nectar

noun

nec·​tar ˈnek-tər How to pronounce nectar (audio)
Synonyms of nectarnext
1
a
: the drink of the Greek and Roman gods
b
: something delicious to drink
c
: a beverage of fruit juice and pulp
apricot nectar
2
: a sweet liquid that is secreted by the nectaries of a plant and is the chief raw material of honey
nectarous adjective

Did you know?

Nectar is often mentioned in conjunction with ambrosia, the food of the Greek and Roman gods. For centuries, English speakers have used ambrosia to refer to something with an extremely pleasing taste or smell, and nectar to refer to a delicious drink, especially a fruit juice. To the ancient Greeks and Romans, however, the powers of nectar and ambrosia far exceeded those of any earthly fare; consuming nectar and ambrosia gave the gods their immortality. In Greek, the literal meanings of ambrosia and nectar are "immortality" and "overcoming death," respectively. Nektar is believed to be a compound of Greek nek- (probably akin to Latin nec-, meaning "death") and -tar (probably akin to Sanksrit tarati, meaning "he overcomes or crosses over").

Examples of nectar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Its nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators to your garden. Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Apr. 2026 Phlox subulata, also known as creeping phlox or moss phlox, is a fast-growing native perennial beloved by home gardeners for its pink and purple spring blooms, lush foliage, and early-season nectar (a critical food source for pollinators). Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 21 Apr. 2026 Plant it in the ground or in a hanging basket—hummingbirds are good enough hunters to track down the nectar anywhere. Patricia S York, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026 Interestingly, numerous insects pollinate wild lupine, but the flowers lack nectar, so no sweet rewards for them! Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Midwest Living, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nectar

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek nektar

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of nectar was in 1555

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Cite this Entry

“Nectar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/nectar. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

nectar

noun
nec·​tar ˈnek-tər How to pronounce nectar (audio)
1
: the drink of the Greek and Roman gods
2
: a sweet liquid given off by plants and especially by the flowers and used by bees in making honey

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