william

IPA/ˌswiːt ˈwɪl.i.əm/
KK[wˈɪljəm]IPA/ˌswiːt ˈwɪl.jəm/

william — noun

  • williamsingular
  • williamsplural

1. a dianthus grown in gardens, with many small flowers packed into round heads and

1.nounB2
Definition

a dianthus grown in gardens, with many small flowers packed into round heads and a scent like cloves

Example

Ezra planted sweet william along the edge of his mother's garden path last spring.

verb + sweet william: plant

The sweet william in the front garden attracts bees with its spicy scent.

sweet william as subject

Common collocations
  • plant sweet william
  • grow sweet william
  • pink sweet william
  • sweet william display
  • sweet william scent

Grammar Patterns

plant/grow sweet william

Usage Note

This plant is usually called sweet william, and the shortened form william is rare outside plant lists or headings.

Common Mistakes

I planted william by the gate.
I planted sweet william by the gate.
The flower name is normally used with sweet.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Garden books often mention sweet william, carnations, and pinks together because all three belong to the Dianthus family, but they are used in different ways. Sweet william usually grows in rounded clusters of many small flowers, so it works well in borders and cottage gardens. Carnations usually have larger single blooms on longer stems and are more common in bouquets. Pinks are often lower-growing plants with a strong clove-like smell and fringed petals. If you want a bright patch of color in a garden bed, sweet william is a natural choice. If you need long stems for a vase, carnations fit better.

sweet williamcarnation ↗pink ↗

Etymology

English

The flower name sweet william has been recorded in English since the sixteenth century. No one is fully sure which historical William the plant was named after, but the phrase has long been used as the common garden name of this dianthus flower.