ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wreath

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɹiθ// UK //ɹˈiːθ// wreath

n. a circle made of flowers, leaves, or branches. People often hang them on doors for decoration or place them on graves to show respect.

n. an arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened in a ring. Often used for decorative purposes during holidays or as a commemorative symbol at funerals and memorials.


SIMPLE

She hung a beautiful Christmas wreath on the front door.

CONTEXTUAL

The president laid a wreath at the monument to honor the fallen soldiers.

COMPLEX

The ancient stone carvings depicted figures wearing a wreath of laurel leaves, symbolizing victory and high social status in the classical world.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English wreth, wrethe (“coiled or rounded shape; decorative garland, wreath; chaplet, crown; ring”, noun), from Old English wrǣd, wrǣþ, wriþa (“bandage”), from Proto-West Germanic wrīþan (“to twist; to weave”), from Proto-Germanic wrīþaną (“to twist; to weave”), from Proto-Indo-European *wreyt- (“to twist”). Doublet of wreathe and writhe.

Etymology 2

See wreathe.

Usage

Commonly paired with the verb 'to lay' in the context of memorials or funerals.

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