What does rosemary mean?
Rosemary is a strongly scented evergreen herb and shrub with narrow, needle-like leaves. In cooking, it is usually treated as an uncountable ingredient and used in soups, sauces, roast meats, vegetables, bread, and herbed seasoning blends. It is also valued for its ornamental qualities and for its traditional use in herbal preparations, although claims about the health benefits of rosemary have varying degrees of support. The plant belongs to the mint family and is associated with the Mediterranean, where it grows in warm, dry conditions. Its distinctive pine-like, slightly camphoraceous aroma makes it a familiar presence in both domestic kitchens and formal gardens. The name comes through Middle English from Latin, where it developed from elements meaning "rose" and "sea," ultimately referring to the plant's traditional name, "dew of the sea."
nounRosemary is an aromatic evergreen herb and shrub whose needle-like leaves are widely used as a culinary seasoning. Its name literally means "dew of the sea."
- The aromatic herb whose leaves are used as a seasoning and in herbal preparations.
- The evergreen shrub producing this herb, also cultivated as an ornamental plant.
"She added fresh rosemary and garlic to the roasted vegetables."
"Fresh rosemary gives the sauce a distinctly Mediterranean flavour."
"The shrub sends a strong, resinous fragrance across the garden."
The plural is uncommon and is generally used when referring to several individual rosemary shrubs or plants; the herb as an ingredient is usually uncountable.
"These rosemary bushes need trimming after flowering."
Rosemary is named for the sea: its Latin name means "dew of the sea," a reference to its Mediterranean origins and coastal associations.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rosemary come from?
The English word descends from Middle English rosemarine, which was borrowed from Latin rosemary, a form of ros marinus, meaning "dew of the sea." The phrase referred to the plant's Mediterranean habitat and the belief that it grew near the shore. Its elements are Latin rosa, "rose," and marinus, "of the sea," related to the same roots found in rose, marine, and maritime.
How rosemary is actually used
When referring to the leaves or seasoning, "rosemary" is normally used as an uncountable mass noun. The plural "rosemaries" is occasionally used for multiple individual plants, especially in gardening contexts.