any shrub of the Eurasian thymelaeaceous genus Daphne, such as the mezereon and spurge laurel: ornamentals with shiny evergreen leaves and clusters of small bell-shaped flowers
See also laurel (sense 4)
Word origin
via Latin from Greek: laurel
Daphne in British English
(ˈdæfnɪ)
noun
Greek mythology
a nymph who was saved from the amorous attentions of Apollo by being changed into a laurel tree
Daphne in American English
(ˈdæfni)
noun
1.
a feminine name
2. Greek Mythology
a nymph who is changed by her father into a laurel tree so that she may escape Apollo's advances
3. [d-]
any of a genus (Daphne) of small evergreen shrubs of the mezereum family, with fragrant flowers
Word origin
L < Gr daphnē, the laurel or bay tree
Examples of 'daphne' in a sentence
daphne
The only smell in there was from the sweet-scented stems of daphne in the glass on the table by the window.
Erskine, Barbara MIDNIGHT IS A LONELY PLACE
Now it was another plant whose clusters of small bell-shaped flowers resembled thedaphne in Eleanor's garden.
Haines, Pamela THE GOLDEN LION
She narrowed her eyes and told herself that as long as he kept calling her Daphne, she was halfway home.