nectar means the drink of the gods. It carries an Arena rating of 1643, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, nectar ranks #7,180 of 14,444 for Most Exacting Words.
nectar is pronounced /ˈnɛk.tə/.
Why “nectar” is a great word
Nectar is a sweet liquid secreted by flowers to attract pollinators, or, in classical mythology, the drink of the gods. Its name descends from Latin nectar, from Ancient Greek νέκταρ (néktar, "drink of the gods"), a compound from Proto-Indo-European *neḱ- ("to perish") + *-tr̥h₂ ("overcoming"), from *terh₂- ("to overcome, cross over"). First attested in English circa 1555. Unlike ambrosia, the solid food of the Olympian table, or the utilitarian sap that merely sustains a plant’s life, nectar is an offering, a fragrant bribe. It is the glistening bead on a honeysuckle’s throat, the precise fuel for a hummingbird’s furious heart, and the imagined taste of golden light decanted in a god’s cup—the world’s quiet promise of a reward for service, whether given to a bee or a deity.
Etymology
From Latin nectar, from Ancient Greek νέκταρ (néktar, “nourishment of the gods”), from Proto-Indo-European *neḱ- (“perish, disappear”) + *-tr̥h₂ (“overcoming”), from *terh₂- (“to overcome, pass through, cross over”).
noun
- The drink of the gods.e.g.“They pourd in soveraine balme and Nectar good, / Good both for erthly med'cine and for hevenly food.”
- Any delicious drink, now especially a type of sweetened fruit juice.
- The sweet liquid secreted by flowers to attract pollinating insects and birds.
verb
- To feed on nectar.e.g.“Nectaring is one of butterflies' favourite activities.”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- ambrosia 89% match — The food of the gods, thought to confer immortality. vs nectar →
- amrita 84% match — Anglicization of Sanskrit अमृत (amṛta, “immortal”) vs nectar →
- ichor 84% match — The liquid said to flow in place of blood in the veins of the gods. vs nectar →
- libation 81% match — The act of pouring a liquid, most often wine, in sacrifice on the ground, on a ritual object, or on a victim, in honor of some deity. vs nectar →
- ambrosial 81% match — Pertaining to or worthy of the gods. vs nectar →
- kykeon 81% match — An Ancient Greek drink made mainly of water, barley and herbs. Closely tied to Demeter and the seasonal celebrations of Crete. vs nectar →
- potion 81% match — A small portion or dose of a liquid which is medicinal, poisonous, or magical. vs nectar →
- hydromel 80% match — Mead, especially one of low alcohol content. vs nectar →