rosette

noun

ro·​sette rō-ˈzet 

1

: an ornament usually made of material gathered or pleated so as to resemble a rose and worn as a badge of office, as evidence of having won a decoration (such as the Medal of Honor), or as trimming

2

: a disk of foliage or a floral design usually in relief used as a decorative motif

3

: a structure or color marking on an animal suggestive of a rosette

especially : one of the groups of spots on a leopard

4

: a cluster of leaves in crowded circles or spirals arising basally from a crown (as in the dandelion) or apically from an axis with greatly shortened internodes (as in many tropical palms)

5

: a food decoration or garnish in the shape of a rose

icing rosettes

carrot rosettes

Illustration of rosette

• rosette 2

Examples of rosette in a Sentence

a rosette of chocolate frosting

Rosettes are carved in the base of the statue.

Recent Examples on the Web

On the Wall of the Missing, her great-uncle’s name is now marked with a rosette, indicating that he has been found. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2024

Now that he has been accounted for, a rosette will be placed besides Murphy's name on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 25 June 2024

And our edit speaks to every trend of the moment, like cutouts, sheer skirts, corsets, and rosettes. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 10 June 2024

Check sites periodically to remove re-sprouts and recently germinated seedlings and rosettes. —Mariyam Muhammad, The Enquirer, 30 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Old French rosete, rosette "small rose, object shaped like a rose," from rose rose entry 2 + -ete, -ette -ette

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rosette

noun

ro·​sette rō-ˈzet 

1

: a badge or ornament of ribbon gathered in the shape of a rose

2

: a design of leaves or flowers used as a decoration

3

: a circular cluster of leaves developed on a plant (as at the base of a dandelion)

Medical Definition

rosette

noun

ro·​sette rō-ˈzet 

: a rose-shaped cluster of cells