any of a genus (Spiraea) of shrubs of the rose family, with dense clusters of small, pink or white flowers
Word origin
< ModL Spiraea < L spiraea, meadowsweet < Gr speiraia < speira: see spire1
spirea in American English
(spaiˈriə)
noun
any of various plants or shrubs belonging to the genus Spiraea, of the rose family, having clusters of small, white or pink flowers, certain species of which are cultivated as ornamentals
Also: spiraea
Word origin
[1660–70; ‹ NL, L spīraea ‹ Gk speiraía privet]This word is first recorded in the period 1660–70. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: ballet, cantilever, mainstream, saturated, sketch