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Definition of melittis
melittis
/mɪˈlɪt.ɪs/
me · lit · tis
melittis Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
13
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A genus of woodland flowering plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae), consisting of a single widely recognized species native to central and southern Europe, commonly known as bastard balm.
Example
"During the botanical survey of the European broadleaved forest, researchers noted a dense undergrowth patch featuring the distinctive, orchid-like flowers of the melittis."
Word Nuance & Usage
In strict botanical contexts, it is capitalized and italicized as a genus name (Melittis), but it occasionally appears uncapitalized when referring generally to the plant.
• Rhymes for melittis
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Modern Latin, derived from the Ancient Greek 'melittís' (a plant loved by bees), which comes from 'mélissa' or 'mélitta' meaning 'bee', reflecting the plant's attractiveness to pollinators.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Melittis. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/melittis