wreath

[reeth]

noun

plural

wreaths 

1. a circular band of flowers, foliage, or any ornamental work, for adorning the head or for any decorative purpose; a garland or chaplet.

2. any ringlike, curving, or curling mass or formation.

   a wreath of clouds.

3. (in stair building)

   1. a curved section of a handrail.

   2. Also called wreathpiece. a curved section of a string.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to wreathe.

wreath

/ riːθ /

noun

1. a band of flowers or foliage intertwined into a ring, usually placed on a grave as a memorial or worn on the head as a garland or a mark of honour

2. any circular or spiral band or formation

3. a spiral or circular defect appearing in porcelain and glassware

Other Word Forms

• wreathlike adjective
• wreathless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wreath¹

before 1000; Middle English wrethe, Old English writha something wound or coiled; akin to writhe

Word History and Origins

Origin of wreath¹

Old English wrǣth, wrǣd; related to Middle Low German wrēden to twist. See _writhe

Example Sentences

Royal Navy veteran Alfred Conway, from Lincolnshire, watched as his great-grandchildren laid a wreath on the Burma Thailand Railway memorial at the Arboretum.

From BBC

Former captain Jordan Henderson was seen in tears as he laid a wreath, with a card that read: "Rest in peace my friend, along with your brother Andre. We will all miss you."

From BBC

The fence around parliament was lined with wreaths and handwritten notes from grieving families and defiant youths - a reminder of last year's unrest at the site.

From BBC

Aside from that neck wreath made of hippie Christmas ornaments, LTW generally resides in the same area of sartorial consistency as Charlotte and Seema.

From Salon

The service, which featured bagpipe music, a color guard and the laying of wreaths, concluded after about an hour with the release of a dozen white doves from a woven basket.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bouquet 
• garland