Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of various mostly tropical plants of the genus Mimosa in the pea family, having globular heads of small flowers with protruding stamens and usually bipinnate, compound leaves often sensitive to touch or light.
  • noun Any of various similar plants of the genus Acacia in the pea family, especially silver wattle.
  • noun A drink consisting of champagne and orange juice.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Same as thiazol yellow.
  • noun A large genus of leguminous plants of the suborder Mimoseæ and the tribe Eumimoseæ, characterized by a legume with entire or jointed valves which break away from a narrow persistent placenta.
  • noun [lowercase] A plant of this genus.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Bot.) A genus of leguminous plants, containing many species, and including the sensitive plants (Mimosa sensitiva, and Mimosa pudica).

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun botany A plant belonging to the genus Mimosa usually found in tropical climates, their leaves are usually prickly and sensitive to touch or light, and have small white or pink flowers.
  • noun Silk tree or the pink siris.
  • noun Acacia.
  • noun A cocktail consisting of champagne and orange juice.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun any of various tropical shrubs or trees of the genus Mimosa having usually yellow flowers and compound leaves
  • noun evergreen Australasian tree having white or silvery bark and young leaves and yellow flowers
  • noun a mixed drink containing champagne and orange juice

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin Mīmōsa, genus name, from Latin mīmus, mime (from the plant's apparent mimicry of animal reactions), from Greek mīmos.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From New Latin mimosa, from Latin mimus ("mime")

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Examples

  • Wait a minute ... a mimosa is a morning drink, right?

    I've Always Said That I Eat Like A Hired Farm Hand Jessica 2006

  • The Mimosa tree pictured and described here, or what they call mimosa in the southeastern US is not the same mimosa that people are familiar with in Europe and the Middle East.

    A Bouquet of Mimosa Blossoms Marina Geigert 2007

  • Since we're talking bubbly, and a morning wedding, a mimosa is another option.

    Mary Orlin: What to Drink While You Watch the Royal Wedding Mary Orlin 2011

  • Since we're talking bubbly, and a morning wedding, a mimosa is another option.

    Mary Orlin: What to Drink While You Watch the Royal Wedding Mary Orlin 2011

  • Since we're talking bubbly, and a morning wedding, a mimosa is another option.

    Mary Orlin: What to Drink While You Watch the Royal Wedding Mary Orlin 2011

  • We're drunk at noon, thanks to a great little concoction called a mimosa that, though not strong enough to suit a thirty-fifth birthday, is served with brunch at Edward's on King Avenue.

    A Glimpse Jen Knox 2011

  • "Presently, while hunting for insects in short mimosa tangle up to the knee, I disturbed a strange-looking animal, about the size of a sheep, brownish colour, long tail, short legs, feline in aspect and movement, but quite strange to me.

    Adventures in Many Lands Various

  • I am considering calling the mimosa perfume Acacia.

    Archive 2006-07-01 Ayala Sender 2006

  • Species such as A. dealbata, known as mimosa by florists, A. albida and A. tortilis, are valued as ornamentals while A. farnesiana and A. dealbata are used in the production of base oils for perfumes.

    Chapter 2 1994

  • Because of its prickles the Boers call the mimosa the "wait-a-bit" thorn, but there was no thought of waiting a bit among the 12th Lancers at the Berea, when they charged the savage Basutos and captured their chief Moshesh.

    Camps, Quarters, and Casual Places Archibald Forbes 1869

Comments

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  • In Spanish, it means "affectionate" (feminine form). It's used to describe a dog who nuzzles or licks a lot, for example. The verb "mimar" means to pamper or spoil. But I think the drink is related to the Brazilian Portuguese word for a tangerine-like citrus fruit. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm no help. Had one too many mimosas tonight.

    February 27, 2009

  • sensitive to touch

    October 22, 2010

  • "One night, she managed to deceive the vicious vigilance of her family. In a nervous and slender-leaved mimosa grove at the back of their villa we found a perch on the ruins of a low stone wall."

    - Nabokov, Lolita

    March 1, 2011