Search Dictionary
Definition of clethra
clethra
/ˈklɛθ.ɹə/
cleth · ra
Plural:clethras
clethra Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
13
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any deciduous or evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Clethra (family Clethraceae), native to Asia and the Americas and widely cultivated as an ornamental flowering plant for its dense, upright or drooping racemes of intensely fragrant, bell-shaped white or pink blossoms that bloom in late summer.
Synonyms
View all synonyms for clethra• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Clethra. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/clethra