noun
melissa
muh-LIH-suh
noun
1
Lemon balm, a fragrant herb often used in teas and traditional remedies for calming the nerves.
"She grows melissa in the garden to make a soothing evening tea."
name
1
A female given name derived from the Greek word for "bee."
"Melissa studied biology before switching to law."
How to Use Melissa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the herb lemon balm, or a common first name meaning "bee."
Common pairings
melissa tea
lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
Word Forms
melissas plural
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She grows _____ in the garden to make a soothing evening tea.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek melissa, meaning "bee" — the herb was named for how strongly it attracts bees.