myrtle

¹ American  

[mur-tl] / ˈmɜr tl /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Myrtus, especially M. communis, a shrub of southern Europe having evergreen leaves, fragrant white flowers, and aromatic berries: anciently held sacred to Venus and used as an emblem of love.

2. any of certain unrelated plants, as the periwinkle, Vinca minor, and California laurel, Umbellularia californica.

3. Also called myrtlewood.  the hard, golden-brown wood of the California laurel.

4. Also called myrtle green.  dark green with bluish tinge.

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Myrtle ² American  

[mur-tl] / ˈmɜr tl /

noun

1. a female given name.

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myrtle British  

/ ˈmɜːtəl /

noun

1. any evergreen shrub or tree of the myrtaceous genus Myrtus, esp M. communis, a S European shrub with pink or white flowers and aromatic blue-black berries

2. short for crape myrtle

3. bog myrtle another name for sweet gale

4. another name for periwinkle 2

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Etymology

Origin of myrtle

1350–1400; Middle English mirtile < Medieval Latin myrtillus, equivalent to Latin myrt ( us ) (< Greek mýrtos ) + New Latin -illus diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

Professor Rod Fensham, a botanist at the University of Queensland, said urgent action is needed to prevent the species Rhodamnia zombi from disappearing due to the fungal disease known as myrtle rust.

From Science Daily

Through intermediaries, she got Park’s feedback on what he wanted changed — for instance, he insisted that the tree bark be smooth, a distinctive characteristic of crape myrtles.

From Los Angeles Times

Once the house was built, Connie planted several crape myrtle bushes out front.

From Literature

And don’t replace them with something like crape myrtle, which is pretty but doesn’t offer much shade for the space it takes up.

From Los Angeles Times

That’s the sound of shade tree advocates unhappy that I’m mentioning crape myrtles in this list.

From Los Angeles Times