Daphne

American  

[daf-nee] / ˈdæf ni /

noun

1. Classical Mythology. a nymph who, when pursued by Apollo, was saved by being changed into a laurel tree.

2. (lowercase) any Eurasian shrub belonging to the genus Daphne, certain species of which, as D. mezereum, are cultivated for their fragrant flowers.

3. a female given name.

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Daphne ¹ British  

/ ˈdæfnɪ /

noun

1. Greek myth a nymph who was saved from the amorous attentions of Apollo by being changed into a laurel tree

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daphne ² British  

/ ˈdæfnɪ /

noun

1. any shrub of the Eurasian thymelaeaceous genus Daphne, such as the mezereon and spurge laurel: ornamentals with shiny evergreen leaves and clusters of small bell-shaped flowers See also laurel

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Etymology

Origin of Daphne

< Latin Daphnē < Greek dáphnē laurel

Example Sentences

Spaceballs: The New One will see the return of several original cast members, including Brooks, George Wyner, Daphne Zuniga and Bill Pullman.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

“There’s a sense of glamour and desolation about Lila that makes me think of Marilyn Monroe,” said the writer Daphne Merkin, who hired Raicek to be her research assistant in 2006.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Ursula has shades of Gellar’s famous characters — Buffy’s physical ferocity, Kathryn Merteuil’s ruthless cattiness, Daphne Blake’s affinity for mysterious games — but doesn’t play to one exclusively.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

The English actress, 30, was up for the role of Daphne Bridgerton, one of the protagonists in Season 1 of the period romance series.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

No one’s coming out of their homes, because, like him and Daphne, they’re just too sick and weak.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman