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 • Mar. 13, 2026

"None of them appear to have any resistance to myrtle rust or any wild population which is not yet infected."

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026

Rather than basing the one-sheet around Lee Byung Hun’s scheming, murderous Man-su, she emphasized a blooming crape myrtle tree, a reference to the protagonist’s garden.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

Rosemary is among the easiest, and Eugenia myrtifolia, a myrtle relative, is pretty fast and cooperative.

From Seattle Times • May 1, 2024

Henry swings a violent U-turn that takes down a little crepe myrtle tree on the island between lanes, and we’re beached there, spinning our wheels, kicking up leaves and pink flowers.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman