Boston ivy

noun

: a woody Asian vine (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) of the grape family typically having 3-lobed leaves

Examples of Boston ivy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The hugging vines like fig ivy, English ivy and Boston ivy (curiously, all unrelated) do nothing to pull brick, stone or mortar apart. Neil Sperry, San Antonio Express-News, 5 Feb. 2021 Dense clouds of wisteria and Boston ivy climb across the pool house’s roof, lending the impression that it’s rooted firmly in place. New York Times, 16 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Boston ivy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Boston ivy was circa 1900

Dictionary Entries Near Boston ivy

Cite this Entry

“Boston ivy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Boston%20ivy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Boston ivy

noun
Bos·​ton ivy
ˌbȯ-stən-
: a woody Asian vine that is related to the grape, has leaves with three lobes, and often grows over walls

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