nectar

/ˈnektə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnektər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnek-tər/ (ame, mw)

nectar — noun

1. the thin, sugary fluid that flowers make deep inside their petals to attract bee

1.名詞C1
釋義

the thin, sugary fluid that flowers make deep inside their petals to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which the bees then turn into honey.

例句

Jabari watched a hummingbird hover near the red flowers, sipping nectar from each one.

sipping + nectar (verb collocation)

Bees fly from flower to flower, gathering nectar to bring back to the hive.

gather/collect + nectar (typical verb pattern)

同義詞
  • honeydew

    sticky sugary liquid from aphids, not flowers — different source

用法筆記

Uncountable; refers to the liquid itself, not a drop or a serving. Subject of 'collect / gather / sip / drink' is typically an insect or small bird.

常見錯誤

❌The bee collected three nectars from the garden.
✅The bee collected nectar from several flowers.
💡nectar is uncountable; no plural and no 'a/three nectar'.
❌The flower drinks nectar.
✅Bees drink nectar from the flower.
💡the flower produces nectar; insects drink it.

2. in old Greek and Roman myths, the magical drink that the gods on Mount Olympus d

2.名詞C2
釋義

in old Greek and Roman myths, the magical drink that the gods on Mount Olympus drank to stay young and immortal forever.

例句

In the old myths, only the gods on Mount Olympus were allowed to drink nectar.

literary register; mythological context

Ryo told the class that Greek heroes who tasted nectar became immortal.

taste/drink + nectar (mythological)

同義詞
  • ambrosia

    the food of the gods in the same myths; nectar is the drink, ambrosia is the food

用法筆記

Almost always uncountable and appears in mythological or literary contexts. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is never collected by bees and is paired with 'gods', 'Olympus', 'myth', or 'immortal'.

常見錯誤

❌The bees collected nectar on Mount Olympus.
✅The gods drank nectar on Mount Olympus.
💡mixing the bee sense with the mythology sense; on Olympus only gods are involved.

3. a sweet, thick drink made by crushing fruit such as peaches, mangoes, or apricot

3.名詞C1
釋義

a sweet, thick drink made by crushing fruit such as peaches, mangoes, or apricots together with some of the soft inside of the fruit.

例句

Gabriel poured a cold glass of peach nectar for his grandmother on the porch.

peach/mango/apricot + nectar (typical fruit modifier)

Arjun bought a small bottle of mango nectar from the corner shop after school.

bottle of + nectar (countable container)

同義詞
  • juice

    thinner; usually no pulp; not necessarily sweetened

  • smoothie

    blended with yoghurt or milk and often other ingredients; nectar is fruit + a little water/sugar only

用法筆記

Modifier almost always names the fruit ('peach nectar', 'mango nectar'). Differs from regular fruit juice because the pulp is kept in the drink, making it thick. Countable when meaning a single bottle or serving ('two peach nectars').

常見錯誤

❌I had a nectar this morning.
✅I had a peach nectar this morning.
💡in this sense the fruit name almost always comes before 'nectar' so the listener knows which drink.