ivy

[ ahy-vee ]

noun,plural i·vies.
  1. Also called English ivy . a climbing vine, Hedera helix, having smooth, shiny, evergreen leaves, small, yellowish flowers, and black berries, grown as an ornamental.

  2. any of various other climbing or trailing plants.

adjective
  1. (often initial capital letter) Ivy League (def. 2).

  2. New England. mountain laurel.

Origin of ivy

1
before 900; Middle English ivi;Old English ifig; akin to German Efeu

Other words from ivy

  • i·vy·like, adjective

Other definitions for Ivy (2 of 2)

Ivy
[ ahy-vee ]

noun
  1. a female given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for ivy

ivy

/ (ˈaɪvɪ) /


nounplural ivies
  1. any woody climbing or trailing araliaceous plant of the Old World genus Hedera, esp H. helix, having lobed evergreen leaves and black berry-like fruits

  2. any of various other climbing or creeping plants, such as Boston ivy, poison ivy, and ground ivy

Origin of ivy

1
Old English īfig; related to Old High German ebah, perhaps to Greek iphuon a plant

Derived forms of ivy

  • ivy-like, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012