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Definition of linnaea
linnaea
/lɪˈniː.ə/
lin · nae · a
Plural:linnaeas
linnaea Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A small, creeping, evergreen woodland plant (genus Linnaea) of the honeysuckle family, native to cold and temperate boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, noted for producing delicate, nodding pink or white bell-shaped flowers in pairs.
Example
"During our hike through the dense boreal forest in Sweden, we spotted a fragrant patch of linnaea blanketing the mossy ground."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for linnaea• Rhymes for linnaea
Word Origin & Etymology
Named in 1737 by the Dutch botanist Jan Frederik Gronovius in honor of the renowned Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, who considered this delicate northern wildflower his favorite plant and personal emblem.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Linnaea. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/linnaea