nectar
/'nektə/
Definition
- Noun:
- (Classical Mythology) The food and drink of the gods; mortals who ate it became immortal: In ancient myths, nectar is the divine sustenance consumed by deities.
- A sweet liquid secretion that is attractive to pollinators: In botany, nectar is the sugary fluid produced by flowers to attract insects, birds, or other animals for pollination.
- Fruit juice especially when undiluted: In a general culinary sense, nectar can refer to a thick, sweet fruit juice, often without added water.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Mythology):
- The gods on Mount Olympus drank nectar and ate ambrosia.
- In the story, the hero was offered nectar to grant him eternal life.
- Noun (Botany):
- Bees collect nectar from flowers to make honey.
- Hummingbirds are drawn to the nectar in trumpet-shaped blossoms.
- Noun (Beverage):
- She prefers peach nectar to regular juice because it's thicker and sweeter.
- The supermarket sells various nectars, like apricot and guava.
Advanced Usage
- "Nectar of the gods": An idiom describing an exceptionally delicious drink.
- This vintage wine is truly the nectar of the gods.
- Ecological Context: Refers to the primary energy source in many plant-pollinator mutualisms.
- The plant's nectar production increases during peak flowering season.
Variants and Related Words
- Nectareous (adj, literary): Resembling nectar, especially in sweetness.
- The poet described her voice as nectareous.
- Nectary (n): The gland or part of a flower that secretes nectar.
- Botanists study the nectary to understand plant reproduction.
Synonyms
- Ambrosia (specifically for the mythological food of the gods).
- Sap (though sap is typically from trees, not flowers).
- Syrup (for the thick, sweet juice connotation).
Related Phrases
- Nectar guide: Patterns on flowers that direct pollinators to the nectar.
- The ultraviolet nectar guides are visible to bees but not to humans.
- Nectar robber: An animal that takes nectar without pollinating the flower.
- Some ants are considered nectar robbers.
Related Idioms
- To be nectar to someone's ears: Something that is very pleasing or gratifying to hear. (A less common variant of "music to one's ears").
- Your words of praise were nectar to my ears.
Noun
-
(classical mythology) the food and drink of the gods; mortals who ate it became immortal
-
fruit juice especially when undiluted
-
a sweet liquid secretion that is attractive to pollinators
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