wreath
gb/ɹˈiθ/ us/ɹˈiθ/
A2
English
~ 8300
koszorú, gomolyag, körülleng, beburkol
NOUN
A2
1
koszorú
B1
Usage pattern:
a wreath of [flowers/leaves] on [something]
They hung a green wreath with a red bow on the front door for the holidays.
Az ünnepekre piros masnis zöld koszorút akasztottak a bejárati ajtóra.
Mourners placed a white wreath of lilies on the grave.
A gyászolók fehér liliomokból készült koszorút helyeztek a sírra.
A wreath of wildflowers lay on the stone memorial in the town square.
Each year the mayor lays a wreath at the war memorial on Remembrance Day.
The table was decorated with candles and a simple wreath of ivy.
Learner examples
She put a Christmas wreath on the door.
Karácsonyi koszorút tett az ajtóra.
We bought a wreath of red flowers for the funeral.
Vettünk egy piros virágokból készült koszorút a temetésre.
There was a small green wreath on the table.
They laid a wreath on the grave to show respect.
I made a wreath from leaves in the garden.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "wreath" with "reef" or pronounce the final /θ/ sound like /t/ (saying *wreat*). Also, they may say *a wreaths* instead of the correct plural *wreaths*.
Meaning
Ring of flowers or leaves
Collocations
Christmas wreath
|funeral wreath
|lay a wreath
|wreath of flowers
|wreath on the door
|wreath-laying ceremony
Synonyms
garland (Can be any length of flowers or leaves, not only a ring shape; often used for hanging or wearing.)
|
floral arrangement (More general and formal; includes many shapes, not just rings.)
Antonyms
bare (Describes something with no decoration, the opposite of having a wreath on it.)
Themes
daily life
|holidays
|ceremony
|daily_life
|relationships
Definition
A ring made of flowers, leaves, or other plants that people use for decoration or to show love or respect, for example on a door or on a grave.
A circular arrangement of flowers, leaves, or similar materials, used as a decoration or as a sign of respect or remembrance, often hung on a door or placed on a grave.
NOUN
B1
2
koszorú
B1
Usage pattern:
a wreath of [flowers/leaves] on [someone]'s head
The bride wore a delicate wreath of roses in her hair.
A menyasszony finom rózsakoszorút viselt a hajában.
In the painting, the goddess is shown with a laurel wreath on her head.
A festményen az istennő babérkoszorúval a fején látható.
Children danced around the maypole wearing wreaths of wildflowers.
The winner of the race received a traditional laurel wreath.
Each girl made a simple wreath of daisies to wear at the festival.
Learner examples
She wore a wreath of flowers on her head.
Virágkoszorút viselt a fején.
The girl made a small wreath from white flowers.
A lány kis koszorút font fehér virágokból.
The winner got a green laurel wreath.
In the story, the king wears a gold crown and the queen wears a flower wreath.
The bride had a wreath of roses in her hair.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this headpiece meaning is different from a wreath hung on a door, and may overuse "crown" instead of "wreath" even when the object is clearly made of flowers or leaves.
Meaning
Flower or leaf crown
Collocations
laurel wreath
|flower wreath
|wreath of laurel
|wreath on her head
|bridal wreath
Synonyms
crown (Usually made of metal and used by royalty; more formal and not necessarily made of plants.)
|
head garland (Emphasizes being worn on the head; slightly more technical or descriptive.)
Antonyms
bareheaded (Describes a person not wearing anything on their head, the opposite of wearing a wreath or crown.)
Themes
celebration
|ceremony
|mythology
|arts_entertainment
|daily_life
Definition
A round band of flowers or leaves that someone wears on their head, often for a party, festival, or special honor.
A circular band made of flowers, leaves, or similar materials that is worn on the head as decoration or as a sign of honor, celebration, or victory.
NOUN
B2
LITERARY
3
gomolyag
B2
Usage pattern:
a wreath of [smoke/mist]
Wreaths of smoke rose slowly from the burning leaves.
Füstgomolyagok szálltak fel lassan az égő avarból.
The lake was hidden beneath pale wreaths of morning mist.
A tavat halvány reggeli ködgomolyagok takarták el.
As the train pulled away, dark wreaths of steam drifted over the platform.
Wreaths of fog wrapped around the tops of the hills.
Tiny wreaths of cigarette smoke curled toward the ceiling.
Learner examples
Wreaths of smoke came from the fire.
Füstgomolyagok szálltak fel a tűzből.
In the morning, wreaths of mist covered the river.
Reggel ködgomolyagok borították be a folyót.
I saw small wreaths of smoke above the houses.
Wreaths of fog were around the trees.
Dark wreaths of steam rose from the hot ground.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "wreath" only refers to flowers and not recognize this more literary use for shapes of smoke, mist, or fog.
Meaning
Ring or curl of smoke or mist
Collocations
wreaths of smoke
|wreaths of mist
|wreaths of fog
|wreaths of cloud
|wreaths of steam
Synonyms
curl (Focuses on the curved shape; not limited to ring shapes and can be much smaller or looser.)
|
coil (Implies something twisted around, not always light or airy like smoke or mist.)
Antonyms
clear air (Describes air with nothing visible in it, the opposite of air filled with visible wreaths of smoke or mist.)
Themes
nature
|weather
|literary
Definition
A round or twisting shape of smoke or mist in the air, like a ring or circle.
A mass of smoke, mist, or similar substance that curls or hangs in the air in a ringlike or twisting shape.
VERB
C2
LITERARY
4
Usage pattern:
[smoke/mist] wreaths [something]
Thick smoke wreathed the roofs of the burning houses.
Sűrű füst lengte körül az égő házak tetőit.
Morning mist wreathed the valley, hiding the river from view.
Reggeli köd lengte körül a völgyet, eltakarva a folyót a szem elől.
Ivy wreathes the old stone gate, softening its sharp lines.
Her face was wreathed in smiles as she accepted the prize.
Clouds wreathed the mountain peak like a pale scarf.
Learner examples
Fog wreathed the trees in the early morning.
Kora reggel köd lengte körül a fákat.
Smoke wreathed the small house after the fire started.
Miután kitört a tűz, füst lengte körül a kis házat.
Vines wreathed the wall of the old building.
Her face was wreathed in smiles when she saw her family.
Clouds wreathed the top of the high mountain.
Common mistake:
In modern English the verb is usually spelled "wreathe" (with an extra "e"), and many dictionaries list "wreath" only as the noun form. Learners may try to use "wreath" as a regular verb in everyday writing, which can look old-fashioned or incorrect.
Meaning
To surround or cover in rings
Collocations
wreath something in smoke
|wreath her face in smiles
|mist wreaths the hills
|clouds wreath the mountain
|wreath in fog
|wreath his head with flowers
Synonyms
encircle (Neutral and more common; means to go around something, without the visual idea of curls or decorative circles.)
|
envelop (Emphasizes complete covering, often without the circular or ring-like image of "wreath".)
Antonyms
expose (Means to leave something uncovered or visible, the opposite of covering or surrounding it.)
Themes
nature
|literary
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go around or cover something in circles or curves, like smoke around a house or flowers around a picture.
To surround, cover, or move around something in a circular or twisting way, like a wreath or curls of smoke.
Grammar
Dictionary form
wreath
IPA
GB/ɹˈiθ/
US/ɹˈiθ/
Syllables & stress
wreath (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (wreath)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: wreath
- Plural: wreaths
Word family
Forms
wreaths
noun
Core family
wreathe
verb
Related words
garland
noun
Expressions
Advent wreath
1/ˈædvˌɛnt ɹˈiθ/
fixed phrase
Candle wreath for Advent
A round decoration with four or more candles that some Christian families and churches use to count the weeks before Christmas.
Examples
- The children lit the first candle on the Advent wreath.
- An Advent wreath stood on the table in the church.
- They made an Advent wreath from fir branches and purple candles.
bridal wreath
1/bɹˈaɪdəl ɹˈiθ/
fixed phrase
Wreath used for a bride
A wreath of flowers used at a wedding, often worn on the bride’s head or used as a decoration.
Examples
- She chose a simple bridal wreath instead of a traditional veil.
- The florist prepared a bridal wreath to match the bouquet.
- Her bridal wreath was made of small white roses and green leaves.
Christmas wreath
1/kɹˈɪsməs ɹˈiθ/
fixed phrase
Wreath for Christmas decoration
A round decoration made of green branches and often ribbons or lights that people hang on doors or walls at Christmas.
Examples
- They bought a large Christmas wreath to hang on the front door.
- Her handmade Christmas wreath was decorated with pinecones and a big red bow.
- Every December, he sends his parents a fresh Christmas wreath for their house.
funeral wreath
1/fjˈunɚəl ɹˈiθ/
fixed phrase
Wreath for a funeral or grave
A round arrangement of flowers that people give or place at a funeral or on a grave to show love and respect.
Examples
- The family ordered a white funeral wreath for the memorial service.
- Several funeral wreaths were placed at the base of the monument.
- A simple funeral wreath lay on the coffin during the ceremony.
lay a wreath
1/lˈeɪ ə ɹˈiθ/
fixed phrase
formal
Place a wreath in ceremony
To put a wreath in a special place, usually during a ceremony, to remember or honor someone.
Examples
- The president will lay a wreath at the national war memorial.
- Every year, families lay wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers.
- Local leaders gathered to lay a wreath in memory of the victims.
wreath of smoke
1/ɹˈiθ əv smˈoʊk/
fixed phrase
literary
Ring or curl of smoke
A round or curling shape made by smoke in the air, like a ring.
Examples
- Wreaths of smoke rose from the chimneys across the valley.
- A single wreath of smoke drifted up from the campfire.
- She watched wreaths of smoke curl toward the ceiling.
wreath-laying ceremony
1/ɹˈiθ lˈeɪɪŋ sˈɛɹɪmˌoʊni/
fixed phrase
formal
Ceremony of laying wreaths
A formal event where people place wreaths at a special place, like a memorial or grave, to remember and honor people who have died.
Examples
- A wreath-laying ceremony was held to mark the anniversary of the battle.
- The wreath-laying ceremony drew crowds from across the country.
- Officials attended a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the monument.
laurel wreath
1/lˈɔɹəl ɹˈiθ/
fixed phrase
circular laurel-leaf crown
A ring made of laurel leaves that someone wears on the head to show victory or high honor.
Examples
- In ancient Greece, winners were given a laurel wreath.
- The winner was crowned with a laurel wreath at the end of the race.
- The statue shows the poet wearing a laurel wreath.
- Ancient statues often show leaders wearing a laurel wreath.
- The laurel wreath became a symbol of academic success.