nectar

American  

[nek-ter] / ˈnɛk tər /

noun

1. the saccharine secretion of a plant, which attracts the insects or birds that pollinate the flower.

2. the juice of a fruit, especially when not diluted, or a blend of fruit juices.

   pear nectar; tropical nectar.

3. Classical Mythology. the life-giving drink of the gods.

4. any delicious drink.

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nectar British  

/ nɛkˈtɛərɪəs, ˈnɛktə /

noun

1. a sugary fluid produced in the nectaries of plants and collected by bees and other animals

2. classical myth the drink of the gods Compare ambrosia

3. any delicious drink, esp a sweet one

4. something very pleasant or welcome

   your words are nectar to me

5. 1. the undiluted juice of a fruit

   2. a mixture of fruit juices

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nectar Scientific  

/ nĕk′tər /

1. A sweet liquid secreted by plants as food to attract animals that will benefit them. Many flowers produce nectar to attract pollinating insects, birds, and bats. Bees collect nectar to make into honey. Nectar is produced in structures called nectaries. Some plants have nectaries located elsewhere, outside the flower. These provide a food source for animals such as ants which in turn defend the plant from harmful insects. Nectar consists primarily of water and varying concentrations of many different sugars, including fructose, glucose, and sucrose.

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Other Word Forms

• nectareous adjective
• nectarlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of nectar

1545–55; < Latin < Greek néktar

Example Sentences

Most nectar samples contained only trace amounts, likely produced by yeast fermenting sugars.

From Science Daily • Mar. 25, 2026

Caporale suggests adding agave nectar to sweeten the lime juice base, along with orange juice or orange peel to compensate for the lack of triple sec.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2026

This indicates that their diet -- nectar, grain, insects and even other vertebrates -- contained significant amounts of ethanol.

From Science Daily • Dec. 1, 2025

Which is why, despite my love of berries for birds and nectar for butterflies, I’m not a total turf abolitionist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

Looking at the child, I suddenly became hungry for my country, for its fat bees carrying nectar from apple flowers and for the birds singing in clusters of hazel.

From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys

Related Words

• honey