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Definition of alyssum
alyssum
/əˈlɪs.əm/
a · lys · sum
Plural:alyssums
alyssum Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A herbaceous Eurasian plant of the mustard family, typically bearing tight clusters of small, four-petaled white or yellow flowers, commonly cultivated in rock gardens and as decorative edging.
Example
"We planted sweet alyssum along the edge of the walkway to create a fragrant, low-growing border."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for alyssum• Rhymes for alyssum
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Latin 'alyssum', which comes from the Greek 'alusson', a plant historically believed by the ancients to cure rabies or madness (from 'a-' meaning 'without' and 'lyssa' meaning 'madness').
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Alyssum. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/alyssum