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Nectar is often mentioned in conjunction with ambrosia, the food of the Greek and Roman gods. For centuries, English speakers have used ambrosia to refer to something with an extremely pleasing taste or smell, and nectar to refer to a delicious drink, especially a fruit juice. To the ancient Greeks and Romans, however, the powers of nectar and ambrosia far exceeded those of any earthly fare; consuming nectar and ambrosia gave the gods their immortality. In Greek, the literal meanings of ambrosia and nectar are "immortality" and "overcoming death," respectively. Nektar is believed to be a compound of Greek nek- (probably akin to Latin nec-, meaning "death") and -tar (probably akin to Sanksrit tarati, meaning "he overcomes or crosses over").
Examples of nectar in a Sentence
Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 May 2024
The plants have traits that allow for specific interactions, the right bloom times and the right kind of nectar and pollen for specific native insects.
—Christina Grozinger, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2024
Ellis Brooklyn Peaches Fragrance Body Mist, $48; sephora.com Strawberry: Plum nectar adds to the juicy vibe, while amber and tonka bean lend a sensual touch.
—Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 19 May 2024
The site works for all of California and ranks the value as host and nectar plants for local butterflies and moths.
—Kurt Snibbe, Orange County Register, 9 May 2024
Cutting grass destroys wildflowers and plants, which provide a source of nectar and pollen to pollinators, according to some experts.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2024
Next, take a shaker and add ice cubes, followed by 2 oz of premium tequila Avión Silver, fresh lime juice, and the agave nectar.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 3 May 2024
Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are attracted to their nectar.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 3 May 2024
The hummers might be feasting on natural sources of nectar, turning their significant beaks up at the homemade stuff.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nectar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Nectar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nectar. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
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nectar
noun
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