ENGLISH
REFERENCE

nectar

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ˈnɛktɝ// UK //nˈɛktɐ// nec·tar

n. a sweet liquid produced by flowers to attract insects like bees. It is the main ingredient that bees use to make honey.

n. a sugar-rich liquid secreted by the nectaries of plants to encourage pollination by insects and birds. In a literary or mythological context, refers to the drink of the gods that grants immortality.


SIMPLE

Bees fly from flower to flower to collect nectar.

CONTEXTUAL

The hummingbird uses its long beak to reach the nectar hidden deep inside the trumpet-shaped flowers.

COMPLEX

In Greek mythology, nectar was served alongside ambrosia to maintain the eternal youth of the Olympian deities, a concept often echoed in poetry to describe any exceptionally delicious drink.

Synonyms
Origin

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”).

Usage

Usually uncountable when referring to the botanical substance; can be countable when referring to specific varieties or commercial fruit drinks.

Idioms1 entry

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