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Definition of sundew

sundew

/ˈsʌn.duː/
sun · dew
Plural:sundews
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sundew Lexical Profile

sundew Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various carnivorous flowering plants of the genus Drosera (family Droseraceae) native to nutrient-poor bogs and marshes worldwide, having leaves covered in glistening, sticky glandular tentacles that trap and digest insects, and bearing slender stalks topped with small, five-petaled white, pink, or purple flowers.

Example

"Glistening in the boggy meadow, the sundew lured a tiny midge onto its sticky, dew-tipped tentacles."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for sundew

• Nearby Words

sunchoke
sundae
sundeck
sundew
sundial
sundown
sundowner

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 16th century as a compound of "sun" and "dew" (translating Medieval Latin ros solis), referring to the glistening drops of sticky mucilage on the plant's leaves that resemble morning dew and do not evaporate in the sunlight.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sundew. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sundew
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