ivy

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See also: Ivy and -ivý

English

Ivy growing near and climbing up trees.

Etymology

From Middle English ivi, from Old English īfiġ, from Proto-West Germanic *ibig, *ibag, *ibah, from Proto-Germanic *ibahs (compare West Flemish iefte, Low German Eiloov, Ieloof, German Efeu), from Proto-Indo-European *(h₁)ebʰ- (compare Welsh efwr (“black elder”), Ancient Greek ἴφυον (íphuon, “spike-lavender, Lavandula Spica”)).

Pronunciation

  • enPR: īʹvē, IPA(key): /ˈaɪvi/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪvi

Noun

ivy (countable and uncountable, plural ivies)

  1. Any of several woody, climbing, or trailing evergreen plants of the genus Hedera.
    • 2023 March 8, “Network News: Pwllheli 'box gets a makeover”, in RAIL, number 978, page 22:
      Hidden timber elements, lintels and roof tiles have also been replaced, in addition to gaining a new paint job and guttering drainage, and the removal of ivy that was damaging the exterior.
  2. (by extension) Any similar plant of any genus.

Hypernyms

Hyponyms

  • (plants in Hedera): See Hedera.

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

Terms derived from ivy

Translations

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Translations to be checked

Further reading

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