ivy

IPA/ˈaɪvi/
KK[ˈaɪvi]IPA/ˈaɪvi/

ivy — noun

  • ivysingular
  • iviesplural

1. a climbing plant with dark green, shiny leaves that stay green all year. It grow

1.nounB1
Definition

a climbing plant with dark green, shiny leaves that stay green all year. It grows on walls, trees, and buildings, covering them with a thick layer of leaves.

Example

Thick ivy covered the entire front wall of the old stone cottage.

collocation: ivy covered [surface]

Sofia noticed that sparrows often built their nests deep inside the ivy on the garage wall.

Common collocations
  • ivy covers / climbs / grows on
  • ivy-covered wall / building / cottage
  • thick / dense / dark green ivy
  • poison ivy
  • remove / cut back / trim ivy
Synonyms
  • poison ivy

    a different plant that causes an itchy skin rash; not a true ivy despite the name

  • Virginia creeper

    another climbing plant whose leaves turn red in autumn, unlike true ivy

Usage Note

Ivy is usually uncountable when referring to the plant material covering a surface ('the wall was covered with ivy'), but it can be countable when referring to an individual plant or species ('the garden has several different ivies').

Common Mistakes

The ivies on the wall are very thick.
The ivy on the wall is very thick.
Ivy is usually uncountable when describing a mass of the plant covering a surface.
Ivy leafs turn red in autumn.
Ivy leaves stay green all year.
Ivy is evergreen; it does not lose its leaves in autumn.

ivy — adjective

Word family

  • ivy-covered
    adjectiveB2
  • ivy league
    nounB2
  • poison ivy
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These are all climbing plants, but they differ in appearance, growth habits, and hazards. Ivy (Hedera helix) is an evergreen with dark, glossy, five-pointed leaves that cling to walls, trees, and buildings without needing a trellis. Poison ivy is a North American plant with three-leaf clusters that produces urushiol oil — touching it causes a painful, itchy rash that can spread if scratched. Virginia creeper is another climber with five leaflets that turn brilliant red in autumn, making it a popular ornamental vine despite its aggressive growth. A climbing rose bears large, colourful flowers and has thorns, so it needs a support structure and regular pruning. Honeysuckle also climbs but has trumpet-shaped, sweetly scented blooms that attract bees and hummingbirds. For example: 'The front of the brick garage was completely hidden under thick ivy,' but 'The children learned to identify poison ivy by its three shiny leaves and to stay well clear of it.'

ivy ↗poison ivyVirginia creeperclimbing rosehoneysuckle ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • ivy plant
  • ivy leaf / leaves
  • ivy vine
  • ivy wall
  • ivy cottage
  • ivy garland
  • ivy poison / poison ivy
  • Ivy League

Adverbs

  • thickly covered with ivy
  • densely overgrown with ivy

Phrases

  • ivy-covered wall
  • ivy-covered building
  • Ivy League school
  • poison ivy rash

Prepositions

  • covered with ivy
  • overgrown with ivy
  • ivy on the wall
  • clumps of ivy

Etymology

Old EnglishWest GermanicEnglish

The word 'ivy' comes from Old English 'īfiġ', which goes back to a common West Germanic root. Related words in other Germanic languages include German 'Efeu' and Dutch 'klimop'. The plant has been a symbol of friendship, fidelity, and academic tradition in many cultures. The name 'Ivy League' for the group of eight elite US universities was coined in the 1930s. The term may come from the ivy-covered brick buildings on those campuses, or from the Roman numeral IV (four), referring to an early athletic conference of four schools.