sundew

noun

sun·​dew ˈsən-(ˌ)dü How to pronounce sundew (audio)
-(ˌ)dyü
: any of a genus (Drosera of the family Droseraceae, the sundew family) of bog-inhabiting insectivorous herbs having leaves covered with gland-tipped adhesive hairs

Examples of sundew in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The peat is fed by a decaying layer of sphagnum moss, sundew, and butterwort, which deepens a millimeter a year. Aaron Hicklin, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2024 As a result, the pitcher plant must draw its nitrogen from animal prey--just as other bog plants do, such as the Venus flytrap, the sundew, and the bladderwort. Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 For example, familiar species like the Venus’ fly trap and the sundew live in bogs and swamps. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 9 Jan. 2012 The sundew gets its name from the sticky secretions that adorn its hair-like glands. Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010 In this way, the plants get all the benefits of carnivory without needing the specialised traps of a sundew or a Venus fly trap. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 21 June 2012 The poems range from kayak-level considerations of ocean life to close looks at a wetland sundew to views of the moon, comets, and the cosmos. Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Aug. 2022 The Cape sundew, as it’s often called, tolerates temperatures down to freezing and into the high 90s with ease, and with proper care, will reward you with stalks of purple flowers. Sunset Magazine, 16 Oct. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sundew.' 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

1578, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sundew was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near sundew

Cite this Entry

“Sundew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sundew. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sundew

noun
sun·​dew ˈsən-d(y)ü How to pronounce sundew (audio)
: any of a genus of wetland herbs that trap and digest insects with the sticky hairlike glands on their leaves

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