mimosa
UK /mɪˈməʊ.sə/ · US /mɪˈmoʊ.sə/ noun, proper noun
Forms mimosas mimosae
- noun (botany) A plant belonging to the genus Mimosa usually found in tropical climates, their leaves are usually prickly and sensitive to touch or light, and have small white or pink flowers.
- noun Certain plants of the genus Albizia (silk tree, pink siris).
- noun Certain plants of the genus Acacia.
- noun A cocktail consisting of half champagne and half orange juice.
- proper noun The star Beta Crucis.
- proper noun A locality in the Temora council area, central New South Wales, Australia.
- proper noun A rural locality in the Central Highlands Region, Queensland, Australia.
- proper noun An unincorporated community in Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States.
- proper noun (historical) A former hamlet in Erin township, Wellington County, Ontario.
- proper noun A mine in Zvishavane district, Midlands province, Zimbabwe: the Mimosa mine.
Synonyms
Etymology
From New Latin mimosa, from Latin mimus (“mime, actor”), referring to Mimosa pudica and its habit of shrinking back when touched. The cocktail is named after the bright yellow, fragrant flowers of the mimosa Acacia dealbata.
Variously from the beverage mimosa and plants of the genus Mimosa.
The etymology of the Ontario location is uncertain.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A genus of leguminous plants, containing many species, and including the sensitive plants (Mimosa sensitiva, and M. pudica).
Etymology [NL., fr. Gr. Mime.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “mimosa”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details