rosemary
n. uncountablen. a small bush with thin, green leaves that smell very strong. You use its leaves as a herb to add flavor to food like meat or potatoes.
n. an aromatic evergreen shrub of the mint family, native to the Mediterranean region. The needle-like leaves are used as a culinary herb and in perfumery.
I added fresh rosemary to the roasted chicken.
The chef suggests using a sprig of rosemary to infuse the olive oil with a woody aroma.
While primarily valued for its culinary applications, rosemary has historically been associated with remembrance and was often woven into garlands for traditional ceremonies.
A combination of Rose + Mary, referring to the flower as a symbol of Virgin Mary, first recorded in the eighteenth century. It is found in continental Europe as Rosemarie and Rosa Maria. After mid-nineteenth century when flower names became common it may also refer to the herb rosemary, Latin ros marinus "dew of the sea".
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Uncountable when referring to the herb or the plant species in general; countable when referring to a specific bush.
Last updated May 3, 2026