Word
nectar
Phoneticsnec·tar, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈnɛktɝ/
UK/nˈɛktɐ/
Definitions
01botany
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Science
n. the sweet liquid that flowers produce to attract bees, butterflies, and birds.
n. a sugary fluid secreted by plants, especially within flowers to encourage pollination by insects or birds.
Español:néctar
“The bees spent the whole afternoon collecting nectar from the bright red flowers.”
“Pollinators are drawn to the floral display not just by colour, but by the high sugar content of the nectar hidden deep within the corolla.”
02mythology
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Religion Literary
n. the special drink of the gods in ancient Greek and Roman stories.
n. the drink of the gods in classical mythology, often associated with ambrosia and said to confer immortality.
“In the old legends, the gods sat on the mountain drinking nectar.”
“Classical poets often depicted the Olympian deities feasting upon ambrosia and sipping nectar from golden chalices.”
Synonyms
03to feed
C2 · Proficiency Science Technical
v. to drink or eat the sweet liquid from flowers.
v. to consume or forage for nectar; used primarily in biological descriptions of insect or bird behaviour.
“We watched the hummingbirds nectar at the feeder for several minutes.”
“The study observed how various butterfly species would nectar on native wildflowers compared to introduced garden varieties.”
Usage
Usually uncountable when referring to the botanical substance; can be countable when referring to specific varieties or commercial fruit drinks.
Real-World Examples
“Bees obtain nearly all of their food from flower nectar and pollen.” “Dandelions for example, are a massively important nectar source for bees , but also a plant commonly controlled with herbicides.” Etymology
From Latin nectar, from Ancient Greek νέκταρ (néktar, “nourishment of the gods”), from Proto-Indo-European neḱ- (“perish, disappear”) + -tr̥h₂ (“overcoming”), from *terh₂- (“to overcome, pass through, cross over”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. amber nectar
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/nectar
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0