs with pinnate leaves and showy flowers of which some are sources of rose oil
b
: the flower of a rose
2
Biographical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on rose
Nglish: Translation of rose for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rose for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rose
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