wreath

/riθ/

/riθ/

Other forms: wreaths

Got a wreath on your front door? That's one of those ring-shaped bands of flowers or foliage that people use for decoration. Wreaths go back to ancient times and maybe the circular shape symbolizes the eternal.

You can also wear a wreath. If you feel like dancing around the maypole or celebrating your Olympic victory, you might wear a wreath of spring flowers or laurels on your head. You might also want to remember someone who's passed away by placing a wreath on their grave. Wreaths don’t have to be green — you can carve gold or wood into a wreath or you can even have a mountain peak with a wreath of clouds around it.

Definitions of wreath

1. noun

   flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes
   synonyms: chaplet, coronal, garland, lei

   types:

   crown

   a wreath or garland worn on the head to signify victory

   bay wreath, laurel, laurel wreath

   (antiquity) a wreath of laurel foliage worn on the head as an emblem of victory

   crown of thorns

   a mock crown made of thorn branches that Roman soldiers placed on Jesus before the Crucifixion

   type of:

   floral arrangement, flower arrangement

   a decorative arrangement of flowers